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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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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.
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.
No man is worth crawling on this earth.
So much to read, so little time.0 -
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.Fashion on the Ration 2025 37/660
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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.
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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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Total £915.94/£2025 45.2%
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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".0 -
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.
Make £2025 in 2025
Prolific £229.82, Octopoints £4.27, Topcashback £290.85, Tesco Clubcard challenges £60, Misc Sales £321, Airtime £10.
Total £915.94/£2025 45.2%
Make £2024 in 2024
Prolific £907.37, Chase Intt £59.97, Chase roundup int £3.55, Chase CB £122.88, Roadkill £1.30, Octopus referral reward £50, Octopoints £70.46, Topcashback £112.03, Shopmium referral £3, Iceland bonus £4, Ipsos survey £20, Misc Sales £55.44Total £1410/£2024 70%Make £2023 in 2023 Total: £2606.33/£2023 128.8%3 -
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.0 -
Landlord9009 said:No, there's no need to feel guilty about doing this. It is helping reduce food waste.0
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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.1
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I actually think it is a very sensible thing to do, saving money shouldn't be something to feel guilty about.0
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