Just for fun

Lights, lodgers & Lidl trainers – this week's MSE Forum highlights

Features Writer

23 September 2022

In the week that brought us the Chancellor's mini-budget, the MSE Forum was as chocka as ever with MoneySaving tips, support and questions. Here are a few highlights.

Not a member yet? Here's how to register for the MSE Forum.

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:

The bespoke gift I ordered for my wife’s 50th arrived bubble wrapped and I gift wrapped it without opening it. At her party, when she opened it in front of friends and family, it turned out to be a bespoke gift for someone else
What’s the best way to invest money for our kids (ages one and three) so they've the option to go to uni at 18?
Here's how to make your own draught excluder out of cardboard rolls
How do I banish carpet beetles from my home?

A pair of hands unwrapping a gift, which is wrapped in black and white striped paper

Have you ever opened a bespoke gift meant for someone else?

Photos of the week

The Charity Shopping - New to You in '22! thread is a trove of second-hand inspo. This week, Potternerd picked up these classy garms for a total of £3.

Three items of clothing on hangers: a green floral dress, a black and white dotted dress and a navy and white-striped jacket

Over on the Debt free diaries board, RelievedSheff, accompanied by their dog. There's nothing like getting a bit of blue sky in your eyes once in a while.

A small black and white dog on a lead explores a beach

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.

Should I tell my lodger he's using too much water and energy or increase his rent? I let my spare room, with the rent including household bills as it makes life easier. However, my current lodger uses an insane amount of water - he takes 45-minute showers, and leaves the tap running when he's doing the dishes or shaving. I've left out a washing up bowl and plugs for him, but he hasn't taken the hint. As well as being wasteful, given the energy price rises (it's hot water he's using), it's becoming a financial issue too. Do I tell him to use less or should I put the rent up?

You can find out what our MSE Forumites think and add your own two cents on the Money Moral Dilemma discussion thread. Heed 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. There are always plenty of success stories. This week, congratulations are due to Ms_Dee, who won a £100 Amazon gift card from National Express.

We wanted to flag this charming win from a couple of weeks ago too (the weekly highlights blog was on hiatus at the time): JennyWren29 won a Classic FM giveaway and enjoyed a three-night stay at the Coniston Hotel in the Yorkshire Dales, plus a steam train experience (pictured below).

A collage of photos of beautiful green vistas, a lake and a steam engine with a plume of steam

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

Lettuce, lottery tickets & loud tenants – this week's MSE Forum highlights (2 September 2022)
Badges, blogging & bullion – this week's MSE Forum highlights (26 August 2022)
Vanilla, veg & vexatious neighbours – this week's MSE Forum highlights (19 August 2022)
Commas, kittens & cash prizes – this week's MSE Forum highlights (12 August 2022)
Homes, hornets & high heels – this week's MSE Forum highlights (5 August 2022)

Your two cents

On 23 September, the Chancellor announced some tax cuts and other measures as part of its mini-budget to combat the cost of living crisis. Share your thoughts in the Mini-budget 2022 thread.

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