Can you really save money with Too Good To Go?

Can Too Good To Go save you money on food? Here’s how it works, real-life tips, and what to expect in a Magic Bag: the good, the bad, and the questionable bargains.

If you’ve ever looked in your fridge and thought, “I need to do a food shop, but payday’s days away,” you’re not alone.

Too Good To Go is an app that lets you buy cheap “surprise” bags of leftover food from shops, supermarkets and cafés at knockdown prices.

We’ve used it loads of times now, and while it’s not perfect, it can be a brilliant little trick to stretch your budget and stop food from going to waste.

Here’s how it works, what to expect, and the little tips that make it actually worth doing.

What is Too Good To Go?

Too Good To Go is a free app that helps you rescue unsold food from local shops and restaurants at the end of the day.

It’s called a “Magic Bag” because you won’t know exactly what’s inside, bbut it’ll always be worth more than you pay.

You’re saving money and helping stop perfectly good food from ending up in the bin.

How does it work?

Using the app is really straightforward. Very simply:

• Download the Too Good To Go app (free on iOS or Android)
• Enter your postcode or turn on location
• Browse local shops and cafés with Magic Bags available
• Reserve one and pay (usually between £2.50 and £6)
• Head to the shop at the set time to collect
• Take your bag home and see what you’ve got!

That’s it. No vouchers, no haggling, no awkwardness.

What kind of food can you get?

It depends where you go, but here’s a rough idea of what’s inside:

• Supermarkets: mixed groceries like ready meals, meat, bread, fruit and veg
• Convenience stores: these tend to be the best, in our experience, with loads of snacky bits, fridge bits and even the odd treat
• Cafés (like Starbucks or Costa): sandwiches, wraps, croissants, muffins
• Bakeries: fresh bread, cakes, sausage rolls and pastries
• Restaurants: sometimes offer leftover dishes or ingredients, though they’re less common; a few hotels offer breakfasts

Important to say: it’s pot luck.

Some bags are amazing. Some are…ok enough. Some are a bit of a let-down.

Pros and cons of Too Good To Go

The good stuff:

• Cheap: bags are often worth 3x what you pay
• Exciting: it’s a bit of a lucky dip, especially for kids!
• Convenient: easy to use, quick to collect
• Eco-friendly: helps cut food waste and supports local businesses
• Flexible: good if you’re not too fussy and like a mix of bits

The not-so-good stuff:

• You don’t choose what you get: this can be difficult if you don’t like certain foods
• Not allergy-friendly: if you have intolerances or allergies, these bags won’t be for you, as you don’t get to choose what’s in them
• Collection times can be awkward: you get a two-hour time slot, but this is usually just before closing, which may mean going out at rush hour or late at night
• Some bags can be disappointing: you’re getting more than the food’s worth, but would you even eat it?
• Popular bags sell out fast: it’s first come, first served on the app, and there’s only a certain amount of food they give away each day
• Use it fast: the whole point of the bags is for the shops/cafes to reduce their food waste. Most will come with a very short shelf life or a use-by date of the day you buy them (you can still make use of your freezer through)

Our experience using the app

We’ve used Too Good To Go many times over the years, and here’s what we’ve found:

• Starbucks bags: Bit underwhelming. Usually the same sandwich and one sweet thing. Fine, but not exciting. As the food is expensive to start off with, you don’t get a lot to make it up to the bag price.
• Small retailers and bakeries: Mixed bag, but sometimes brilliant.
• Convenience stores: Best by far. We’ve had bags full of groceries worth over £20 for just £3.

Here’s a YouTube video of one of our experiences if you want a look.

More about Aldi and Morrisons joining the app:

Top tips and hacks to get better bags

Want to get the good stuff? These tips help:

• Check the app late at night or early morning: that’s when most new bags appear
• Heart your favourite shops: it’s easier to keep an eye on what they post
• Be quick: good ones (like Greggs, Morrisons and local bakeries) go fast
• Bring your own bag: not all places provide one
• Go for convenience stores: they’re more generous and varied than chains
• Don’t expect miracles: treat it as a bargain bonus, not your full shop

Saving money and reducing waste

While the big appeal is saving a few quid, there’s a bigger win behind it too.

Each bag you collect stops good food from being binned, which is great for the environment. Plus, it helps local businesses cut waste without losing money.

You get a cheap dinner. They don’t waste stock. The planet breathes a bit easier.

Final thoughts

Too Good To Go isn’t going to replace your weekly food shop, but it’s a handy tool if you’re flexible, curious, and want to cut costs without cutting corners.

You won’t always get a winner, but when you do, it’s a proper good feeling, especially when you’ve only paid a couple of quid for what should’ve cost a tenner (or more).

I think it’s definitely worth a go.

And if you’ve already tried it, we’d love to know: what’s the best (or weirdest) thing you’ve ever had in a Magic Bag?