May the NSD Force Be With You - May NSD Challenge

solventsoon

I'm on a roll now.... NSD no 19 grabbed by the throat today and tomorrow should be no 20 and my target...... finally :j

Hope everyone's had a good Bank Holiday and at least a bit of sun. It's been raining here most of the evening so back to normal again:(


PS: Karen - your cakes are gorgeous and far too good to eat, they're a work of art

solventsoon

ifwisheswerehorses... wrote: »

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!

Just a quick welcome to any newbies lurking and trying to pluck up courage to join us:)

And speaking of the Tardis, has anyone seen it recently, I can't remember where I parked it :o

freebyfifty

There are

52

of us taking part in the May NSD Challenge

and so far we have collected

460 NSDs

:T:T:T:T:T

karenccs67

#7. Yesterday

heyjude2013

Hello,

Today will be NSD #13. Once again in meetings today so will declare now to avoid the coffee shops during the day and the post meeting wine!

Also need to remind my boss she owes me £10!

Have a good day all x

cw18

Nargleblast wrote: »

a severe thrashing with a mouldy kipper (straight out of CW18's freezer, which, I have to warn you, is the size of Wembley Stadium)

is that the size of the kipper or my freezer? :rotfl:


I have to admit it sometimes feels like I have that much freezer space - especially when I'm looking for something I'm sure I put in and haven't taken out to eat yet :think:

HeadAboveWater

Hit my target on Sunday!! 12/12

Thanks to all for the updates, encouragement and (much needed! ) kicks up the behind!!

Hopefully get another 2 in before month end

Good luck everyone on hitting targets! Still a few days to go!!

EDIT:
Yay! Got another one today!! :D 13 for me......... so far!!

IF

Morning :hello:

busybumblebee

Morning all

Well done to all you hardcore NSD'ers, you are a real inspiration!

I bagged NSD 5&6 over the weekend. I almost managed number 7 too, but felt I had to pay for something on the family day out, being as it was my suggestion! I did get away with a very light £6 though, so can't complain too much.

I'll hopefully have a more successful June and shall be looking forward to signing up

beanielou

Well done HeadAbove water :j :j

Not one for me today as met some friends for coffee & a catch up.