The Mad March NSD Skiing Holiday Challenge

marmiterulesok

As March approaches,we've grown weary of the heat out here in the savannah,and are looking forward to heading to the slopes and skiing ourselves silly.I know that skiing is expensive,but we nsders are a cunning bunch of moth cultivators and penny pinchers,and are determined to get a good deal.



Now,our base will be at the exclusive skiing playground for the rich and famous: Gstaad.
I know that I said that we were going to St. Moritz,but Igor has been banned from being within 50 miles of the town.
Something to do with a disastrous chocolate fondue he made,with the addition (unknown to him) of some laxative chocolate.Apparently royalty was present.... :eek:
Don't worry,we're not staying in some fancy hotel.... :money:
Luckily Igor knows someone who knows someone with cheap lodgings.The chalet maid Lilli Marlene has kindly offered to help out.So,looks like we're all set.

And,if you can't or won't ski,snowboard,ice skate or sledge,don't worry.We need lots of knitting volunteers to kit us out in woolly undies,mankinis,socks,hats and gloves.

So,we are ready to fire up The Tardis yet again,to whizz us off to Gstaad,all from the comfort of our armchairs and sofas.

Feel free to join us.We have lots of fun activities planned.More of that later...For those of you who are new to the challenge,we are a happy (and some might say mildly insane) bunch doing battle with those retailers - and there’s plenty of temptation out there at the moment. We are seriously committed to saving money, but nobody said it can't be done with a smile on your face - so we organize riotous nights out and gatecrash any function going - all without leaving the comfort of our own imaginations or armchairs!

On a slightly more serious note, we are here to help each other avoid spending for the number of days we feel we can manage to try to take back some control over our hard-earned money. What you class as a "spend'" is entirely your choice; some people will try to shop on the days DD/SO etc are paid, whilst others will not include essentials such as rent. Have a look for a post from our sponsor (and godmother of this challenge) BigMummaF, this contains some guidelines and ideas for starting you off on the challenge.

It’s amazing how inventive you get when you’re determined NOT to spend - from weird menu ingredients to surprising DIY solutions - but you know what? 99% of the time those wacky ideas work.

Just remember that mentioning the F word (f-a-i-l!) is not allowed,and anyone who dares speak the word which must not be spoken will find himself in a spot of bother with our toothy bouncer Percy AKA Shawnie boy,and his bruvers Arnie and Vinnie :eek: :eek::eek:







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We're hoping to see lots of new faces this month,so don't be shy!

PS I'm usually a modest lass,but I just have to add that The NSD Challenge is the best of the bunch! :cool: :j

marmiterulesok

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 [Weds mornings] in the cracked teapot & Ben's £1 coin for the gym locker [Friday lunch] 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 & nargle 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!

Sundaysgirl

Please count me in again, and thank you so much Marmite for running this challenge - definitely makes me more mindful of spending.


I'll go for a more realistic target of 10 NSDs for March, and I'll try for a three in a row too.

marmiterulesok

As we all know,it's most important to stay warm when out on the slopes.

So,we have,as 1st target

Someone always forgets their hat,so the 2nd target is

To whet our appetite,our 3rd target is going sledging

Now for the 4th target,finally,the après ski drinks

And,finally,a lovely big fondue for those who exceed their target but don't worry,even if you don't exceed your target,we'll share it with you.

And,last but not least,the consolation prize for anyone who doesn't quite reach their target - a snowball fight!

marmiterulesok

Post your target and I'll add you to the list.

marmiterulesok 10/10 achieved! 2nd target 13/13 achieved!
3rd target 18/18 achieved! 4th target 18/20

Sundaysgirl 10/10 achieved!Target Exceeded13/10 achieved!

scotsmumof3 15/15 achieved! 2nd target 19/20

cheexy 15/15 achieved! 2nd target 17/18

donnadynamo 15/15

Samizel 15/15

zafiro1984 3/14

kathy40uk 16/17

Nargleblast 18/18

Penguins86 10/15

Wooftastic 5/12

Hoipolloi 13/13 achieved!Target exceeded 24/13 achieved!

Gem-gem 15/15 achieved! 2nd target 20/20 achieved!
Target exceeded 21/20 achieved!

IrishRose12 15/15 achieved! Target exceeded20/15 achieved!


DeafLeopard 1/20

zenshi 10/18

slowlyfading 20/20 achieved!

jodles16 20/20 achieved! 2nd target 22/22 achieved!Target exceeded 24/22 achieved!


fedupandskint 20/20 achieved!Target exceeded 29/20 achieved!

gothrockchic1 10/10

snowfox 10/10 achieved! Target exceeded 12/10 achieved!

LionessInWinter 5/12

butterfly2507 10/10 achieved! 2nd target16/16 achieved! Target exceeded 25/16achieved!

Knit Witch 10/10 achieved! 2nd target 15/15 achieved!
3rd target 20/20 achieved! 4th target 25/25 achieved! Target exceeded 27/25 achieved!


joee 0/20

kezlou 2/10

cw18 15/15 achieved! Target exceeded 18/15 achieved!


Maybe_its_because 9/9 achieved! 2nd target 10/10 achieved! 3rd target 11/11 achieved!

stripeyjumpergirl 10/10 achieved!

Munchin 5/12

Ellieseleven 15/15

Butti 3/10

Aphidgirl 6/12

bestfootforward 7/15

kermit2601 4/10

jaxsmar 0/20

muffin man 7 10/10 achieved!
Target exceeded22/10 achieved!

marmiterulesok

The prize is a pair of dancing snowmen!


Post your target and I'll add you to the list:

marmite 4

Sundaysgirl 4 3

scotsmumof3 3

cheexy 3 3 3

Samiszel 3


Gem-gem 5

zenshi 3 3


jodles16 4 4 4

gothrockchic1 3

Knit Witch 4 5

Hoipolloi 4 6

Ellieseleven 3

butterfly2507 5

cw18 4

Maybe_its_because 3

fedupandskint 14

marmiterulesok

Link to The February NSD Challenge.

marmiterulesok

In case I need it!

scotmumof3

Thank you marmite for another wonderful month of fun and frolics :T
Can you please put me down for 15 NSD and for 3 in a row.

cheexy

Marmite you are simply amazing... This thread has helped me keep my spending in check. Could you put me down for the following
1st target = 15
2nd target =18
3rd target = 20

In a row challenge = 3
Let's do this again!

donna_dynamo

Joining in again for march going for my usual starter of15 NSDs