
Saving water, slippery paths & stovetop kettles – this week's MSE Forum highlights
This week on the MSE Forum has been all about domestic conundrums: dealing with pests, managing the recycling bin, keeping the garden path safe and how to heat water for that all-important cuppa. Read on to get MoneySaving help with these household tasks and more.
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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:
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I've got mice in my kitchen - should I call in the professionals?
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How can I crush the plastic containers in my recycling bin to free up more space?
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Would you collect waste water from your shower to flush the loo with?
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What are the ethics of examining a product in a shop and then going home to buy it cheaper online?
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.
Am I short-changing myself by letting my stepmother live in my house for free?
I bought our family home from my father, who - before he died - said he wanted my stepmother to live in the three-bed property for the rest of her days. My stepmother, who I'm friendly with but not close to, is retired and lives there rent-free (I live and work abroad or else stay with my fiancé). I pay for home insurance, boiler servicing and any repairs, and I'm responsible for maintenance and upkeep, and my stepmother is quite insistent when she wants things done. I want to honour my father's wishes, but am I being naive letting her live there when it's costing me £500 a month, and I could generate income by renting the house out?
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
Pink_poppy shared this photo of an ice-covered Loch Fyne they took whilst on a winter excursion.

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.
Challenge corner
There's still time to join in the Cosy Fridays thread, which sprung up after the recent success of our Advent and Christmas challenges, where Forumites made a conscious effort to make the most of clothes, accessories and objects they already own. As Blackcats puts it, "in true MSE style we can choose exactly how we make ourselves cosy this Friday using existing resources and our creativity".
Latest comping wins
Forumite starving_artist is "over the moon" with two recent prizes totalling £220 after a year without wins. Meanwhile cooldude255220 has listed their eight wins during 2024 with thanks to the Forumites who posted the competitions.
Turn to our Competitions time boards to see the latest opportunities to win.
Your two cents
As it's Burns Night this weekend we thought it was a good opportunity to revisit this 2014 thread about what to do with leftover haggis. We'd love to hear your ideas.
If you're not a member yet, it's easy to register for the MSE Forum.