A BARGAIN hunter has shared a little-known hack that got her over £500 worth of food from Pret, totally for free.
Not only did Lara Oztekin, who is from the , get her hands on two large bags of and pastries, but she also bagged a huge selection of baguettes too.
A savvy shopper has shared a little-known way to get hundreds of pounds worth of food, without having to spend a penny
The foodie proudly showed off her huge Pret haul, which included pastries, sandwiches, egg pots and salads
But that wasn’t all, as the was even able to walk away with numerous sandwiches, wraps and salads.
To top it all off, she got smoothie bowls, egg pots and granola too.
Showing off her jaw-dropping , Lara took to , proudly giving viewers a close-up look at .
Alongside the video, the penned: “Probably needed a hug, but got £500 plus worth of instead.”
She then joked: “A sourdough baguette keeps the doctor away.”
Lara confirmed that she did four pick ups to get her , but acknowledged that it wasn’t all for her.
She stressed that she used the to nab the freebies that would otherwise be thrown away.
The explained: “Before people think I’m mad and also worry about any , I was given this via the Olio as my position as a ‘food waste hero.’”
Following this, she reassured: “My job was to distribute this to friends, and strangers so nothing went to waste.”
Thanks to the little-known , this influencer was able to collect the , which she confirmed 90% of which was donated to those in need.
While Lara got her hands on baked goods and sandwiches, many of which would be perfect for , you can even get free fruit and vegetables through the app too.
As well as , many supermarkets, including 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 is registered with the Food Standards Agency to make sure it is still safe to eat when it is collected.
My job was to distribute this to friends, neighbours and strangers so nothing went to waste
Lara Oztekin
While the groceries are completely free, there is often limited availability and no guarantee what will be on offer.
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 use the Olio app
TO get hold of your freebie you'll need to download the Olio app is free from the Apple Store for iPhones or the Google Play Store if you're on Android.
You will need to register an account using your email address or Facebook account and switch on your location settings.
You can then browse the app to find out what’s up for grabs in your local area.
When you find something that you like, click on the item and then click the red “Request This Listing” button.
You will then be able to message the volunteer to arrange to collect it.
To list food on the app, you’ll need to click on the red + button and add a description.
When you log in, you can choose to collect food from either a food waste hero or someone who lives locally.
A , like Lara, is a voluntary role where an Olio app user picks up unsold excess food and takes it home to distribute to their .
Social media users gasp
Lara’s clip, which was posted under the username @ laraoztekin , has clearly left many totally stunned, as it has quickly racked up 767,200 views.
Not only this, but it’s also amassed 84,300 likes and 299 comments.
Social media users were open-mouthed by Lara’s huge haul, but were equally as shocked by the amount of ‘waste.’
This is literally all I want and need
TikTok user
One person said: “I love using Olio.”
Another added: “My dream.”
A third commented: “That’s crazy.”
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.
Whilst someone else gushed: “This is literally all I want and need.”
Not only this, but another Olio food waste hero wrote: “I do this as well but I give it to different in my flat. The kids really appreciate it as it sorted out their weekly lunch.”
At the same time, one user gasped: “The amount of food ‘waste’ is dreadful omg.
“You’re definitely about to be everyone’s favourite neighbour/friend distributing this!”
