Can Too Good To Go prevent cash on meals? Right here’s the way it works, real-life suggestions, and what to anticipate in a Magic Bag: the nice, the dangerous, and the questionable bargains.
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When you’ve ever regarded in your fridge and thought, “I have to do a meals store, however payday’s days away,” you’re not alone.
Too Good To Go is an app that permits you to purchase low-cost “shock” luggage of leftover meals from retailers, supermarkets and cafés at knockdown costs.
We’ve used it a great deal of instances now, and whereas it’s not excellent, it may be a superb little trick to stretch your price range and cease meals from going to waste.
Right here’s the way it works, what to anticipate, and the little suggestions that make it really value doing.
What’s Too Good To Go?
Too Good To Go is a free app that helps you rescue unsold meals from native retailers and eating places on the finish of the day.
It’s referred to as a “Magic Bag” since you received’t know precisely what’s inside, bbut it’ll all the time be value greater than you pay.
You’re saving cash and serving to cease completely good meals from ending up within the bin.
How does it work?
Utilizing the app is absolutely simple. Very merely:
- Obtain the Too Good To Go app (free on iOS or Android)
- Enter your postcode or activate location
- Browse native retailers and cafés with Magic Luggage out there
- Reserve one and pay (often between £2.50 and £6)
- Head to the store on the set time to gather
- Take your bag house and see what you’ve received!
That’s it. No vouchers, no haggling, no awkwardness.
What sort of meals are you able to get?
It relies upon the place you go, however right here’s a tough concept of what’s inside:
- Supermarkets: blended groceries like prepared meals, meat, bread, fruit and veg
- Comfort shops: these are typically the most effective, in our expertise, with a great deal of snacky bits, fridge bits and even the odd deal with
- Cafés (like Starbucks or Costa): sandwiches, wraps, croissants, muffins
- Bakeries: recent bread, desserts, sausage rolls and pastries
- Eating places: generally supply leftover dishes or components, although they’re much less widespread; just a few motels supply breakfasts
Necessary to say: it’s pot luck.
Some luggage are superb. Some are…okay sufficient. Some are a little bit of a let-down.
Professionals and cons of Too Good To Go
The great things:
- Low-cost: luggage are sometimes value 3x what you pay
- Thrilling: it’s a little bit of a fortunate dip, particularly for teenagers!
- Handy: straightforward to make use of, fast to gather
- Eco-friendly: helps reduce meals waste and helps native companies
- Versatile: good if you happen to’re not too fussy and like a mixture of bits
The not-so-good stuff:
- You don’t select what you get: this may be tough if you happen to don’t like sure meals
- Not allergy-friendly: in case you have intolerances or allergy symptoms, these luggage received’t be for you, as you don’t get to decide on what’s in them
- Assortment instances could be awkward: you get a two-hour time slot, however that is often simply earlier than closing, which can imply going out at rush hour or late at evening
- Some luggage could be disappointing: you’re getting greater than the meals’s value, however would you even eat it?
- Well-liked luggage promote out quick: it’s first come, first served on the app, and there’s solely a specific amount of meals they offer away every day
- Use it quick: the entire level of the baggage is for the retailers/cafes to scale back their meals waste. Most will include a really brief shelf life or a use-by date of the day you purchase them (you may nonetheless make use of your freezer by way of)
Our expertise utilizing the app
We’ve used Too Good To Go many instances over time, and right here’s what we’ve discovered:
- Starbucks luggage: Bit underwhelming. Often the identical sandwich and one candy factor. Positive, however not thrilling. Because the meals is pricey to begin off with, you don’t get rather a lot to make it as much as the bag worth.
- Small retailers and bakeries: Blended bag, however generally sensible.
- Comfort shops: Greatest by far. We’ve had luggage stuffed with groceries value over £20 for simply £3.
Right here’s a YouTube video of one among our experiences if you need a glance.
Extra about Aldi and Morrisons becoming a member of the app:
High suggestions and hacks to get higher luggage
Need to get the great things? The following pointers assist:
- Examine the app late at evening or early morning: that’s when most new luggage seem
- Coronary heart your favorite retailers: it’s simpler to keep watch over what they put up
- Be fast: good ones (like Greggs, Morrisons and native bakeries) go quick
- Convey your individual bag: not all locations present one
- Go for comfort shops: they’re extra beneficiant and diversified than chains
- Don’t count on miracles: deal with it as a discount bonus, not your full store
Saving cash and lowering waste
Whereas the large enchantment is saving just a few quid, there’s an even bigger win behind it too.
Every bag you acquire stops good meals from being binned, which is nice for the setting. Plus, it helps native companies reduce waste with out dropping cash.
You get an inexpensive dinner. They don’t waste inventory. The planet breathes a bit simpler.
Last ideas
Too Good To Go isn’t going to switch your weekly meals store, nevertheless it’s a useful instrument if you happen to’re versatile, curious, and need to reduce prices with out reducing corners.
You received’t all the time get a winner, however while you do, it’s a correct good feeling, particularly while you’ve solely paid a few quid for what ought to’ve value a tenner (or extra).
I believe it’s positively value a go.
And if you happen to’ve already tried it, we’d like to know: what’s the most effective (or weirdest) factor you’ve ever had in a Magic Bag?
Naomi is aware of the burden of dwelling on little or no and have become debt free by following her personal cash saving suggestions and methods. She is an knowledgeable on saving cash on the grocery store and aspect hustles.
