As the cost of living crisis continues to soar, many of us are trying to save the pennies and cut back on non-essential purchases. But on the odd occasion when you fancy a treat or a takeaway, spending a tenner on a meal for one isn't ideal.
One app I have had on my phone for a while has become a lifesaver when trying to cut back on my outgoings. It allows me to help to reduce food wastage while treating myself now and again. The Too Good To Go app works by connecting customers to restaurants, supermarkets and hotels that have an unsold surplus of food.
The app has partnered with big brands which are featured on the app - including Starbucks, Costa, Spar and Greggs to name a few. It also works with local brands in each location. In Cardiff you can find favourites such as Pettigrew bakery, Brod Danish bakery and The Angel Hotel.
READ MORE: Too Good To Go guide for Cardiff: When and how to get the best food bargains
How does it work?
Businesses sell magic bags of their unsold food at a reduced price on Too Good To Go. However, the catch is that you do not know the exact contents until you pick it up, as it's down to chance what isn't sold that day. You also have to pay in advance and pick up your food during a certain time frame.
I'm no stranger to the app and have previously ordered a variety of items from my local Starbucks and Costa, where I have previously had four items per magic bag containing toasties and sweet treats like muffins and cakes, left over from the day. However, I wanted to venture out of my usual go to coffee shops and try something new - and in the process I think I found a great deal.
The great deal
Mexican food is one of my favourite takeaways - especially burritos and tacos. While scrolling on the app, I came across Barburrito, which sells Burritos from £6.95, classic sides such as chicken wings, fries and tortilla chips and chocolate covered desserts. Unlike other businesses on the Too Good To Go app, you get to choose your burrito filling. On the app, you get to choose if you want a meat option or vegetarian option, either for £3.
I ordered my food at 8am and arrived at 8.40pm to pick up my order, expecting them to give me a magic bag, but instead I got to choose what filling I wanted in my burrito - which is unusual for this app. At this point they had stopped serving regular customers and were only serving orders from Too Good To Go.
As they were closing at 9pm, the filling options were limited, as they only used ingredients left over from the day. I managed to get a regular pork wrap, with brown rice, shredded pork, guac, mild salsa, cheese and spinach, which would have usually set me back £7.95. However, if I had gone earlier in the day and paid full price I may have been able to have a few more options in my burrito - slightly disappointed I didn't get any black beans this time. I also managed to get a portion of spicy wings for free which would have usually been an extra £4.25, tallying up my meal to what would have otherwise cost £12.20. By using this app I nearly saved myself a tenner - what a bargain!
I definitely will be using the Too Good To Go app again when I fancy a takeaway from BarBurrito. However, good deals aren’t always to be expected to be found on this app - we previously got four soups from Pret A Manger - but now and then you find a great deal not to be missed.
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