Money Moral Dilemma: Is it OK to fill my freezer with 'yellow sticker' bargains?

MSE_Sarah

This week's MoneySaver who wants advice asks...

I occasionally see large quantities of meat (20 or more packs) reduced heavily in the yellow sticker section. Is it wrong to take all of them and freeze what I don't need today, or should I only take a few and leave the rest so others can get a bargain too?

Unfortunately the MSE team can't always answer money moral dilemma questions as contributions are often emailed in or suggested in person. They are intended to be enjoyed as a point of debate and discussed at face value.

  If you haven’t already, join the forum to reply.

Got a Money Moral Dilemma of your own? Suggest an MMD

DigForVictory

I wouldn't, I'd take maybe four family meals worth & leave the rest for others. Enough to save money, not enoughj to do other families out of the chance,
YS stuff can be variable in quality as well - I wouldn't want to fill my freezer with something that turned out not to defrost too well.

Ken68

Take some,leave some.

AnneMary

If I had time to deal with the surplus meat, room in the freezer and was buying because it was something we genuinely enjoyed (not because it was cheap), I don’t see anything wrong in taking the lot.  Great deals are often only very last minute and if no one else bought it it would be part of the great food waste disgrace. 

JuliusCaesar

If it's offered for sale, you have space to store it, and will definitely use it, then buy the lot.

annieshb

Question is do you use it all or do you pop it in freezer then forget about it? 

Like most items n a shop it’s first come basis and so not a  moral dilemma I hate waste though.

Wizzbang

This is hardly a moral dilemma! You are free to buy what you like, unless the shop imposes limits. However, I would urge caution - I buy less and less yellow stickers, they're not good value because they're so close to their date, they go off in the freezer. I got sick of removing bread or baked goods, only to find the were covered in green mould. Or worse, smelly meat. It's not very money-saving and you really should freeze food when it's as fresh as possible, not on its last legs.

Gingerscot_2

My main problem is making room in my freezer as it is usually stuffed with reduced produce. Also, I have had meat in the freezer for well over a year and, once defrosted, have never noticed any difference from the fresh stuff and I've never had bread go mouldy in it.

mixiah

Depends how desperate you are. Some folk will really rely on surviving on reduced stuff so maybe take what you need rather than buying all 20. Especially if it's a regular thing and you're confident you can get more soon. 

abelld

Take as much as you can deal with. Don’t waste it. 

elsien

Good luck fighting your way through the yellow sticker mob to grab that many at once. You'd need body armour and tear gas in my local stores to get a couple of packs, let alone the multitudes you seem to be talking about.