These apps help us waste less, save more, and make the most of what’s already out there.
When budgets are tight, food waste hurts twice. Once at the till, and again in the bin.
We all start with good intentions. Buy the veg. Plan the meals. Then life happens, plans change and something gets shoved to the back of the fridge and forgotten.
Out it goes. Along with the money we spent on it.
The good news is there are now a few really useful tools that tackle food waste from different angles. Some help us buy cheap surplus food. Others help us use what we already have. Using a mix of both is where the savings really add up.
Apps that help us buy cheap surplus food
These focus on stopping good food being thrown away by shops, cafés, and households.
Too Good To Go
This one’s all about rescuing surplus food at the end of the day. Cafés, bakeries and supermarkets sell “magic bags” of leftover food, usually for £3–£5. You don’t know exactly what you’ll get, but the value is often much higher. It works best if we’re flexible and happy to improvise.
Head to: www.toogoodtogo.com
Olio
Olio lets neighbours and local businesses share surplus food that would otherwise go to waste. That could be spare veg, bread, unopened pantry items, or food from cafés and shops. There’s no selling or payment. We can also use Olio ourselves to pass on food we won’t use in time, instead of binning it.
Listings show what the food is and when it needs using by, and users rate each other after collections, which helps keep things safe and straightforward. We message through the app, agree on a pick-up time, and collect locally.
It’s a simple way to top up the fridge, save money, and waste less food.
Head to: olioapp.com
Apps that help us waste less at home
These focus on the food we’ve already paid for.
Kitche
Kitche helps us keep track of what we buy and reminds us before food goes off. We can scan receipts or barcodes, get expiry reminders, and see how much money and food we’re saving by wasting less. It’s especially helpful for those “forgotten in the fridge” items.
Head to: kitche.co
SuperCook
SuperCook answers the “what can I actually make with this?” question. We add the ingredients we have, and it suggests recipes using them. It’s great for using up random odds and ends before they go to waste.
Head to: www.supercook.com
A quick note on dates and binning food
A lot of food gets thrown away too soon. “Best before” dates are about quality, not safety, and many foods are still fine after. Smell, look and taste often tell us more than the label.
For clear UK guidance on storage, dates and good food habits, Love Food Hate Waste has loads of practical advice and recipes at here.
Cutting food waste doesn’t need to be perfect. Even small changes mean less money in the bin and more breathing room at the end of the week.
Image: Alena Paulus/Getty Images
Live in London and struggling with high bills or everyday pressures?
Rainy Day Money is a short, free programme offering practical money support and simple actions that can save money and support the environment. You can join the programme by using this referral link.
Learn more about the programme in the flyer below!
