Just for fun

Doomscrolling, houseplants & getting ready to retire – this week's MSE Forum highlights

Forum Executive

7 August 2026

This week Forumites have been giving thought to what happens when it's time to retire. MoneySavers have been talking about how it felt once they'd made their retirement date official, whilst another MSE Forum user is looking for tips on putting their affairs in order for a smooth transition.

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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 we top up one of our kids' JISAs if they're not worth the same?

My wife and I set up junior stocks & shares ISAs for our two children when they each turned one. We pay the same amount into both and invest in the same funds, as we want to treat them equally. Yet as there are four years between them, the investments will be subject to different market conditions - so one account could be worth much more by the time they each turn 18. If that happens, should we make up the difference so both children end up with the same amount?

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.

Photo of the week

This week's picture is courtesy of LessImpecunious who has cultivated this welly boot garden:

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

Comper stacey2kids has been a Forumite for more than a decade and a half and this week they shared news of a win of a lifetime – a £5,000 trip to Washington DC.

Take a look at the Competitions Time board for the latest crop of comps, including many with a back-to-school theme.

Your two cents

This week MSE_Rosie published our new guide to lending money to family and friends. As ever, she'd love to hear your thoughts, personal experiences and general feedback.

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