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 unhealthy, and the questionable bargains.

In case you’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 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 good, it may be a superb 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 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 outlets 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 de facto 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 accessible
• Reserve one and pay (normally between £2.50 and £6)
• Head to the store on the set time to gather
• Take your bag dwelling 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 very 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 components, although they’re much less widespread; a number of lodges 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.

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: 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: you probably 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 will be awkward: you get a two-hour time slot, however that is normally simply earlier than closing, which can imply going out at rush hour or late at night time
• Some luggage will be disappointing: you’re getting greater than the meals’s value, however would you even eat it?
• Fashionable 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 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 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. Fantastic, however not thrilling. Because the meals is pricey to begin off with, you don’t get loads to make it as much as the bag value.
• Small retailers and bakeries: Combined 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 one of our experiences in order for you 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 tips 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 regulate what they publish
• 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 diversified than chains
• Don’t anticipate miracles: deal with it as a discount bonus, not your full store

Saving cash and lowering waste

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

Every bag you gather stops good meals from being binned, which is nice for the atmosphere. Plus, it helps native companies reduce waste with out shedding cash.

You get an affordable 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, nevertheless it’s a helpful instrument if you happen to’re versatile, curious, and need to reduce prices with out chopping corners.

You received’t all the time 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 price 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 the very best (or weirdest) factor you’ve ever had in a Magic Bag?