The Fabulous February NSD Challenge!

marmiterulesok

Where has the month gone, I hear you ask?Indeed.

February will be here shortly....who wants to learn the wise and ancient art of moth cultivation and join the super ' no spend day' challenge?

You're all welcome!

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 :money: & 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!

marmiterulesok

Here are our lovely prizes:

1st target achieved:

2nd target achieved:

3rd target achieved:

Target exceeded:

Consolation prize:

Shawn the Shark is here to gently encourage any over eager nsders not to use the 'F' word.Other deterents include the dreaded soggy paintbrush and a manky kipper breakfast lovingly prepared by Igor.You have been warned....

marmiterulesok

marmiterulesok 6/10

yasmin2 4/18

medusasmummy 14/20

Nargleblast 8/15

Captain Bluebear 7/12

crafty witch 0/15

jenni_fer 0/15

donkids22 8/15

SkintTeacher 8/15

Honeysucklelou2 2/10

jaxsmar 12/15

beanielou 10/14

Munchin 0/15

Jonesy88 0/15

call_88 1/10

swimminginaseaofdebt 5/10

squanderscouse 2/15

Naomin 0/8

Ladykernow 4/?

Kittencat 6/10

Pennydreams3 13/15

FlorenceJ 9/12

We_can_do_this! 5/12

ceb1995 5/12

marmiterulesok

Post your target and I'll add your name.The prize is some sunshine!



medusaamummy 4

marmiterulesok 4

yasmin2 6

Captain Bluebear 3

crafty witch 4

SkintTeacher 5

squanderscouse 4

Pennydreams3 5

FlorenceJ 3

marmiterulesok

Link to January's thread:
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5578448

yasmin2

Please sign me up lol... I am going to aim for 18 NSDs and try for 6 in a row.. fingers crossed..

marmiterulesok

yasmin2 wrote: »

Please sign me up lol... I am going to aim for 18 NSDs and try for 6 in a row.. fingers crossed..

You're signed up!

medusasmummy

Hi all, can i join in please?
I found your January challenge on Monday and have been reading the last few days. You all seem like a very fun and supportive group

I've been through my spending diary and I've had 14 NSDs so far in January so I'm setting myself a challenge of only 2 spend days a week in February. With this in mind

can you please put me down for 20 NSDs in total


Looking forward to spend (or not spending ) February with you all

Nargleblast

medusasmummy wrote: »

Hi all, can i join in please?
I found your January challenge on Monday and have been reading the last few days. You all seem like a very fun and supportive group

Little does she know, mwahahahahaaa!)
Looking forward to spend (or not spending ) February with you all

Seriously now, welcome! The more the merrier!

Nargleblast

Put me down for 15 NSDs in February, marmite!