Homes, hornets & high heels – this week's MSE Forum highlights

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A few of this week's top threads

We're always scouring the MSE Forum for useful, interesting or cheering threads. A few that caught our eye this week:

• Mushrooms are sprouting in our bathroom – is this on us or our landlord?

• My 5-month-old kitten has destroyed our blinds by chewing through the strings – how can I fix them?

• We’re buying a house. Our solicitor says we must also buy the small strip of land in front from the council if we want to proceed. Is this right?

• Are clothing catalogues still a thing? My aunt (late 70s) wants a browse

• Can you suggest some frugal cocktails I can make at home?

These damaged blinds are the work of a furry menace

• I’m worried my neighbours are going to annex part of my garden

• Someone's registered my home as their business address on Google

• I’m selling my house and renting for a bit – will I risk missing out on the full £400 energy grant?

• My home insurance claim for an overflowing drain was rejected and I don't think it's fair

• Can you recommend a bill splitting app I can use on holiday with a group of pals?

Success of the week

It gladdened us to read of Blobboman's substantial train ticket saving in the Split ticket – official MSE discussion thread. Tricks like this can make a big difference, especially when combined with others across the month, so check MSE before you make any purchase.

Not familiar with split ticketing yet? Learn how to split your tickets, not your journey, to save big on train travel.

Photo of the week

This crystal-clear shot of a hornet atop an Echinops flower comes courtesy of MSE Forumite Sapindus. Their post explains that hornets aren't usually aggressive towards humans, and that this particular specimen is one a European hornet, "about the size of a large queen wasp, but with a deeper buzz and a chestnut brown vibe to its colouration". For more wholesome flora and fauna knowledge, get yourself over to the Greenfingered MoneySaving board.

Please note: We love seeing your photos in the MSE Forum, but if you're uploading one, make sure it doesn't include any personally-identifiable information such as your face or address.

Money Moral Dilemma

Every week, the Money Tips email features a real-life Money Moral Dilemma (MMD for short). They're intended to encourage debate and, as such, they're usually among the most discussed threads each week.

You can find out what our MSE Forumites think and add your own two cents on the Money Moral Dilemma discussion thread. Remember the MSE Forum rules: keep it kind and keep it clean. Remember, there's a real person behind every Money Moral Dilemma.

Got a Money Moral Dilemma of your own? Email us at MMD@moneysavingexpert.com and it could be featured.

Latest comping wins

One of the most frequented boards, Competitions Time, is where compers come to find and share competitions. We see a steady stream of success stories; here are a couple of the most recent. AC55 won tickets to the rugby sevens at the Commonwealth Games.

It was a good week for AC55, who also won a £50 Public Desire voucher and used it on three pairs of glamorous heels.

Want to peek at some MSE Forum highlights from recent weeks?

• Beetles, bathtubs & low-ABV beer – this week's MSE Forum highlights (29 July 2022)

• Rooks, records & renting dilemmas – this week's MSE Forum highlights (22 July 2022)

• Hedgehogs, holidays & heatwave hacks – this week's MSE Forum highlights (15 July 2022)

• Pudding, patios & petunias – this week's MSE Forum highlights (8 July 2022)

• Gin, gee-gees & groceries – this week's MSE Forum highlights (1 July 2022)

Your two cents

Starting a college course, uni or any other sort of education this year? You might be interested in the Student MoneySaving board. You can find tips, tricks and student deals here. If your student days are behind you, that probably means you've got some wisdom of your own about MoneySaving while studying. Be sure to pass it on. 

In other news, the MSE Forum is putting on an Ask An Expert event soon. You'll be able to put your energy-related questions to Gary and Andrew from the MSE Utilities team. More details will be revealed soon.

If you're not a member yet, it's easy to register for the MSE Forum.