Smart shopper saves £744 on groceries with handy trick anyone can do

The cost of living makes doing the weekly grocery shop an unaffordable and daunting task, especially during the summer holidays.

But one clever mum shared how she saved a whopping £744 in less than a year and a half.

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Szidonia Stoia, 36, mother of one and customer service representative in a call center, tells how she saved hundreds of euros thanks to the Too Good To Go app.

Szidonia, who lives in Leicester, regularly uses the app to save money on groceries at her local Aldi and to pick up treats from Greggs and Yo Sushi.

With Too Good To Go, customers can collect food items that would otherwise end up in the trash at greatly reduced prices.

“I heard about Too Good To Go from a friend who also volunteers at Olio,” Szidonia told the community that saves money LaatsteDeals.nl.

“I usually buy two bags a week to supplement my weekly shopping.

“I normally buy them from Aldi, but occasionally I’ll buy a bag from Greggs or Yo Sushi as a treat.

“I usually save at least £30 on my weekly shop.

“It’s worth checking out individual stores in your area – reviews are helpful too.

“The app tells you what time they will post the bags and it’s useful to set a reminder on your phone so you don’t miss a bag as they sell out quickly.”

Szidonia says the app has allowed her to prepare her meals in a different way.

“I’ve tried different foods that I wouldn’t have bought otherwise, like expensive beef and tuna steaks. It’s fun to experiment and cook different dishes,” she says.

“I love cooking and regularly post pictures of my food on social media.

“I get really excited when I receive a nice surprise box.”

The mother says the app has helped her cook healthier meals.

“Food is expensive and we try to eat as healthy as possible,” she says.

“I normally get lots of fruits and vegetables and my seven year old is always happy and excited to try different snacks and fruits.

“I’ve made spaghetti bolognese or chili con carne with minced meat, sushi with smoked salmon, Sunday dinners, chicken skewers, stir fries, katsu curry and the list goes on.”

“I usually buy the surprise boxes from Aldi, for £3.30 each.”

“The original value varies, but is usually between £12 and £20, sometimes even more.

“I get a wide variety of food including bread and pastries, meat, fruits and vegetables.

“You can buy a few bags of salad or several boxes of fruit so I can make homemade strawberry jam or pesto so nothing goes to waste.

“Most products have a longer shelf life than the date printed on them, especially vegetables. You can also freeze meat and fish.

“I cook more often, so I use up all the ingredients, or freeze some of the vegetables for pasta sauces or soups.

“I have been using the app since May 2023 and have definitely saved money with it.

“I’m also learning to become smarter and learn new cooking skills, like making my own butter from the clotted cream I once got in one of the sachets.

“I also donate food to friends and family, and even to other Too Good To Go members who live near me, so that nothing goes to waste.

“I have purchased a total of 111 bags so far.

“It’s really helpful because grocery prices have gone up a lot and when you have a child you spend a lot more on healthy food, like fruit and vegetables, which are very expensive.

“Saving money on groceries also means I can pay part of the energy bill or treat my son to a new toy or a day out.”

Tom Church, co-founder of LatestDeals.co.uk, said: “Too Good To Go is a real win-win app – less food is wasted, which is better for the environment, and consumers can also take advantage of great deals on large parcels of food.

“I’ve been a fan for a long time – just look at Szidonia’s amazing Too Good To Go balance, which has saved me over £700 since May 2023.

“Szidonia shows that if you use the app diligently, set reminders on your phone and get creative with recipes, you can really save a lot on your weekly shopping.”

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