May the NSD Force Be With You - May NSD Challenge

HeadAboveWater

Gimme an 'E'! :j Gimme a 'T'! :j Gimme an 'O'! :j

Update please?!?!?!?

Got another NSD yesterday (can't remember how many I have until I check my signature after I post!). I 'bought' stuff in Boots yesterday - but used points so t'was all freeeeeeee

EDIT:
#5

lottie3000

Well it was #2 yesterday, Yay so happy. I think the thing is with me that I do all different purses and budgets etc for groceries and Saturday beers but I still count each day that I spend out of these as a spending day, but this challenge still makes me aware of what I am spending so it definetly helps.

IF

Morning all :hello:

:rotfl::rotfl:

beanielou

Car problems continue.
I could scream.
Who would have thought that the provision of a courtesey car would be so difficult?
Oh that will be because it is an automatic!!!

Jelly_Biactol

Been away for a few days, but now reporting in with

NSDs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6

so now on NSD 6

Jelly_Biactol

There's an article in the current Tesco Magazine about money-saving ideas which mentions BzzAgent
https://www.bzzagent.co.uk/
which sends out free stuff in exchange for your feedback and word-of-mouth recommendations. Has anyone used it? Just curious:)

AngelsMadv

Jelly_Biactol wrote: »

There's an article in the current Tesco Magazine about money-saving ideas which mentions BzzAgent
https://www.bzzagent.co.uk/
which sends out free stuff in exchange for your feedback and word-of-mouth recommendations. Has anyone used it? Just curious:)

I'm sure there is a thread around here somewhere for it but many of us other on the ELITE thread use it. I've been with them 4 months and I've had 4 trials - Coffee, Dove Men care, Flora Cuisine and my latest one I'm not sure of yet if I've been accepted.

It's relatively little work (post on Facebook a bit and write a review - whilst compiling reviews from friends you give the samples to) If you Twitter and blog, even better.

Sorry for butting in the thread, I'm merely a lurker here. I rarely ever have a NSD. I do have some days where the supermarket pays me though

purple.sarah

Jelly_Biactol wrote: »

There's an article in the current Tesco Magazine about money-saving ideas which mentions
https://www.bzzagent.co.uk/
which sends out free stuff in exchange for your feedback and word-of-mouth recommendations. Has anyone used it? Just curious:)

A customer recommended BzzAgent to me when I asked where she got her coupons from. I only joined yesterday and I've already got invited to a Lambrini campaign, I'm so excited! They're going to send me a BzzKit with:
"1 Coupon for a FREE Bottle of Fruity Lambrini
50p-off pass along coupons for your friends
A Lambrini mirror and brush – perfect for keeping in your handbag on a Lambrini night out
Mascara – Great for getting ready with a glass of Fruity Lambrini"

In return they just want me to talk to friends about it, pass on the coupons and share about it on social networking.

There's a thread about BzzAgent here.

purple.sarah

Monday was NSD 5 for me.

IF

Hiya all :hello:
Could we please ask you to highlight your number of NSDs in a colour and in bold so that Freeby, Spoon, Marmite, Cheryl and Sazzie can see them easily when they whizz through the posts - red would be best but they don't really mind as long as they can see the numbers easily.

Some helpful suggestions and ideas to follow below from our sponsor and godmother, BigMummaF :A

NO SPEND CHALLENGE.

1. Have a good, long think about what YOU want to include in your Spend & Excluded categories.
Some of us count everything from Direct Debits & school expenses, while others do not include things like essential Bills or emergency medical costs. If you plan what is or is not a Spend for you now, it will help you decide on a realistic Target.
2. It is NOT a race!
We all have very different demands on our time & bank balance, so please do not think you have to buy everything on 1st January & make it last till 31st December! A few of us have been following this Challenge for a long...long...LONG time so have developed plans & ploys to help us along the way
3. Most important of all, WE..DO..NOT..FAIL!
Sometimes we can't quite reach our Target, but that is fine Everyone knows how Life will try to trip us up, & that is when you will find us here to help you back on to your feet.

OK, an idea of how some of us do things.
1. What you will or will not include as a 'Spend'.
Some people are doing other challenges too, & don't include the money spent on those for this one.
Some will try to shop for other bits on the days their direct debits etc go out of their bank accounts; they're the real hard core of the bunch & have been l-o-n-g time Nsders so don't panic
Some won't count those annoying last minute demands from school & collections as you can't plan for them in advance, likewise emergency prescriptions or visits to the vet
Personally speaking & providing I don't buy anything else, I don't count parking for hospital appointments.(..but then I usually do my shopping because I'm already out :whistle:)
General thoughts on €bay sales is the buyer has paid P&P so no cost to you
2. It takes Time to reach mega-numbers!
The First suggestion is the first, because a bit of planning will work wonders on your road to your Target. Have a look at thefirst posts each month for a hefty list of other threads that may be of help. For example, there's a few giving ideas for packed lunches so you can avoid standing in the queue at the bakers for 45mins of your lunch hour! A good incentive to tweak your healthy eating & the pounds you save will show in your bank balance AND your waistline
It helps to have various 'money pots' for the different costs that happen like Scouts, dinner money, yoga, window cleaner etc etc. The idea is you "spend" all that money in one hit by..:think:..let's say **putting the week's bus fares into the pretty coffee jar, Jo's tumble tots SIZE=2]Weds mornings[/SIZE in the cracked teapot & Ben's £1 coin for the gym locker SIZE=2]Friday lunch[/SIZE in the pocket of the changing bag, on Tuesdays every week when you've got some change from doing the food shop, so an already spendy day. At least four 'spending days' condensed into one (**mine's jam jars for windows, milkman & a bit towards the bills!)
3. Any day the money stays in your pocket is a bonus!
If you look at it as a day you beat the system, you can't help but :j so don't fret it--ENJOY! If nothing else in here, we do manage find something to make us smile

We have virtual outings to wonderful places that never cost us a bean :rotfl:New York, Edinburgh & Brighton have been a couple & Spoon usually pilots the Tardis but you can use your own transport; my personal favourite has been a sit-on lawn mower borrowed from the cricket club The only thing to be aware of is Hubert the donkey who is partial to anything remotely edible but is not yet house-trained

And Remember;
there are no silly questions, so don't be afraid to ask us anything!