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.
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When you’ve ever seemed 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 permits 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 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 ideas that make it really price 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 referred to as a “Magic Bag” since you gained’t know precisely what’s inside, bbut it’ll all the time be price 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 easy. 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 Baggage 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 bought!
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 the perfect, 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 supply leftover dishes or elements, although they’re much less widespread; a number of motels supply breakfasts
Essential to say: it’s pot luck.
Some luggage are wonderful. 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 price 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 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 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 night time
- Some luggage may be disappointing: you’re getting greater than the meals’s price, however would you even eat it?
- In style 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 outlets/cafes to cut back their meals waste. Most will include a really quick 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 means of)
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. High-quality, 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: Combined bag, however typically sensible.
- Comfort shops: Finest by far. We’ve had luggage stuffed with groceries price over £20 for simply £3.
Right here’s a YouTube video of one among our experiences if you’d like 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 great things? The following pointers assist:
- Verify the app late at night time or early morning: that’s when most new luggage seem
- Coronary heart your favorite outlets: it’s simpler to control what they put up
- Be fast: good ones (like Greggs, Morrisons and native bakeries) go quick
- Carry your individual bag: not all locations present one
- Go for comfort shops: they’re extra beneficiant and assorted than chains
- Don’t anticipate miracles: deal with it as a cut price bonus, not your full store
Saving cash and decreasing waste
Whereas the large enchantment is saving a number of quid, there’s a much 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 shedding cash.
You get an inexpensive dinner. They don’t waste inventory. The planet breathes a bit simpler.
Remaining ideas
Too Good To Go isn’t going to interchange your weekly meals store, but it surely’s a helpful software if you happen to’re versatile, curious, and need to reduce prices with out chopping corners.
You gained’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 believe it’s undoubtedly price a go.
And if you happen to’ve already tried it, we’d like to know: what’s the perfect (or weirdest) factor you’ve ever had in a Magic Bag?
Naomi is aware of the burden of residing on little or no and have become debt free by following her personal cash saving ideas and tips. She is an knowledgeable on saving cash on the grocery store and aspect hustles.