Just for fun

Haggling, Halloween markdowns & hybrid cars – this week's MSE Forum highlights

Forum Executive

1 November 2024

Whilst MSE's experts have been crunching the data to work out what the Budget means for your pocket, this week the Forum has asked and answered the usual array of MoneySaving questions, from the trivial to the life-changing.

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A few of this week's top threads

These are some of the Forum discussions that caught our eye this week:

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 give my child money for a property as I gave the others wedding money?

I have three children in their 30s. Two are married, and I contributed towards the cost of both weddings. My other child, who is single, purchased a property on their own and I lent them money towards the deposit. The amount they borrowed is similar to what I gifted towards each wedding - is it fair to expect them to repay it, or should I say it's a gift in lieu of contributing towards a wedding?

See what our MSE Forumites had to say and add your own thoughts on the Money Moral Dilemma discussion thread. Do please stick to the MSE Forum rules: keep it kind and keep it clean. Remember, there's a real person behind every dilemma.

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

Photo of the week

As we slide into the winter months, alicef shared this montage of their recent gardening activity, including apple-pressing and dead-heading the roses.

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.

Latest comping wins

Two compers have won big cash prizes this week, with tinyrabies winning £2,000 and Eas opting for £900 rather than a top-of-the-range iPhone. Head to our Competitions time boards to see what prizes are up for grabs this week.

Challenge corner

Today is World Vegan Day so it's a good opportunity to highlight the storecupboard challenge on our Old-style MoneySaving board which – as thread starter leftatthetrafficlights puts it – is all about "using up what you have in your storecupboard and freezers to make vegan meals and save money on groceries".

Our Forum Ambassador Brie has launched a new reverse Advent calendar challenge to encourage us all to put aside items during November that can be donated to a local foodbank at the start of next month, in time for the festive season.

Your two cents

In my local supermarket the Halloween markdowns began while the trick-or-treaters were still out on the streets. What bargains have you spotted? These can be decorations to keep in store for next year or food to enjoy straight away.

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