Frugality may be termed the daughter of prudence, the sister of temperance, and the parent of liberty

October 8, 2008 3:56 AM

If you listen to BBC radio, especially in these troubled times, you may have heard consumer expert Martin Lewis (on one, two or four). His moneysavingexpert site is comprehensive and UK-centric (and regularly referenced on the green). However, the real gem is the site's huge forum, with masses of information that might be useful to just about anybody.

I was moved to post this when I was struck yesterday by just how many times I've referred to the forum recently on diverse subjects: preparing for winter, drying clothes indoors, buying a meat slicer, home made Christmas presents, playing mp3s in the car, greyhound adoption, travel insurance, getting started with veg growing, making elderflower cordial.

Impressively for such a large forum, there's also an intense sense of community, with support groups for weight loss, frugal living projects, saving strategies, pregnancy, and running, as well as more recent concerns.

posted by primer_dimer (12 comments total)

Appropriate timing considering that Martin Lewis' MoneySavingExpert was probably the most influential site in encouraging people to invest in Icesave despite the risks involved.
posted by HaloMan at 4:09 AM on October 8, 2008

And, to be fair, the UK government is backing all the deposits UK nationals made in Icesave.
posted by jaduncan at 4:59 AM on October 8, 2008

The UK House Price Crash forums are enjoying considerable schadenfreude right now over the bullish tone of the MoneySavingExpert forums. Martin Lewis had a humiliating appearance on Channel 4 News last night over his recommendations of Icesave, but said that he would not have done anything differently.
posted by infobomb at 5:17 AM on October 8, 2008 [1 favorite]

I've had many a free meal as a result of Martin. In terms of finding stuff cheap though hotukdeals is far better. I don't make any major online purchases without checking their voucher forum.

I don't have time for the forum but I do scan his weekly newsletter and switch my credit cards around every now and then.
posted by srboisvert at 6:29 AM on October 8, 2008

Last night's interview with Channel 4 news where Jon Snow takes Martin Lewis to task.
posted by rhymer at 6:56 AM on October 8, 2008 [1 favorite]

MSE forums far too damn huggy for my taste.
posted by pharm at 9:49 AM on October 8, 2008

So, what's the legit, U.S. equivalent?
posted by jbickers at 9:52 AM on October 8, 2008

So, what's the legit, U.S. equivalent?

Prison talk forums
posted by Bitter soylent at 12:45 PM on October 8, 2008

Last night's interview with Channel 4 news where Jon Snow takes Martin Lewis to task.

If "takes to task" is British slang for "rather transparently attempts sensationalism by accusing Lewis of scamming a man who, being a solicitor, really should have known better, and actually ignored important aspects of Lewis' advice, but has cerebral palsy or something so we should empathize with him," then yes.
posted by Sys Rq at 1:15 PM on October 8, 2008 [1 favorite]

Double post!
posted by i_cola at 4:09 PM on October 8, 2008

In fact I've been recommending it for a few years it seems...
posted by i_cola at 4:14 PM on October 8, 2008

I prefer hotukdeals over moneysavingexpert. Compare and contrast their reaction to redsave:
Hot uk deals discussion
Money saving expert - "do NOT post about Redsave"
posted by JonB at 11:43 PM on October 9, 2008