This is a great post, although I’d maybe question the promotion of MSE as the best resource for UK personal finance. The site has a policy of only promoting risk-free products and strategies, so it has an over-emphasis on (eg.) savings accounts over investment accounts even in situations where the latter would be more appropriate. The information it provides is largely accurate, and sometimes useful, but I wouldn’t recommend adopting its overall approach to personal finance.
So yes I agree that 100% adopting its approach is suboptimal but as a first pass I think the people would be much better off following MSE, and then deviating when they are in a position where they can afford to take risks.
One analogy I often use in situations like this is someone asking whether the Earth is round. My answer would be initially yes, just to make sure that we are on the same page about the Earth not being flat, and only then could we get into the fact that it is technically an ellipsoid.
Sure, I understand why it takes that stance, but I’d still suggest (eg.) the resources on r/ukpersonalfinance would be a better place to create a personal finance strategy. MSE is basically a consumer review site—it’ll give you some easy suggestions to save money, and comparisons of some financial products, but if you don’t have a long-term financial strategy then money saving only takes you so far.
This is a great post, although I’d maybe question the promotion of MSE as the best resource for UK personal finance. The site has a policy of only promoting risk-free products and strategies, so it has an over-emphasis on (eg.) savings accounts over investment accounts even in situations where the latter would be more appropriate. The information it provides is largely accurate, and sometimes useful, but I wouldn’t recommend adopting its overall approach to personal finance.
Outside of investments, their information is unbeatable IMO and is very wide ranging (eg: booking flights, loans, utility bills).
I’ve never seen them advise against investing but only that they don’t provide investment advice.
I do agree that MSE leans towards risk-free products, but I totally appreciate that stance given that 34% of adults in the UK have £0-1000 in savings and 65% have less than 3 months worth of savings.
In terms of accuracy and usefulness, I don’t know of any resource that is as good on say consumer rights, insurance, travel, loans, household bills, benefits and other day-to-day stuff.
So yes I agree that 100% adopting its approach is suboptimal but as a first pass I think the people would be much better off following MSE, and then deviating when they are in a position where they can afford to take risks.
One analogy I often use in situations like this is someone asking whether the Earth is round. My answer would be initially yes, just to make sure that we are on the same page about the Earth not being flat, and only then could we get into the fact that it is technically an ellipsoid.
Sure, I understand why it takes that stance, but I’d still suggest (eg.) the resources on r/ukpersonalfinance would be a better place to create a personal finance strategy. MSE is basically a consumer review site—it’ll give you some easy suggestions to save money, and comparisons of some financial products, but if you don’t have a long-term financial strategy then money saving only takes you so far.