Szidonia Stoia uses the Too Good To Go app to save money on her shopping as well as picking up treats from chains like Greggs and Yo Sushi
The weekly shop has become a source of stress for many due to the rising cost of living, but one mum has found a way to cut her bills significantly. Szidonia Stoia, who works in a call centre, has saved a whopping £744 in just over a year by using the Too Good To Go app, which offers heavily discounted food from shops, cafes, and restaurants.
Szidonia, a savvy saver and mum-of-one, swears by the app for reducing her shopping bills while also being able to indulge in treats from popular outlets like Greggs and Yo Sushi. The app’s concept is straightforward – users can purchase surplus food at a reduced price that would otherwise be thrown away when shops, restaurants and cafes close at the end of the day.
Speaking to LatestDeals.co.uk, the money-conscious mum shared: “I usually buy two bags a week as a top up for my weekly groceries. I usually save at least £30 on my weekly groceries. It is worth checking out individual stores in your area – ratings are helpful as well.”
Determined not to miss out on these deals, the 36-year-old sets phone reminders for herself because once the discounted bags are sold, they’re gone for good. While the contents of the bags are often a surprise with a short shelf life, this doesn’t deter her from getting inventive with her meals.
The savvy shopper said: “I have tried different types of food I wouldn’t have bought otherwise, like expensive beef and tuna steaks and it is fun to experiment and cook a variety of different dishes. I love cooking and I post my food pictures on social media regularly. I get really excited if I get a nice surprise box,” reports the Daily Record.
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She added: “Food is expensive and we try to eat as healthily as possible. I usually receive a lot of fruit and vegetables and my seven-year-old is always happy and excited to try different snacks and fruit.”
Continuing with the long list of dishes made from the boxes, she said: “I’ve made spaghetti Bolognese or chilli con carne with beef mince, sushi with smoked salmon, Sunday dinners, chicken kebabs, stir fry, katsu curry and the list goes on. I usually buy the surprise boxes from Aldi at £3.30 each.”
Keen to share her food-saving solutions, the mum said: “I have been using the app since May 2023 and I’ve definitely saved up money. I am also learning to be more savvy and learning new cooking skills, like making homemade butter out of clotted cream I got once in one of the bags. I am also donating food to friends and family members, and even other Too Good To Go members that live near me, so nothing gets wasted.”
Too Good To Go operates in 18 countries across Europe and America. It was started in 2015 in Denmark by a group of young entrepreneurs who shared a dream of finding a solution for the massive amounts of food wasted by buffet restaurants.
Szidonia said: “I’ve bought a total of 111 bags so far. It is really helpful, because grocery prices have risen substantially and having a child means spending a lot more on healthy foods, like fruit and veg, which are really expensive. Saving money on groceries also means paying towards a utility bill or treating my son to a new toy or day out somewhere.”
Tom Church, co-founder of LatestDeals.co.uk, said: “Too Good To Go is such a win-win app: less food gets wasted, which is better for the environment, plus consumers can pick up amazing deals for huge bundles of food.”
“I’ve long been a fan of it – just look at Szidonia’s amazing Too Good To Go balance, saving over £700 since May 2023. Szidonia shows that if you use the app diligently, setting reminders on your phone, and getting creative with recipes, you can really make a big saving on your weekly shop.”