NST April 2018: April Fool's Challenge

FrankieM

So, is NST, No Spend Thread?

Anyway, thanks for adding me. I'm looking forward to the focus and support

Fmess

NST are ninja saving turtles (what we call ourselves). The original thread was setup by ninja saving kat NSK and one day we became turtles, can!!!8217;t remember when lol

apple_muncher

Mothernerd gave us our brand when she was the brave soul who picked up the reins when nsk went travelling. That was many many moons ago now...

greent

OK - am getting ready for tomorrow....

Aim for at least 15 NSDs. Usual exceptions apply, you won't lose a NSD for ys items, petrol or medical expenses. - ok - will monitor
Pay to your debt or savings first and live off the rest. - ok (done)
Report in every day. The daily support from this thread will keep you on track - ok
Interests - is there any hobbies that you'd like to take up or perhaps an old hobby that you'd like to start again. This is the month to do it, let us know what you plan to do - am going to ease myself back into fitness this month - broken toe is still painful and is on same foot when I tore a ligament which hasn't regained full mobility yet, but it's getting silly. I enjoyed what I was doing last year, so want to get back there again
Love yourself, do something to make yourself feel fab - wear a bright scarf, get your eyebrows done, have a bath, put on your fave perfume. - will try and do something to this every day.... (Maybe)

Find time to get outside. Lighter nights are now here so get out in the garden, go for a walk. Fresh air is good for everyone - ok. Garden needs lots of tlc and walks tie in with above
Overpay - aim to pay 20% extra to your debt or savings. It's up to you how you do this - overtime at work, saving money on the food bill, selling items. - sold items and paid all money from job 2 to debt last week - managed over £450 extra. Will 'collect' extra monies this month (cashback, sales, job 2 pay at month end) and do it again
Organise your month. Check your cupboards, make a meal plan and stick to your food budget. Plan any social events and budget for them, ideally come up with free alternatives. - DS1's 18th birthday mid month - that's gonna cost...... Aside from that, food budget is £450 - school hols for 2 weeks so all 3 boys home and DD home from uni for 2 weeks (plus food parcel to go back with)
Lose one bad habit. Mine's is a food related one but it can be anything you like. - a certain game which I've spent waaay too much time on in March....
Sign off your daily post with a list of gratitudes. - yes

Budgets:
Food £450
Travel £75
Gifts £150
Toiletries £10
Social £150

Toni'sfriend

First day of April tomorrow. Bills all paid or, at least, will be when the direct debits come out.
1.Going on holiday for just over two weeks this month so the aim is to keep an eye on any unnecessary spending. I'm not including meals whilst we're away (don't want us starving!) but I am going to keep a separate note in the spending diary just to see how much it costs. Should be an interesting exercise.
2. Keeping the spending diary resulted in spending almost half of what we normally do on food last month. I've transferred that to small savings account. It'll be difficult to get a true figure this month but hopefully another 20% from that.
3. Interests. Have really let the walking go. Should be easier this month. Ideally I would like to walk every day and that should satisfy getting out in the fresh air as well.
4. Just one birthday this month. One of the wee ones next door. Present and card already bought. Freezers are full so just about to meal plan for the first week or so that we're at home.
5. I have so many bad habits - most of them related to food and drink. Give up snacking between meals or, if I really feel the need to eat something, have some fruit?
6. Love yourself. Oh, I really need to do this. I feel such a frump!!!
7. Internet and tablet permitting I'll check in every day.

Kerry_Woman

Will do my targets for the April challenge tomorrow as I can think more clearly due to the late night but enjoyable time out last night.

indigowarrior

Aim for at least 15 NSDs. Usual exceptions apply, you won't lose a NSD for ys items, petrol or medical expenses.- I am going to aim for 18 nsds. I wont know how much I will be able to do after the 21st
Pay to your debt or savings first and live off the rest.I am on a £1 a day food challenge for the next 20 days so budgets should be low and most will be saved
Report in every day. The daily support from this thread will keep you on track Will do.
Interests - is there any hobbies that you'd like to take up or perhaps an old hobby that you'd like to start again. This is the month to do it, let us know what you plan to do. Not really a hobby but, I plan to complete a few of my computer games that I have downloaded.
Love yourself, do something to make yourself feel fab - wear a bright scarf, get your eyebrows done, have a bath, put on your fave perfume. Not really a pamper kind of gal so will pass on this one.

Find time to get outside. Lighter nights are now here so get out in the garden, go for a walk. Fresh air is good for everyone Will aim for 2 walks a week
Overpay - aim to pay 20% extra to your debt or savings. It's up to you how you do this - overtime at work, saving money on the food bill, selling items.I am aiming to earn money doing surveys.
Organise your month. Check your cupboards, make a meal plan and stick to your food budget. Plan any social events and budget for them, ideally come up with free alternatives. I have one cafe meeting a month with a friend of mine.
Lose one bad habit. Mine's is a food related one but it can be anything you like. Going to be cutting down on Coca Cola
Sign off your daily post with a list of gratitudes. Will do.

a_silver_lining

Can you please sign me up?

This is my first time trying a challenge like this. I'll aim for the 15NSD, but I would like to get to 20.

My thing to give up on is food bought at work. I'm trying to also limit my plant buying at work, but gardening is my one hobby so whilst I'm going to try and be more sensible with my choices. Today I made a coffee at work rather then buying and it's my fourth day doing this so I'm starting the month strong!

Overpaying by 20% May be hard as I'm drying up on items to sell and I've pushed myself to the limit for saving and debt. 20% extra savings would be £60, so I'll give it a good go.

lcc86

Better jump on the wagon and start posting about my targets and plans.

Aim for at least 15 NSDs. - I'm going to go hard on this one and only allow myself 5 spend days... I went a bit crazy last month so I need to be more sensible this month! I run my month payday to payday rather than the calendar month, and have had my first spend day today as went out to lunch with a friend. £12 spent. I will also get my dad's birthday presents and go to town to pick up some bits for the pets to save using another of my precious few spend days lol.
Pay to your debt or savings first and live off the rest. - no debts but did book a short break which now needs to be paid for. Have transferred money to savings too
Report in every day - okay.
Interests - I used to swim but haven't done it properly for a couple of years because of neck/back issues, but I'm having regular treatment so I want to try it again.
Love yourself, do something to make yourself feel fab - wear a bright scarf, get your eyebrows done, have a bath, put on your fave perfume. - will have a bubble bath with face mask and prosecco at some point during the month!

Find time to get outside - I want to go for more walks, and the lighter evenings should help with this.
Overpay - aim to pay 20% extra to your debt or savings - I can't do overtime (local authority) so will try and just save money from the food and petrol pots. I will try and sell a few bits on ebay that I don't need too, they've been sitting round for ages.
Organise your month. Check your cupboards, make a meal plan and stick to your food budget. Plan any social events and budget for them, ideally come up with free alternatives. - done.
Lose one bad habit - I'm overeating at work because I'm bored, so really want to try and cut down on this. Haven't quite worked out how yet! :rotfl:
Sign off your daily post with a list of gratitudes. - will try my best!

lcc86

Sorry I should've added that I might not be able to check in every day, am currently doing my dissertation for uni which is taking up a lot of my free time, but I'll do my best!