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 great, the dangerous, and the questionable bargains.

For those who’ve ever regarded in your fridge and thought, “I must do a meals store, however payday’s days away,” you’re not alone.

Too Good To Go is an app that allows you to purchase low-cost “shock” luggage of leftover meals from outlets, supermarkets and cafés at knockdown costs.

We’ve used it a great deal of instances now, and whereas it’s not good, it may be a superb little trick to stretch your finances and cease meals from going to waste.

Right here’s the way it works, what to anticipate, and the little ideas 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 outlets and eating places on the finish of the day.

It’s known as a “Magic Bag” since you gained’t know precisely what’s inside, bbut it’ll at all times 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 actually simple. Very merely:

• Obtain the Too Good To Go app (free on iOS or Android)
• Enter your postcode or activate location
• Browse native outlets and cafés with Magic Luggage obtainable
• 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 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 thought of what’s inside:

• Supermarkets: combined groceries like prepared meals, meat, bread, fruit and veg
• Comfort shops: these are usually 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: contemporary bread, desserts, sausage rolls and pastries
• Eating places: typically provide leftover dishes or elements, although they’re much less frequent; a number of accommodations provide breakfasts

Essential 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 youths!
• Handy: simple to make use of, fast to gather
• Eco-friendly: helps minimize meals waste and helps native companies
• Versatile: good in case you’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 in case you don’t like sure meals
• Not allergy-friendly: when you have intolerances or allergic reactions, these luggage gained’t be for you, as you don’t get to decide on what’s in them
• Assortment instances may 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 may 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 certain quantity of meals they offer away every day
• Use it quick: the entire level of the luggage is for the outlets/cafes to cut back their meals waste. Most will include a really brief shelf life or a use-by date of the day you purchase them (you possibly can nonetheless make use of your freezer via)

Our expertise utilizing the app

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

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

Right here’s a YouTube video of one in every of our experiences if you would like a glance.

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

High ideas and hacks to get higher luggage

Need to get the great 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 outlets: it’s simpler to keep watch over what they put up
• Be fast: good ones (like Greggs, Morrisons and native bakeries) go quick
• Deliver your individual bag: not all locations present one
• Go for comfort shops: they’re extra beneficiant and diverse than chains
• Don’t count on miracles: deal with it as a cut price bonus, not your full store

Saving cash and lowering waste

Whereas the large enchantment is saving a number of quid, there’s a much bigger win behind it too.

Every bag you accumulate stops good meals from being binned, which is nice for the surroundings. Plus, it helps native companies minimize waste with out shedding 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 exchange your weekly meals store, but it surely’s a helpful device in case you’re versatile, curious, and wish to minimize prices with out chopping corners.

You gained’t at all times get a winner, however whenever you do, it’s a correct good feeling, particularly whenever 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 in case you’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?