Sep 22, 2022

The food waste apps that can help you save money during cost of living crisis You can buy much cheaper food and save it from going to landfill 14:34, 22 SEP 2022 Story from Jam Press (Food Shop Savings)Pictured: Yellow sticker bargain items snapped up by Al Baker. ‘I work in a supermarket – here’s how to get 90% off your food shop,’ reveals dad who saved £10,000 with bargain buysA supermarket worker has revealed how you can cheat the system and score groceries for up to 90% off – and it’s easier than you’d think.Al Baker, 48, from Aldershot, Hampshire, made headlines after sharing how he lived on yellow sticker bargains after his £300,000 debt forced him into bankruptcy – and saved £10,000 over two years as a result.Now, the dad-of-two – who worked in his local supermarket up until May 2022 – has shared how other shopper can get the best bargains too.“Having previously been in a position where I wasn't sure how I would pay for our next grocery shop, I can relate to anyone having sleepless nights, wondering how they will feed their family,” Al, who shares money saving tips on his blog The Penny Pincher, said.One of the easiest cost-cutting methods for Al was identifying what time he could score reduced items – particularly the coveted yellow sticker buys.Al, who works at his local supermarket as part of his “side hustles”, says the demand for such items has increased “dramatically”.But for many, it’s hit and miss – unless you know what time to get there.He said: “You may have to contend with more significant numbers of rival bargain hunters, but it's still very much worth the trip to grab a yellow sticker deal. “Every supermarket will have different times for reducing their clearance food, so it's always worth asking a staff member in your local supermarket what time they bring out the reductions. “You will see the first reductions in the supermarket I work at – around 30% off regular prices – from about 9 am. The final reductions start at around 5.30 pm, hitting the shelves around 6.30 pm. “Every store department will have a different maximum redu Group 28 It feels like supermarket prices are rising each time we visit at the moment - and for many, this has made the weekly food shop unaffordable. Our sister site, Manchester Evening News, has been price-watching a number of basic items such as milk, bread and mince, to track just how quickly these prices are rising. In July, the total bill for eight basic items reached double figures for the first time ever. More and more people have been relying on food banks this year to feed themselves and their families as the cost of living crisis deepens across the country. Data from the Trussel Trust between April 2021 to March 2022 shows a 14 per cent increase in food parcels distributed across the UK compared to pre-pandemic levels. Some people are turning to food waste apps to get hold of supermarket, cafe and restaurant food for a fraction of the price. Many businesses, including supermarket giants like the Co-op and Tesco, have signed up for these apps in a bid to save food from going to landfill - 6.7 million tonnes of food is wasted each year according to Cheaper Waste . The food items shared on the apps are still high quality but may be about to pass their 'best before' sell-by date. Lots of food is still safe to eat after this time, and some supermarkets like Asda, Sainsbury's and Morrisons have ditched them all together on some of their produce. There are a number of apps available in the Bristol area you can download to your smartphone to see what's available in your area. Most apps will use your location to show you the closest availability to where you're based. Olio This app was first created to benefit not just consumers and businesses but neighbours, too. Whether it’s sell-by-date food from local shops or rescued preserves someone no longer wants, Olio allows excess food to be shared within communities all over the UK. Everything on Olio is listed free of charge, aside from listings in the “made” section where people sell homemade items such as crafts and food. Too Good To Go This is used by cafes, restaurants, fast food chains and supermarkets that are all looking to get rid of any surplus products at the end of the day. They sell 'magic bags' at a huge discount from what they normally would - but you don't always know what you're getting until you collect it - you can also input your dietary requirements. You also have a specific window to collect your items depending on the business' preferences. We tried the Too Good To Go app earlier in the year to see how far £10 would get us - read what we thought here . Kitche Kitche keeps track of the food you purchased from your supermarket shop, will suggest recipes and warn you when items are getting close to their sell-by date, meaning you throw less food away. It claims to save households as much as £630 a year by ensuring everything in your fridge and cupboard is used up. It works by scanning a supermarket receipt and listing your items in the app so you can always check how much food you have. Karma This app works similarly to Too Good To Go allowing households to buy extra food at a good price. It isn't widely used in Bristol yet - so far there are only a few businesses listed - although it is much newer than the other more popular apps. Unlike Too Good To Go, it pinpoints availability on a map which shows the closest availability more clearly. Up next: Most Recent Most Recent