Can you actually lower your expenses with Too Good To Go?

Can Too Good To Go prevent cash on meals? Right here’s the way it works, real-life ideas, and what to anticipate in a Magic Bag: the nice, the dangerous, and the questionable bargains.

If you happen to’ve ever appeared 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 occasions now, and whereas it’s not good, it may be an excellent little trick to stretch your funds and cease meals from going to waste.

Right here’s the way it works, what to anticipate, and the little ideas that make it truly 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 known 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 Baggage accessible
• Reserve one and pay (often between £2.50 and £6)
• Head to the store on the set time to gather
• Take your bag residence and see what you’ve acquired!

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: combined groceries like prepared meals, meat, bread, fruit and veg
• Comfort shops: these are usually one of the best, 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: contemporary bread, muffins, sausage rolls and pastries
• Eating places: typically supply leftover dishes or substances, although they’re much less frequent; a couple of accommodations 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.

Execs 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: simple to make use of, fast to gather
• Eco-friendly: helps lower 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 troublesome if you happen to don’t like sure meals
• Not allergy-friendly: if in case you have intolerances or allergic reactions, these luggage received’t be for you, as you don’t get to decide on what’s in them
• Assortment occasions might 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 might be disappointing: you’re getting greater than the meals’s value, however would you even eat it?
• Standard 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 luggage 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’ll be able to nonetheless make use of your freezer by way of)

Our expertise utilizing the app

We’ve used Too Good To Go many occasions through the years, and right here’s what we’ve discovered:

• Starbucks luggage: Bit underwhelming. Normally the identical sandwich and one candy factor. Superb, however not thrilling. Because the meals is dear to start out off with, you don’t get so much to make it as much as the bag value.
• Small retailers and bakeries: Blended bag, however typically sensible.
• Comfort shops: Greatest by far. We’ve had luggage filled with groceries value over £20 for simply £3.

Right here’s a YouTube video of certainly one of our experiences if you need a glance.

Extra about Aldi and Morrisons becoming a member of the app:

Prime ideas and hacks to get higher luggage

Wish to get the good things? The following tips assist:

• Verify the app late at evening or early morning: that’s when most new luggage seem
• Coronary heart your favorite retailers: it’s simpler to control what they submit
• Be fast: good ones (like Greggs, Morrisons and native bakeries) go quick
• Deliver your personal bag: not all locations present one
• Go for comfort shops: they’re extra beneficiant and assorted 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 attraction is saving a couple of 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 surroundings. Plus, it helps native companies lower waste with out dropping cash.

You get an inexpensive dinner. They don’t waste inventory. The planet breathes a bit simpler.

Ultimate ideas

Too Good To Go isn’t going to switch your weekly meals store, nevertheless it’s a useful device if you happen to’re versatile, curious, and need to lower prices with out reducing corners.

You received’t all the time get a winner, however if you do, it’s a correct good feeling, particularly if you’ve solely paid a few quid for what ought to’ve value a tenner (or extra).

I feel it’s undoubtedly value a go.

And if you happen to’ve already tried it, we’d like to know: what’s one of the best (or weirdest) factor you’ve ever had in a Magic Bag?