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

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  • Rosa_Damascena
    Rosa_Damascena Posts: 6,987 Forumite
    Fifth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Homepage Hero Name Dropper
    silvermum said:
    missusP said:
    I understand a lot of people feel this is helping food waste but many supermarkets donate these reduced items at the end of the day to homeless charities or Olio, which redistributes it for free. It doesn't go in the bin but helps people who may not even be able to afford the reduced prices. I use Olio every week and it really helps as I work for the NHS on a zero hour contract and cannot guarantee work every week. 
    I agree with others and don't think the poster should feel guilty but I wanted to correct the view this food is binned.
    I know someone who is an Olio volunteer hero - she collects food from supermarkets which is end of shelf life and offers it locally - but she says unfortunately due to the timing/logistics it's really hard to pass it on and a lot of it is still binned!
    She has to collect between 8-9pm, then list it on the Olio app, then people need to come to her house to collect - usually before 10.30/11pm the SAME EVENING. She can't pass on anything once the Use By date has passed.

    In reality, few people except those very local can access that food in a 1-2 hour timeslot. Issues with childcare, transport, safety at night are all barriers.

    It's a great concept, but the execution doesn't work very well.
    That is the problem, especially with salad items and bakery products. Unless you can find a charity willing to take it, it still ends up being wasted.
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  • alicef
    alicef Posts: 537 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Well, I buy Lidl marked down products, (specifically sliced granary bread; meat and fish) and put them in the freezer. I also buy the occasional Lidl box of fruit/veg if available.  Recently, I think Lidl has become more efficient with their stocking levels as I don't often see these items marked down anymore.   I don't feel any angst about this.

    I did see the flip side to this when I used to sign up to staff M&S at Christmas - oh the horror stories of the crowds, pushing, shoving & grabbing at items around the poor staff member trying to discount the product.
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  • Murphybear
    Murphybear Posts: 7,982 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    cing0 said:
    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.

    Just because pensioners have guaranteed income doesn’t mean they are well off.  Most pensioners get half what someone on the minimum wage gets, assuming 37 hours a week.  I live in sheltered housing, there are 33 flats, mainly single people.  I know just how poor many of them are.  Only 2 smoke and most don’t drive cars. 
  • Slinky
    Slinky Posts: 11,018 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    I buy reduced priced items from Tesco when I could afford to pay more. The shop is only about 400 yards from Aldi so cheaper options are available not far away. We used to put stuff in the foodbank bin, but have now set up a monthly standing order to our local foodbank for them to buy whatever they are short of rather than us guessing at what is needed.
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  • P0123
    P0123 Posts: 88 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10 Posts Combo Breaker
    Hi Kelvin

    From your own admission, you don't actually need these food savings and you are certainly well-off enough to buy food from the standard shelves rather than seek out the reduced food shelves.

    First of all, you CAN'T donate these items to your local food bank, larder, cupboard, etc, because they CANNOT accept "fresh food", frozen food or "perishables; they can only accept tinned, boxed or other non-perishable items.  Also, they cannot take anything out-of-date or close to the best before date.
    (I am speaking from experience of previously working there.)

    My second thought is that I, personally, feel very strongly that these reduced items should be left for those who cannot afford to pay the full price otherwise, or are on very tight budgets, (whether due to work/unemployment, sickness, high bills (often sudden unexpected), debts, low income or some other valid reasons), because it is down to a case of those that NEED it and those that WANT it.

    Again, I acquired this train of thought from experience, and have felt completely demoralised at times when I have rushed to stores to check that day's reduced stock, only to find people blocking my view and access to these shelves who were blatantly displaying that they were comfortably off (- and when I was finally able to reach the shelves, it was only to find that most, if not all, the reduced items had been taken).  (The reason that I had not got there earlier, at times, was due to volunteering for charity/ies, and so I couldn't arrive sooner to obtain these items.)

    Many people do not have the budget to buy a lot of items at full price, for various reasons, but they don't necessarily come under the bracket of eligibility for the afore-said charities, or they may not be available in their areas, either.

    So, yes, I think it's great that you have the good morals to question this point, but I'm afraid I don't think you, nor similar "comfortable" people, should take this small opportunity away from those that really need this more so.

    As for "saving it from waste", etc, that doesn't happen because, if there is anything left, then the staff are offered it - and God only knows, most retail staff are on minimum wage and have few "benefits".
  • Slinky
    Slinky Posts: 11,018 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    P0123 said:
    Hi Kelvin

    From your own admission, you don't actually need these food savings and you are certainly well-off enough to buy food from the standard shelves rather than seek out the reduced food shelves.

    First of all, you CAN'T donate these items to your local food bank, larder, cupboard, etc, because they CANNOT accept "fresh food", frozen food or "perishables; they can only accept tinned, boxed or other non-perishable items.  Also, they cannot take anything out-of-date or close to the best before date.
    (I am speaking from experience of previously working there.)

    My second thought is that I, personally, feel very strongly that these reduced items should be left for those who cannot afford to pay the full price otherwise, or are on very tight budgets, (whether due to work/unemployment, sickness, high bills (often sudden unexpected), debts, low income or some other valid reasons), because it is down to a case of those that NEED it and those that WANT it.

    Again, I acquired this train of thought from experience, and have felt completely demoralised at times when I have rushed to stores to check that day's reduced stock, only to find people blocking my view and access to these shelves who were blatantly displaying that they were comfortably off (- and when I was finally able to reach the shelves, it was only to find that most, if not all, the reduced items had been taken).  (The reason that I had not got there earlier, at times, was due to volunteering for charity/ies, and so I couldn't arrive sooner to obtain these items.)

    Many people do not have the budget to buy a lot of items at full price, for various reasons, but they don't necessarily come under the bracket of eligibility for the afore-said charities, or they may not be available in their areas, either.

    So, yes, I think it's great that you have the good morals to question this point, but I'm afraid I don't think you, nor similar "comfortable" people, should take this small opportunity away from those that really need this more so.

    As for "saving it from waste", etc, that doesn't happen because, if there is anything left, then the staff are offered it - and God only knows, most retail staff are on minimum wage and have few "benefits".

    I hear what you say, but yesterday at 4pm in Sainsbury's there was loads of reduced priced breads. I bought a posh loaf knocked down to £1.14 just to see what it tasted like. There were plenty of decent loaves left for anybody else in desperate need. I normally pay 85p for a full priced loaf in Tesco, so I don't think I was depriving anybody of anything buying that loaf at a higher price.
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    Make £2024 in 2024
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    Total £1410/£2024  70%

    Make £2023 in 2023  Total: £2606.33/£2023  128.8%



  • P0123
    P0123 Posts: 88 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10 Posts Combo Breaker
    Yes, Slinky, I agree.

    When there are plenty of the same things, that is fine.  I am referring to when there are few items and people with their Burberry Macs and similar take them, not to mention those who go over and fill their basket or trolley - not leaving any for anyone else.
  • P0123
    P0123 Posts: 88 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10 Posts Combo Breaker
    No, there's no need to feel guilty about doing this. It is helping reduce food waste. 

    You might think that Landlord, but those that cannot afford what you can will also be "reducing food waste"!
  • Hoenir
    Hoenir Posts: 7,742 Forumite
    1,000 Posts First Anniversary Name Dropper
    If anybody feels quilty. With some of the savings made why not drop something into the foodbank collection box in store. Then endless non perishable items that are inexpensive. 
  • Klinny
    Klinny Posts: 13 Forumite
    10 Posts
    I actually think it is a very sensible thing to do, saving money shouldn't be something to feel guilty about.
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