The Awesome April NSD Challenge.
marmiterulesok
Forumite 7.8K Posts
Spring is here.April showers,lambs bleating in the fields,little birds chirping in the trees,Easter eggs galore. 
Yes indeed,a wondrous month!
So join us doing the NSD challenge,the best of them all! :j:j
You're all welcome. :money:
Yes indeed,a wondrous month!
So join us doing the NSD challenge,the best of them all! :j:j
You're all welcome. :money:
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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
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
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
And Remember;
there are no silly questions, so don't be afraid to ask us anything!
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 ie F-a-i-l.....Other deterents include the dreaded soggy paintbrush and a manky kipper breakfast lovingly prepared by Igor.You have been warned....
marmiterulesok 14/15
Florence J 5/13
indigowarrior 2/12
SkintTeacher 8/12
Nargleblast 14/15
Honeysucklelou2 9/10
Jo Blogs 15/15 achieved!
donkids22 9/10
Chica Bonita 4/15
dreamtruce 2/20
DancingUnicorn 1/15
Kittencat 0/8
swimminginaseaofdebt 4/12
Munchin 5/12
Captain Bluebear 0/12
Pennydreams 7/15
wegle 10/16
The prize:
marmiterulesok 4
Florence J 3
indigowarrior 4
SkintTeacher 5
ChicaBonita 4
DancingUnicorn 7
Captain Bluebear 3
Pennydreams 5
Jo Blogs 3
My targets are 13 NSDs with 3 in a row
Debt Free Stage 2 - Completed 50/181 Payments
12 NSDs 5 in a row
Lower than normal to reflect the fact it is the month of my wedding!!!
Thank you as ever marmiterulesok x
Spring is sprung, the grass is ris
I wonder where de birdie is?
He's on de wing (now dat's absurd, de wing is on de bird..)
15 NSDs for me, please, marmite!
(Now, Igor, calm yourself, another party to gatecrash....)