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[MSE Archna]

This thread is specifically to discuss the content of the

How The Site Makes Money Article

To discuss or ask a question about the article: click reply

[Ken68]

This is a good site, with good ethics, probably better than WHICH, long may it live.
Keep all you can Martin, don't give it all away.
As a subscriber I AM GAINING from what I read, yet to stooze tho. Needs courage that.

[eilz]

Martin, I think your doing an excellent job, best site ever!!!

[needmoney]

This is a brilliant site, wish I'd found it years ago and I find your reason for starting it all 'mainly to help other people and not gain from it' quite unbelievable

[Rafter]

So companies are stupid enough to indirectly pay you for screwing them?

How neat is that!

Unfortunately it is totally unsustainable, unless marketing departments continue to invest in loss making offers that you can highlight... which they probably will.

So good luck to you.

Hopefully one day the site will no longer be required - perfect information will mean that everyone gets the same deal and one group of customers can do no better than another and companies cannot make excess profits but just a reasonable return for selling good products at a fair price.

R.

[MSE Martin]

Rafter, I write something similar at the end of the Money Diet. However I think we'll never live in a market of perfect information and total disapathy, so I suspect the need for information providers will always be there. As for how long the revenue model will last, you'll see I've done some detailed notes on that and the options in the discussions relating to past blogs

martin

[Ken68]

The high charging bad guys who you (and the forum) are exposing are bound to get upset.
Watch yourself Martin.
Remember the dirty tricks of the British Airline who didn't want cheaper flights.

[Ken68]

...............what tricks were those then?..............

It's under 'Dirty tricks, low cost airlines', and tells of the lengths that some companies will go to discredit opposition.

[Grumlin]

Martin, prompted by the news today of further British Gas price rises, I finally switched. The finder service I used didn't have the ability to switch me to the company with the cheapest tarriff which means that you don't earn anything from my saving. If you had a Paypal donate button, or something similar, I would pay you £10.
Regards,
Grumlin.

[MSE Martin]

Thanks a very kind offer Grumlin. There's no need though... the site currently does well and I would prefer to keep it so people haven't paid.

However as you may've seen I am setting up the MoneySavingExpert.com Charitable Trust and once that's up and running - it'd love your £10 if you're still willing

martin

[Rachel Mac]

Martin, this was my first visit to the site after hearing you on Radio 2 the other day. I'm a bit overwhelmed at the vastness of the site! I just read about how the site is funded and I have to say that it's a hard article to find, so I'm not surprised that many haven't read it! I applaud your moral stance and I intend to put the web address in my school newsletter tomorrow.

About your charity - an education that is inherently moral and not controlled by market forces would ensure that not only will children come out of it as free thinking adults, able to resist the hard and soft sell, but also as people less inclined to rip others off in the first place. Knowledge is good , but you need the moral sense to use it well. Let's try and change the world!

[KellyB]

I came here from google.co.uk and I'm mightily glad I did!

I've been on other "money saving" websites but to be honest, they always seemed a little too commercial for me.

I love the fact that everything is free.
I love the fact that there are no ads.
I love that so many people use the site and gain knowledge.
I love the fact that money goes to charity.
I love the fact this site was set-up in the first place!

Thank you Martin.

I think this site may be helping to save my life....not literally of course, but you know what I mean!

I've told all my friends about this place and have also put a link up in my signature on another (non money) site I frequently post on all because I believe that if people are more educated in financial matters, there would be a lot less misery around.

[FrugalFairy]

Managing to make money in an ethical way is a great achievement.

I think the idea of a charity that will teach kids about personal finance is fantastic. Being in control of your money is one of the life skills that leads to a happy and fulfilled life.

Good Luck!

[furndire]

If life in general was as friendly and helpful as the majority on the site, we would be living in a far better world. I for one am proud to be a member of this community.

[Chef1980uk]

I never queried how the site made money, i didn't think it did lol. I only saw the question link "How this site makes money" did i realise some of the links were of the paid type.

For all the hard work and constant banging on about all aspects regarding our money, i say well done and congrats. You deserve to be paid for it afterall.

As for 13 members of staff. Wow, i honestly thought a team of at least 50 were used to run this place. When you think about all the research needed and updating of all the articles i am astounded only 13 people are doing this.

Finally, as a 27 year old i don't find myself watching or listening to mediums where you pop up on and in yet i have heard you twice this week, once on Look North with regards to the Hull case and today at work on Radio 2 (Head chef changed the station from Radio 1). I have to say your enthusiasm needs applauding Martin.
If you manage to donate £100k per year to charities then i'm sure you could quit this site and live happily ever after. The fact that you haven't and still carry on with great gusto speaks volumes and if that isn't enough of an incentive for people to do something about their finances then i don't know what is.

[maggie434]

I've already spent an hour looking around the site and can't believe everything that's here. it is amazing!

Question:
I'm new to this site so don't know how it all works but how to suggest offers / deals / content if you find something good somewhere else on the web?? I guess that's how a lot of the content finds its way onto this site?

Thanks!

[jo_b]

Originally Posted by maggie434

I've already spent an hour looking around the site and can't believe everything that's here. it is amazing!

Question:
I'm new to this site so don't know how it all works but how to suggest offers / deals / content if you find something good somewhere else on the web?? I guess that's how a lot of the content finds its way onto this site?

Thanks!

Hi Maggie434. Welcome to MSE!

If you spot any offers/deals that haven't already been posted, you just need to make a post like you have done already.

There are lots of different boards covering different topics, (eg: savings, Grabbit (for short term offers), Shop But Don't Drop (for bargains and shopping tips). Choose the board that seems most relevant and press the 'Start New Thread' button at the top of the page.

[MothballsWallet]

I've already switched gas & electric, following Martin's advice, twice in the last 2 years online. I'm now with the company that is the cheapest for me, from doing my research.

Also, I took out the mbna bmi Amex card, another one of Martin's "have a look at it" recommendations. I ummed and aahed about that one before I went for it, but luckily I seem to have a good credit score (Barclays think I have a very good to excellent one from when I opened the Tax Haven ISA with them - yes, yet another one of Martin's "have a look at it" recommendations).

Also, I've earned about 9% on average cashback through Quidco deals, the best one being a 35 quid on my home insurance. (Martin, do you think MoneySaving Productions would still be interested in talking to me for IPTW3? I haven't had my call yet, and been too busy to call the team.)