Food Costs - OLIO is just brilliant

OrkneyStar

pumpkin89 said:

It's interesting how different people's views are on the optimal amount of choice!  I used to live easy walking distance from one of the largest Tesco stores in the country, and have really missed it since only having access to standard-sized supermarkets.

For whatever reason, my tastes seem to be different from the majority - my favourite flavour is nearly always the one that's only stocked in a few places    On the plus side, it does encourage more home cooking as I can't get what I want ready made.

I used to live on the mainland, had loads of large supermarkets all within a walk/bus distance and varied where I went - the choice didn't overwhelm me. Now I live on an island, with less shops to start with, and smaller versions of the ones we have (except perhaps Lidl), and I honestly feel that between those and local shops there is a decent enough selection to choose from. I feel overwhelmed back in larger supermarkets on the mainland now! That said, I know ranges for gluten free, vegan etc used to sometimes be a bit lacking, and folk had to make more from scratch, though that is less so now. I just feel that too much choice uses up energy which could be better spent on other things - that said, I appreciate there will be different views on this, and so am not claiming 'my way is the only way' (it is for me, ha ha, but the world isn't all about me.....).

newlywed

I agree. Sometimes I want more choices (when bored with usual meals etc) but often too big a store has way too many choices. 

If I want a different choice then I tend to head to waitrose, it’s not a massive store and limited varieties (except for a huge amount of cheese!) but still something different.


I have also done something similar with clothes - project 333. Reducing your morning decisions on what to wear each day seems to help reduce stress.

Blackcats

I think the concept of reducing food waste by using Olio is positive and worthwhile.  The volunteers that collect and distribute are fabulous and give so much of their time on a very regular basis.
we have been fortunate enough to really benefit from using olio.  I never ask for more than I can use and I always collect when I say I will - that's my side of the deal and I'm hugely appreciative of the way it works.
yes, I know I'm lucky and it doesn't work for everyone but it is a sound concept that can make a difference.

Pollycat

shykins said:

Pollycat Olio is not about need its about stopping food waste, therefore if you dont ask for something thats available it may well get wasted if no one else has asked for it

Just to come back to this...
Does everyone who uses Olio practise zero waste (as far as possible) on the items they buy?
Or do people throw away over-ripe bananas? Wrinkly carrots? Stale bread? 'Best Before date' items?
It would be great if using the App also educated people about rethinking their own waste policy.

I remember a fabulous long running thread (hundreds of pages) started by Jackie O (now London 1, I think) called 'Love food, hate waste).

elsien

Pollycat said:

shykins said:

Pollycat Olio is not about need its about stopping food waste, therefore if you dont ask for something thats available it may well get wasted if no one else has asked for it

Just to come back to this...
Does everyone who uses Olio practise zero waste (as far as possible) on the items they buy?
Or do people throw away over-ripe bananas? Wrinkly carrots? Stale bread? 'Best Before date' items?
It would be great if using the App also educated people about rethinking their own waste policy.

I remember a fabulous long running thread (hundreds of pages) started by Jackie O (now London 1, I think) called 'Love food, hate waste).

Probably not. Some people just like a freebie. I do try to - if I get bags of things where I’m going to struggle to use it all, for example, I donate it on to family. 

shandyclover

After reading this thread a couple days ago I revisited Olio. I had signed up years ago but it was all very much in beginning stages with few participants and due to work I couldn't commit to collecting. Yesterday I had another look and found someone giving away food that I could actually collect on the way home from work with a small detour, bearing in mind I cycle. I was able to collect spinach, kale, calvo nero, coconut yogurt and almond butter - all very much used in our mostly vegan household. Today someone is collecting from my porch some unused non food kitchen items. 

shykins

Pollycat like you I have always planned etc so I don’t have food waste, don’t even know where my food waste bin is lol

that doesn’t stop me helping counteract food waste from shops by volunteering for Olio.    Even with that any that is not requested is taken to the farms so it’s not wasted

yes people like freebies but that’s fine as otherwise a lot of this would be in landfill etc.   anyone can offer items on there it’s not just for food 

Pollycat

shykins said:

Pollycat like you I have always planned etc so I don’t have food waste, don’t even know where my food waste bin is lol

that doesn’t stop me helping counteract food waste from shops by volunteering for Olio.    Even with that any that is not requested is taken to the farms so it’s not wasted

yes people like freebies but that’s fine as otherwise a lot of this would be in landfill etc.   anyone can offer items on there it’s not just for food 

My point was that people who use Olio to collect unwanted food may not be committed to reducing waste in their home.
And people who don't use Olio may be much more committed to reducing waste.
It's not exclusive.

And as far as Olio goes, it doesn't work for me because of location.

Auntycaz

Olio doesn't work for me because of my location either ( I live rurally, don't drive and can't walk very far), but it's a great idea and I would definitely use it if there was one nearby.
 I managed to get a few lovely bramley apples last week. Someone had put a large tub of apples outside their house with a free sign above them. Their way of reducing food waste.

I_Love_comps

I have used olio for both giving and requesting.  It is a good app to use.