Thanks Circes.
I haven't made my mind up to buy it, but I have made my mind up that if it is something I would use, makes good soup and therefore makes it easier for me to make a cheap and healthy lunch, then, from my perspective it wouldn't be a waste of money - not the same thing I don't think!
That's why I'm interested to know if anyone has used a soup maker and if they have, what their views are.
I've only made soup a couple of times in my slow cooker - once it was so vile I threw it away, but that could have been the mix of ingredients (I think it was cauliflower and bean or something similar). My favourite is leek and potato, which I have made a few times in a pan, but then had to blend it in a food processor, as my hand blender wasn't up to the job.