Money Moral Dilemma: Is it wrong to buy cheap clearance food when we could afford to pay full price?

whydoineedone

Yes I've also started to feel guilty doing that - there are far more deserving people with less money that I. I would never be one of those greedy individuals who see something at bargain price and wipe out the whole shelf. It's up to the supermarkets in those instances to put a limit on how much someone can pick up. Hate greed and selfishness!

pumpkin89

I think it partly depends on what you choose to buy, and therefore what impact it has on other people.

For example, I will only buy free range chicken.  Even when reduced, it is often more expensive than standard chicken - so in that case I am getting a bargain but somebody who was really struggling would still buy the cheaper option.  Likewise Charlie Bigham meals, premium desserts etc.

nearlyanonion

I think the you should carry on doing what you are. think of it like this would you go  privately if you needed hospital treatment when you have the  NHS which is paid for by your taxes etc. Remember supermarkets make huge profits and waste a lot of goods. If they manged their stock control they would not need to  put so much stuff on the reduced shelf. 

coughcandy

I regularly buy yellow stickered food particularly fruit and veg and anything else I know I’ll use because I hate waste. 

If I left it there how do I know that it would go to the needy rather than in the bin. 

I always shop late after those in need have had a chance to go.

Moralhelper

Food waste is a massive problem in the developed world: I don't know in the UK but in the US it is about 30% of all food in the supermarket. You are doing a good thing by helping make sure that less food goes to waste, because let's face it, most of it won't be bought by anyone but end up in the bin. What good is that?

Now, someone in the comments talked about an incident in which a lady cleared the reduced section leaving nothing for her. Perhaps she didn't notice, otherwise it sounds greedy to me. If I was in the supermarket and someone else was interested in the same product as me, I would try to leave some for them, even in the full priced section.

ShinyStarlight1

MSE_Kelvin said:

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

My wife and I have steady jobs with good salaries and live within our means. We've always shopped in the clearance section at supermarkets, but with the huge increase in food prices over the last two years, I've begun to feel guilty about it. We're fortunate enough that we could pay full price, and with so many struggling, it feels like we're taking an opportunity from those who need it more.

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I would let those who are less financially stable have that food. They don’t have the choice to buy more expensive things, while I do.

primrose_penguin

You do not need to feel guilty, you are not taking free food from a food bank, you are paying for the clearance items yes it costs less, but that is because as others say, it has a short date, is damaged or there is something missing, as long as you are only taking what you need and not being greedy you are doing nothing wrong.

cing0

Its specifically wrong for those haranguing the shop assistant doing the reductions and filling their trolleys with final reductions done hours before the store shuts.

Its also wrong for pensioners who have guaranteed incomes to do it so they can then afford to buy fags and then get in their cars and drive off.

Itsmyopinion

The point of the exercise is to make sure no food is wasted, save our planet, greenhouse gases it’s all linked together and helps everyone, it’s also more economical for the shops to sell at a reduced price that to pay commercial waste charges if it’s left on the shelf thus helping to keep prices down . And check out the olio app .

john_evmk

Food that passes the use by date gets destroyed at the seller’s expense. By buying it you are saving money, the seller is saving money and you are also saving the planet!

No moral dilemma there whatsoever!