Just for fun

Secondhand fridges, shoe repairs & streaming sticks – this week's MSE Forum highlights

Forum Executive

30 October 2026

Is it worth spending more up front to buy an appliance that's substantially cheaper to run? That's one of the talking points on the MSE Forum this week. Read on to explore that thread and more of the latest conversations in our MoneySaving community.

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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.

Can I ask to have my saxophone back after two decades?

As a school kid, I learned to play the saxophone, passed a few grades and eventually bought my own. When I went to uni, I lost interest and lent it to a family friend who'd make use of it. Two decades later, I’d like to start playing again - but a similar saxophone now costs at least £800. I’m still in touch with the friend and know they still have it, so would it be rude to ask for it back? Or is there an unspoken 'statute of limitations' on reclaiming something you lent out years ago?

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.

Challenge corner

A new month is beginning, so why not take up a new challenge? The November Grocery Challenge is open for business. Here's how Matron_Midge has got on over the past month: "I’m declaring a really good October. Spent £246.10/£400 and bulk fund untouched.

"We’ve been eating down the meat freezer and using a lot of homegrown produce. Next month I’m hoping to carry on eating down our stores but using the grocery budget to replace some things and start getting some of the non perishable festive items. I’ll see you over on the November thread."

Photo of the week

We're always in awe of the skill and resourcefulness of our Forum community. This week Florenceem shared a picture of this UFO (unfinished object, not the spooky kind of UFO) that they have recently completed:

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

This week's stand-out winner is dml1986 who is off for a jazz-filled weekend in Paris. Also celebrating is hjg123 who is taking delivery of a case of South African wine.

Take a peek at Competitions Time to see what you could win.

Your two cents

As you'd expect, MSE has had comprehensive coverage of this week's Budget and what it means for your wallet. In our Forum poll we're asking whether you think the measures will leave you better or worse off.

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