TooGoodToGo - Save Money and Fight Food Waste

Too Good To Go is an app created to 'fight food waste' whilst also allowing you to bag some great deals on delicious goodies. Shops and restaurants can use to the app to sell 'magic bags' full of food that hasn't sold that day.

It's a great way to save money, although you don't get to pick what's included in your Magic Bag. Depending on which bag you choose to save, it could contain absolutely anything from that shop including cakes, smoothies or sandwiches.

Once you've downloaded the app, you can browse which goodies are currently available. You then pay in advance on the app with card or Apple Pay and reserve your bag for the time shown.

We often use Too Good To Go to get us some goodies, so I've collected my top tips for using the app.

When should I check TooGoodToGo?

In my area most of the Too Good To Go bags get listed between 12-4pm. However this can vary for restaurants that stay open later, and there are even a couple that do Breakfast Magic Bags who list them the night before. I find these are perfect when I've run out of time for breakfast doing the school run and taking my children to morning clubs.

Which Magic Bag should I choose?

There are over 5,000 restaurants and retail spaces in the UK that currently use the TooGoodToGo app. The well known ones such as Greggs, Morrisons, Krispy Kreme and Millie's Cookies are those that will sell immediately after being listed. However there are a few lesser known options that you are more likely to see when browsing the map. You can view the star rating for each place, but remember at the end of the day it is a lucky dip! You might even find your new favourite restaurant by taking a chance on one.

How do I find Magic Bags?

Once you've downloaded the app you can allow it to see your location or set it manually. there is a list view option but my favourite way to use the app is with their map.

You can easily move around and set filters such as 'hide sold out' so you can clearly see what is currently available. If we know we are out I will set the map to our location and search for anything available during the times we will be there.

What do I need to bring when collecting my TooGoodToGo Magic Bag?

Remember to bring your phone charged as you need a code from the app to collect your goodies. I also recommend bringing a box or bag to hold your food. They usually will hand over your food in either a cardboard box or paper bag, however if it's raining or you have to travel home you may want your food a little more protected.

What if I'm not happy with my TooGoodToGo Magic Bag?

We have had a couple of occasions where we've been disappointed in what we've received in our Magic Bags. We once chose a local bakery which in the description advertised baked goods and fresh bread. However once we turned up we were given a loaf of bread that had expired 3 months prior and had been sitting in her freezer since.

We also found a cafe that had been using the app incorrectly and was using it to sell their doughnuts at close to retail price throughout the day.

In both of these occasions we contact the TooGoodToGo support team via their online form who were extremely helpful and credited us the amounts back to our account.

I highly recommend downloading the app and giving it a try. It's saved us a lot of money and my little girl loves it when we get a 'surprise mystery bag'.

Have you used TooGoodToGo before?

I have not been paid or otherwise compensated to write about Too Good To Go.