May the NSD Force Be With You - May NSD Challenge

freebyfifty

Good Morning

That't the front page all up to date and it don't half look good

Great to see you checking in OodNood Happy new home.


NSD #25 for me yesterday and that takes me 1 over target. It has been a better month than I thought but I am like some others on here and am having to re-think my rules for the summer months so I can stay on top of my fresh fruit and salads.


Happy Friday Eve everyone :T

freebyfifty

There are

52

of us taking part in the May NSD Challenge

and so far we have collected

507 NSDs

:T:T:T:T:T

freebyfifty

And we did it :j:j

February's average is smashed away :j

Well done everyone

IF

Morning all :hello:

June's NSD thread - Click here


I now have my 17th NSD
and claim my prize

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

ModestyB

NSD 16 for Tuesday, hoping today will be one too. Report back later,

HeadAboveWater

Thanks for the update Cheryl

freebyfifty wrote: »

And we did it :j:j

February's average is smashed away :j

Well done everyone

VERY well done everyone!!

Nargleblast

Well done on the NSD haul, everyone - still today and tomorrow to go, and still room in the Cauldron of Doom for more contributions.

karenccs67

#8 & 9 for Wednesday and today, tomorrow will be a spend day so not quite reached my target.

lottie3000

Managed # 8 yesterday but I know that is it for May. And i'm signing off now I'm not going to join the challenge in June, I'm busy getting married and three weekends away so think i'll fail miserably. Plan on being back in July though

IF

June's NSD thread - Click here


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!