May the NSD Force Be With You - May NSD Challenge

IF

Morning all :hello:

I now have my 13th NSD

Thank you Freeby, Spoon, Marmite, Cheryl and Sazzie
IF…x

MissE001

freebyfifty wrote: »

Just wanted to say my usual Good Morning to you all.

It feels a bit strange not doing the update, I am all discombobulated

Have a fantastic day - the sun is beating out of the sky here :j:j but I bet it's blowing a gale and about 2 degrees when I venture out with the dogs shortly :mad:

It's a lovely day freeby - just back from dropping DS at work. Sorry you feel discombobulated....but I do so love that word

Managed NSD #11 /15 yesterday - potential for today to be 12 but definitely not declaring till the day is done

Happy bank holiday weekend everyone :beer:

solventsoon

Morning everyone :wave: and what a beautiful morning it is :j:j

Discombobulated is my word of the day, let's see how many times I can use it:D Did you manage to avoid the internet last night, Freeby, or are you too ashamed to admit to the secret spends?:D;)

Just popped in to report another two NSDs for me, my halo is firmly back in place now, so....NSD no 16 for yesterday and NSD no 17 for today as I am definitely not going to spend anything at all today..... there it's written down now so that's me sorted for today:D

Have a lovely Saturday everyone:)

Sazzie23

Morning all,

Declaring NSD 16

For yesterday, not as difficult as Thursday, but tough all the same. If I can stick to my budget shop it might be one today as well, definite maybe ...hmmmm

Enjoy sunshine

EverTheOptimist

Morning all

Well I managed to sneak in NSD number 13 yesterday. We went to hubby's granny's funeral. And drinks and food were laid on. The service was lovely. And as I'd only known her for the last few years of her life when she was unwell it was nice to hear some anecdotes about her earlier life.

Poss a spend day today. Depends whether I have the energy to pop to the shops with little one.

bottleofred

Good Afternoon folks:),

I hope you are all well and catching some sunshine if it is around in your area. It has made an unusual guest appearance in NI today:p!! It is my Birthday today and I am going out for dinner and some red stuff later:). I will resume gathering NSDs in June if that is ok with everyone, as I have been awol for quite some time!

EverTheOptimist

Happy Birthday bottleofred.

:bdaycake::bdaycake:

Enjoy your day.

zenshi

Is not physically possible for me to hit my target but that doesn't mean I'm not still playing

Really fancied something sweet and had to wrestle with myself and not go and np buy some chocolate! I didn't, I made a batch of cakes instead so NSD 10 today

IF

bottleofred wrote: »

Good Afternoon folks:),

I hope you are all well and catching some sunshine if it is around in your area. It has made an unusual guest appearance in NI today:p!! It is my Birthday today and I am going out for dinner and some red stuff later:). I will resume gathering NSDs in June if that is ok with everyone, as I have been awol for quite some time!

Happy Birthday Red :beer:

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!