A SAVVY mum has revealed how she gets bags of food for free, including essentials for her kids’ packed lunches.
So if your and you’re , then you’ve come to the right place and won’t want to miss this.
A mother has shared how she gets bags of food for free every week thanks to a little-known app
But social media users were divided by the woman’s clip and slammed her for taking food from the “needy”
And don’t worry if you’re strapped for time, as according to this woman, nabbing free food takes mere minutes after the .
A self-proclaimed “” who often shares on recently explained how she pockets pounds by getting without having to spend a penny.
Posting online, the , who is at 32 and is a “big fan of cheap , reusing and living frugally,” acknowledged that thanks to the , she grabs “freebies that would otherwise be thrown away.”
Thanks to the little-known , this influencer and get their hands on every week, as the mother said: “Let’s go pick up some free food off the Olio app – that I use lives quite near me so I go after the school run.
“She leaves them in bags on her front doorstep so you just have to go to the front doorstep, look at which bag has got your name on it and then you can pick it up and take it home.”
Thanks to , this woman, alongside millions of others, is able to save heaps of cash whilst getting her hands on an impressive variety of items, from baked goods to fruit and vegetables.
Many supermarkets, such as and , have partnered up with to hand out free food that would otherwise go to waste.
The free food is close to its expiry date but fear not, as is registered with the Food Standards Agency to make sure it is still safe to eat when it is collected.
While the groceries are completely free, there is often limited availability and no guarantee what will be on offer.
Showing off her online, the thrifty parent highlighted: “I’ve got a big chest freezer so a lot of the bread just goes into the freezer and I can take it out each day for whenever I need to use it.
“Pan au chocolates will go in the – I think I’m gonna put these baguettes in the freezer.”
The mother also nabbed a bag of pastries, which she claimed would be great for quick breakfasts throughout the week.
As well as this, she shared: “There’s some blueberries, eggs, lots more bread, some baps which will do for burgers one night for tea.”
For the needy, not the greedy
TikTok user
The handy app works by users signing up to the app and then entering their postcode and selecting a maximum mile radius they are willing to travel to pick up food.
To sign up you must download the Olio app, which you can find on the Apple app store or by going online .
How to save money on your food shop
Consumer reporter reveals how you can save hundreds of pounds a year:
Odd boxes – plenty of retailers offer slightly misshapen fruit and veg or surplus food at a discounted price.
Lidl sells five kilos of fruit and veg for just £1.50 through while Aldi shoppers can get Too Good to Go bags which contain £10 worth of all kinds of products for £3.30.
Sainsbury’s also sells £2 “Taste Me, Don’t Waste Me” fruit and veg boxes to help shoppers reduced food waste and save cash.
Food waste apps – food waste apps work by helping shops, cafes, restaurants and other businesses shift stock that is due to go out of date and passing it on to members of the public.
Some of the most notable ones include Too Good to Go and Olio.
Too Good to Go’s app is free to sign up to and is used by millions of people across the UK, letting users buy food at a discount.
Olio works similarly, except users can collect both food and other household items for free from neighbours and businesses.
Yellow sticker bargains – yellow sticker bargains, sometimes orange and red in certain supermarkets, are a great way of getting food on the cheap.
But what time to head out to get the best deals varies depending on the retailer. .
Super cheap bargains – sign up to bargain hunter Facebook groups like Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK where shoppers regularly post hauls they’ve found on the cheap, including food finds.
“Downshift” – you will almost always save money going for a supermarket’s own-brand economy lines rather than premium brands.
The move to lower-tier ranges, also known as “downshifting” and hailed by consumer expert , could save you hundreds of pounds a year on your food shop.
When you log in, you can choose to collect food from either a food waste hero or someone who lives locally.
A food waste hero is a voluntary role where an Olio app user picks up unsold excess food and takes it home to distribute to their .
Social media divide
The clip, which was posted under the username @ diaryofacheapskate , has clearly left many open-mouthed, as it has quickly racked up 140,800 views, 1,709 likes and 111 comments.
But social media users were left totally divided by the mother’s use of the Olio app – while some were thankful she had shared an insight into the , others slammed her and claimed it was for the “needy” only.
One person said: “You are shocking, leave this for people in need.”
Another added: “Sorry but you and your mortgage free, you really don’t need this. Save it for others who are struggling.”
I am an Olio volunteer, it isn’t just for struggling people, it’s also for people who love looking after the planet
TikTok user
A third commented: “For the needy, not the greedy.”
However, at the same time, one user gushed: “Wow this is so helpful! Thanks for sharing.”
Another beamed: “I love Olio.”
Whilst one Olio volunteer explained: “I am an , it isn’t just for struggling people, it’s also for people who love looking after the planet.
“I’ve seen all kinds of people collecting from me. People assume it’s for the poor.”
