I downloaded the Olio app. So far there is no free food available in my area. I’m from USA and apparently Olio is much more popular in the UK. I do have the Too Good to Go app and use it at least weekly for reduced food, fruits, vegetables, bagels and meals. Thank you for another inspiring video
It’s pretty useless near me too - as is Too Good to Go - and I’m UK. I suspect it’s down to this being classed as a fairly affluent area. Only stuff listed close enough to collect to make it worth-while environmentally, was listed over two years ago (be a bit last its best now) 😄
@@kfitz192I was just about to suggest the same thing. I stated using the app shortly after it launched. I’ve been able to buy a LOT of meat to stock our freezer. Whole pork roasts, beef roast, tenderloins, assortment of steaks (which we could never afford before), ground meat, family packs of boned and boneless skinless breast, legs, thighs, and tenders. Sometimes I purchase produce and it has always been perfectly fine. I’ve never gotten anything bad this way. Often their are boxed cereals, baking mixes, and canned good (not usually near date but with a tiny dent or ding). I ❤ my Flashfood app! I check it every day in the late morning. Our local markets always post around 9-10 AM. I share the information with everyone I can, because we are all living on tighter budgets these days. Blessings to you and your family.
Sometimes when I have too many carrots I cook them and then puree. I freeze the puree in 1 cup size and use this to make carrot soffle or to replace bananas in a bread recipe. Thanks for another great video!
Good ideas Tess; budgeting from a different starting point sounds good but I guess it could leave gaps. Perhaps we could take advantage of good prices for family favourites and batch cook meals from those items, say minced beef and sausages. We could spend an afternoon now and again cooking batches of sloppy Joe, bolognese sauce, burgers or pasta bakes with sausages and sausage rolls etc… Then whack them in the freezer for a lean week.
I have been buying only markdown meet at my local Kroger stores in the United States for many years I also look for other markdown food and non-food related items when I shop and that's how I decide what I will be eating if I don't use it right away I freeze it. I have 4 cats that I feed wet and dry cat food so I'm always looking for anything in the markdown section places like home improvement and farm supply stores when I find cat litter cheap I stock up. My local Township collects bread and baked goods from local grocery stores so I will check there they are open Monday through Friday once in awhile they will get free vegetables and every other Thursday they provide a free meal and bingo so I take my mom there she loves her bingo we will go tomorrow.
We only buy what’s “on sale” and meal plan around those items and what we already have put by. We also don’t cook meals every day: Leftovers or soups and sandwiches instead. I also plan to use more recycled/free stuff. I save seeds and trade them for seeds I need. In February our area Seedy Saturdays will start up and there is a Free Seed Exchange Table at each event. Thanks Tess!
I have partnered with relatives to share the bargains that we find. We live 45 minutes away from each other. One of us travels to see their elderly parent every two weeks. The foods and bargain goods are traded and exchanged during the visit. This could be done with friends or neighbors, too. We are saving a lot of money and items from the landfills. Today the abundance is bell peppers that are being chopped, sealed in bags and frozen for later use. Also, apples that were sorted, and stored or used accordingly to the imperfections. Every penny counts. Keep up the good ideas. I have dumpster dove and have found many useful items. Including food.
This is very encouraging, Tess. I have started up again helping at a food bank at a local church, since my work schedule has changed. We are allowed to get some of the food, and I am so grateful. There were many potatoes, lettuces and collards, chicken and baking items (like you, post-holiday surplus). Since my hours were cut back at work, this was a wonderful blessing.
I love your plans. My goals are 1. Try to save as much as possible. 2. Have another no-spend year...all the year through. For some reason, which I don't know, when October arrives, I start spending. This year I'll focus more on not spending when October comes...or that's the plan, anyway. 3. Find a local food bank and start using it again. The ones I used to use closed during the pandemic. 4. Simply eat less. I've started eating only when I'm hungry...and I'm eating less. I need to cut portion sizes now. Keep up with paper work so I don't end up with late fees on anything. 5. Get all my health check ups taken care of. I have 4 left to go; physical therapy, dental check up and cleaning, eyes checked for new glasses and a visit with a functional medicine doctor. I want either clean bills of health or ways to improve health. That'll keep my health related bills down. We'll see what happens. 6. Keeping the temperature inside the house between 64-65° Fahrenheit to save gas. 7. Turning the entire electrical box off for an hour or 2 every day. 8. Keeping the stove turned off at the breaker box until I'm ready to cook, and then turning it off as soon as I'm finished. 9. Grow a small garden. I'm not capable of taking care of much, but I'd at least like to grow a bit of food. 10. Use drying racks in the basement for clothing and just put clothing in the dryer for a few minutes to take out wrinkles. 11. Keep the washer and dryer unplugged unless in use. 12. Keep everything unplugged unless in use. Love listening to you, Tess. ❤ I get such good ideas from you! 😀
I think I would make some potato soup since the weather is so cold. You can use carrots in with that too. I love freecycle! I have received so many wonderful items to decorate my home. I also use benefited from Craigslist & next door which also gives away free things. I just donated some clothing & toiletry items to a local church that has a blessing box for people to get things they need. One set is old school lockers & the other one is from hanging file folder shelving from an office. You can place items in there for people to take. So many people going thru rough times right now. I am bracing myself for my next gas & electric bill.
Great video! I too have decided to 1) shop alone and leave the teenager at home 😆, and 2) shop the discounted items only. I have been making more at home such as our bread, treats, dried beans, etc... It is very hard to stretch a budget but I like the idea of dumpster diving. I too need to devote more time to finding foods that are out there and allowed to go to waste. I work at a restaurant and am vowing to check on the last day of the week at closing for foods that are going to be pitched. Definitely food that could feed my family as well as some of our animals. I hate food waste and with such hard times as we are experiencing, we all can benefit from frugal practices:)
Definitely agree with No 1. Please leave children and babies at home. With mum, dad, gran/grandad, neighbour. People go shopping with every family member like its a outing.. If you have to go in the car with partner and kids, leave them in the car. They have phones and tablets to keep them occupied. You buying food and needs, not outing to Legoland.
Tess, You work so hard for your family and I'm sure they appreciate it. You have great ideas to keep your grocery bills down. I hope you always get great picks from your app. It's crazy we're in these times now. Good luck in your finds 🙏🏻
I’m using Olio too and now have a freezer full of those mini sausage rolls 😂😬 I have decided to give my teens an allowance, for clothes, outings and toiletries each month for them to manage and when it’s gone, it’s gone! I haven’t ever formally done this before but I think it will save me money.
Like you, I have been requesting more from Olio recently. When I go to collect, I can't believe the amount of food that the Food Heros have to distribute - and people just aren't requesting/collecting it, so I don't feel guilty asking for more - I'd rather do that than it have to be thrown away (my freezer is full to capacity at the moment!!)
If you had your pressure canner, you could be canning potatoes and carrots. I have been canning for over 40 years and still love it. I wish we had the access to the free food like you. You are blessed with that. Love your videos.
I'm glad you enjoy canning when we had a garden I hated doing it since I've moved into town with a small yard don't have room to grow anything anymore. I can get canned goods including potatoes very reasonably priced at the grocery store and they taste fine to me
I've been doing bottling for a couple of years. You just need jars/bottles, hot water and a homemade sugar syrup with a dash of lemon juice. I have a cupboard full of bottled fruit so I can buy reduced price at scale if I see it in the shops or when I go foraging for blackberries in autumn etc. I have limited freezer space so this has been a huge money saver.
Hi Tess, I am a pensioner,xad don't feel safe going out at night to pick things up from olio, especially in place I don't know, so I miss out on this sadly. I am going to change my shopping habits this year and just ( if I can ) shop at Iceland on a Tuesday were I can get the 10% off. I am also going to stop having my coffee from Ringtons because of the price, £7 for 2 jars !!!! I have just become a pensioner, and will be getting less now than I did when on benefits, so having to pull my belt in further. X
I've been using Olio and like you felt reluctant to not abuse people's hard work and generosity. I spoke to the 2 people who I've picked up from and they're happy for you to ask for anything. I even pass quite a bit to my son and his partner now too. It's better than ending in landfill after all.
It's definitely better than it being wasted.. every ounce of food shouldn't be wasted..Its just not right. More so at the moment when everyone is struggling.
Tess, excellent truthful ideas. We have heavy shower curtains hanging under our window drapes. We use portion control and eat all leftovers. 2 fruits and veggies raw per day. Orange juice, milk, chocolate drink, hamburger were purchased deeply discounted. So, salisbury steak, hamburgers, meatloaf, rice pudding. Take Care, everyone is concerned about the future in our home.
Our local Olio volunteers had over 1,200 bags of parsnips at xmas (the shop had counted them). A friend has just sent me details of an app called sustainability yard. It offers free building and gardening materials- she's just registered her building firm so that any surplus from projects will be available free to people - may be worth you having a look.
Hello Tess, unless I missed it it seems to me that you never mention soups. Which i think is à very cheap, fullfilling, and healthy food which you can produce in large quantities and freeze. 😉
Lovely video Tess. Our olio is not up to much at the moment, I live in a village but our nearest town is only 4 miles away but never has much in offer. I’m in the schools mums what’s app group and we often offer each other hand me downs or hand me down school uniform . And I gave my sons desks away as it wasn’t the right size for him. We offer each other surplus home grown fruit and veg. I love where I live such a sense of community for a tiny wee place x
Hi tess what about foraging I've always fancied that and drying nettles and dandelion tea love to do all that Rose hip s I watched a channel other week they were picking all sorts it realy interests me I won't bother with mushrooms incase I pick up too stools by mistake .but u want ti earn a bit of money si going to get furniture small pieces snd de courage them see if I csn sell them x
Hi Tess. lovely video as always. I have decided to do a no spend year, as I am semi retired and work half day, I would like to save more towards my retirement in 2 years time. I have tweaked my budget to a point where all the things that I could cut out were taken out. I am trying not to spend more on groceries than I did last year, so I have to find ways to be more frugal. I shop the bargains and then do the meal plan accordingly. I have been growing some veggies and herbs and will start baking my own bread again. I do batch cooking to last a few days to save on electricity. I also use the instant pot quite often.
Love this collab. Wishing you the best. I get free stuff from the trash as well. Recently someone had a broken dishwasher on the side of the road. We were able to use the silverware container that they left inside of it when they set it out. It was in perfect condition.
I'm new here from Annabelle @ The Bluebirds are nesting. Last year I learned to pressure can and canned meat, green beans, cabbage & potatoes. I already knew how to water bath can and make pickles, relishes and jams. I also had a much larger garden and despite our horrible drought, preserved alot. I grew chard, carrots and beets for the first time. This year I plan to grow my squashes in large pots on trellises as I have squash bugs that have decimated those crops every year. I also need to can more fruit as I am almost out now. Dh eats it every day. 1 pint jar lasts him 3 days. So 2 pints a week means 26 pints but that is the minimum. We also share with our son & family. I'm aiming for 80 pints of fruit. We don't have chickens (too many wild animals and barn cats) so I'm looking for a reliable chicken lady. I water-glassed eggs last spring and am starting to use them now. Thankfully we raise our own beef and have people we can buy pork and chickens from. Right now I am cooking from the pantry & freezers and only getting the bare dairy and produce items. I plan to do that again in February. We have plenty and I want to rotate it and use it. Replacing it with new is so expensive but I don't want anything to get wasted by spoilage.
If you live in an agricultural area, check if there's a local gleaner's association. This can be another way to give and get excellent quality fruits and veg, some organic.
Also, do you buy food for your chickens? Is it possible to supplement your chicken food with the items your family can't eat from the Too Good To Go bags? That will net you more eggs and less food cost for the chickens?
Hi lovely, I had the same thought of shopping for only marked down items. I’m vegetarian so there isn’t always a lot of food that would suit. Even so, it would still save some pennies. Great video Tess xx
I, also am vegetarian. I live in a tourist area and the local grocery stocks a lot of vegetarian “ meats” that are shipped frozen but put out thawed. Usually on Sunday, as our day trippers head home, this stuff is 30 to 50 percent off. Yes, I do refreeze it.
Loving your channel. A suggestion for your dehydrator, maybe use greaseproof paper rather than kitchen tissue, I think the food will come off better. For making powders I put soft foods like your peaches through a blender first making a purée or juice. I then use plastic food container lids as trays to spread the puree onto. Put these into my dehydrator till crispy. Then like you powder for future use. I have found that if I cook apples in a pan. Then mix it with other soft fruits in the blender. The dehydrated results come out like soft leather. Cut into strips with scissors they make great fruit snacks.
I love making fruit leather, it's dead easy and lasts for a long while. The taste is just pure fruit and because it's chewy you can take your time eating it so it lasts longer
We have moved last year and the Olio isn't functioning too well in the area yet. Enjoyed the collab, great to see so much frugal wisdom in one place. 🥰
@@LovingLifeOnLess i grew up in Withernsea and then moved to Wales. After that, I lived in Hull for about 13 years. Recognise that East Yorks accent anywhere 😊
Hi Tess, it's so good to see you, I love the idea of the Olio app, I hate food waste. Wish we had it in South Africa too. I enjoyed your video, I am thinking about buying a dehydrator, do you think it is worth it? Hope you have a lovely week. Lots of love.
I am planning to try to use my dehydrator more this year - I have just made some wonderful fruit leathers out of some leftover tinned pineapple chunks and excess kiwi fruits (I subscribe to Oddbox which "rescues" surplus fruit and veg that wouldn't make it to the supermarkets) and I pureed both and spread very thinly on the special dehydrator paper and they were delicious. I like the dehydrator because not only does it help to save money by being able to buy in bulk, but it also saves an incredible amount of space in the pantry!
If you have a backup on hand such as a few bags of frozen veg, there's less risk in meal planning around the reduced items (which are unpredictable). If you don't need the frozen veg, just roll them over to the next week.
More often than not, we have meal planned after shopping. Either way, we often begin with the sales adds and a list then create a rough meal plan (pencil is good).
I know fuel prices are fluctuating everywhere. It does seem the UK is getting slammed more than anyone. I'm just trying to manage my budget and save more money. My car's been in the shop so I'm not shopping much at all.
Like you I am checking out Olio and the yellow stickers. However I am finding reductions and not that great and often it is snack type stuff that we would not eat. I am just going to have to watch what I cook. Making sure nothing goes to waste and my meaisxare often a mix of what is left in the fridge.
I live in the states I have been shopping at Kroger and buying nothing but marked down meat and I try to find whatever other mark down food and non-food related items I can find this really helps with my budget
I hop to tighten things up as far as ways of saving a bit on water, electricity, etc. I've gotten sloppy with my habits and I have to get back to doing the 'little things that add up'....because they do add up. I've also begun saving a bit each payday for Christmas next year. I have begun serving less meat, as well. I'm not making a grand announcement to my family, but I'm just choosing dishes requiring less or no meat more often. I'm also trying to get in better shape/health because I do not want a doctor bill any time soon (or ever, really.). God bless!
Hi Tess, love this video, lots of great ideas as always! I too plan to use the Olio app more, only downloaded in Dec so I haven't used much but intend to use more. I have also signed up for a cash back card to use when I spend in certain shops, hoping this will help when I need things mainly for the kids in specific shops. Keep the tips and videos coming you are so inspiring! Thank you
We have been eating out of the freezer this month, some meals are better than others but we could stand to lose some weight....no meat sales at our stores so we have cut back.
Could you buy reduced meat and put it in your freezer? As other fruit, veg, sauces go on reduced or offer, then make a menu to incorporate your reduced price meats? Combine what you were doing with your 2023 frugal plan?
I live in the states I have been buying nothing but mark down meat for many years and whatever else I can find food or non-food items reduced in my local stores this really helps the budget. I plan my menus around the markdown food I find
My husband thinks we should leave reduced items for people on lower incomes than ours. I understand this, but I worry about it going to landfill. However he’s fine with reduced things if they’re speciality vegan items, as fewer people will want those. So we’ve filled our freezer with reduced-price vegan delights left over after Christmas or on offer during Veganuary! Lots of fun things. Now I’m looking forward to the nettles coming up, so I can make delicious and healthy nettle soup. We actually have some big purchases this year which is making me very nervous - but we’ve saved up the money, so it should be ok.
Its well worth finding out times thats reduced go out i ask staff at my local shops . I also have a food pantry about 3 mins from my house . Limit is 10 and that money goes back into the community center to help with taking kids out for the day and little hols . Always helps with waste. There is more waste than ever now as people cant afford the prices x
I must admit I am a yellow sticker Queen, I don’t go down to the supermarket and wait in line ready for the fight for the knocked down food but if I have to go down for something and I see discounted produce I can use I will pick it up, ask the floor staff what is the time to go if you need to pick up yellow stickers and some are helpful with or to avoid the fight they may say it is at different times, it,s worth a try perhaps?
I've just made a curried root veg soup, it uses curry powder, chicken stock, onions, carrots, potato, parsnips and a neep (receipe is on google if your interested). I also added some celery and zucchini as I have a glut of them at the moment. Even though were in th middle of summer and after having our main meal at lunch time we find soup a great filler at night. Are you going to dehydrate sime of the carrots? You can make carrot powder maybe?
I'm so, so interested in your pressure canning journey. If you could share, maybe videos w/us as you learn, that would be wonderful and helpful. Thankyou
I owe you a huge apology from weeks ago about taking advantage of the free food..I have since learned that it’s free to anyone and not a food bank donation type things so many things are different in the UK verses the US..Please except my apologies..Now on to what I do with my carrots that would help you greatly I think..I grate them and dehydrate for my carrot cake..I slice, dice , blanch for a few minutes and dehydrate for things like soups and stews..they will last you years if stored in a air tight, cool dark place..Same with potatoes, I shred and dehydrate for hash browns..I have sliced and cubed, blanched and dehydrate..but my favorite is to dry can them the flavor is so delicious..you can use them in soups, stews, fry them, make potato salad,,some say to mash but I find them not appealing mashed l]to much texture in my opinion, not soft but you may like them..hth..
Hi Pam, Thank you for coming over and joining us here. I am considering doing some water-bathing. Just doing some research and getting my head around it. :-)
Well Tess,Like you Just buying reduced Produkts,or they who are a Promotion.( Almost buy the Things That are in Promotion,and making a meal ( or 2) Out of it) Then eating at the Moment the Freezer down.with a Lot of Friends,we don't give any Gifts for birthdays(- or making it ourselves),to save Money. The time together counts.👍
Thank you Tess This is a great video, love how you save these foods from becoming waste There are 2 things here I would love to see and hear more about, firstly how you store those veggies in the shed and protect them And secondly the dumpster diving, I have heard of this before but never actually done it, how do you learn where these things are? Xx
Thanks Mary-Ann. I'll look at doing a video regarding food storage in the shed. :-). Re: dumpster/skip diving. It might be worth you watching my Dumpster Diving - Freegan Life playlist. There are only a couple of videos on it so far, so shouldn't take long lol. I basically just keep my eyes open for skips, bins and places where people dump things. I also look out for things left outside for people to take. Over time, I've learnt where good skips are and they become my regulars. I picked up a couple of things yesterday from a charity shop skip. It's surprising what you can pick up.
Have you heard of or looked into the Flashfood app? I’ve been using it in the US for many months now. Everything is half price and I’ve been able to fill our freezer with many different kinds of meats (including steak we couldn’t otherwise afford). Lots of produce, cereals, boxed items, and canned goods (not at date but with a tiny dent or ding, but perfectly fine otherwise). It has been such a blessing to us since I discovered it. Our local markets post their items 9-10 AM. I check it faithfully every day. Others have discovered it more over the last few months, because items go quickly. I’ve told everyone I know about it too. Hopefully you can get the app and see what markets near you participate. The larger the city the more stores available. Blessings to you and your family.
Hi Tess Olio is a great app but could you please let people know that Food Waste Heroes can not give out use by dated food after midnight, Display Until and Best Before dated food can be given the next day. If a Food Waste Hero is found to be doing this they will lose their collection slot.
We quit paper products. We use old cotton T-shirts cut into squares. Designated colors for noses. No more toilet paper. For poo, shower style rinse with toilet sprayer hose. In winter for wee, designated t-shirt square which we wash. In warm weather toilet sprayer. Charity shops cloth napkins. We save $30/month which is $360 per year or $3600/ 10 years. We also quit beauty salon haircuts. I bought a perfect bob template off the internet. It makes a blunt cut bob. Don't buy their scissors. Spend enough to get quality haircut scissors because that makes a difference. Basically I looked at everything I spend money on and quit. Advanced planning helps me. I always have a flask of tea, a thrifty meal, and snacks packed when I leave for work or a day of errands. We scratch cook everything unless store price is cheaper. Eating thrifty healthy foods These are tough times.
I was able to significantly reduce the grocery budget by losing 60 pounds. As I lose weight I am only buying smaller clothes from charity shops and ebay
Hi Tess, please feel free to delete this comment... in the UK we are not allowed to feed food that has come into our kitchen to chickens only food that goes directly from garden to chickens. Sorry to mention this but I don't want you getting into any trouble x x
Well, I've learnt something new - I didn't realise this! DEFRA regulations state that chickens of any type-commercially kept, pets, layers, non-layers, those intended to enter the food chain and those that are not-cannot be fed kitchen scraps and waste, even if you only keep a couple of chickens and have no intention of ever earing them or selling them. The only exception to this rule applies to households that are 100% vegan, and that never have any meat or dairy products within the home. This only applies in the UK, other countries may have their own restrictions - or may not have any at all.
Lovely to see bright, inspiring UK women showing the way!
Hope you and your family are ok. I can't get the community page on my kindle so if you've updated I don't know. Miss you!
We're good, thank you so much Kathy. New video is going up today. x
Miss you Tess. Hope everything is ok.
All's well thank you so much :-). Just a lot of life happening. xxx
I too am concerned about you Tess. I hope everything is OK. We miss you come back when you are ready. Love from Pam in Texas.x
Thank you so much Pam! We're good. There's just been a lot of life happening xxx
Missing you, hoping you and your family are well! ~Connie
Hi Connie, That's so kind. We're good thank you. Just had a lot of life happening xxx
Tess,
I miss seeing you. Is your family ok? Is everything ok?
We're all good Lynn. Thank you for asking. We've just had to deal with some stuff. Nothing to worry about though. x
An idea: contact the pressure canner companies to see if you can obtain a free canner to showcase as you are an influencer.
I downloaded the Olio app. So far there is no free food available in my area. I’m from USA and apparently Olio is much more popular in the UK. I do have the Too Good to Go app and use it at least weekly for reduced food, fruits, vegetables, bagels and meals. Thank you for another inspiring video
It’s pretty useless near me too - as is Too Good to Go - and I’m UK. I suspect it’s down to this being classed as a fairly affluent area. Only stuff listed close enough to collect to make it worth-while environmentally, was listed over two years ago (be a bit last its best now) 😄
@@carliem9494 I'm south west UK and it's pretty poor here as well lol
For those in the US, check to see if Flash Food (it's an app) is in your area. Everything is 50% off and they have wonderful produce boxes for $5.
@@kfitz192I was just about to suggest the same thing. I stated using the app shortly after it launched. I’ve been able to buy a LOT of meat to stock our freezer. Whole pork roasts, beef roast, tenderloins, assortment of steaks (which we could never afford before), ground meat, family packs of boned and boneless skinless breast, legs, thighs, and tenders. Sometimes I purchase produce and it has always been perfectly fine. I’ve never gotten anything bad this way. Often their are boxed cereals, baking mixes, and canned good (not usually near date but with a tiny dent or ding). I ❤ my Flashfood app! I check it every day in the late morning. Our local markets always post around 9-10 AM. I share the information with everyone I can, because we are all living on tighter budgets these days. Blessings to you and your family.
@@punkyfish1977 not sure where I sit ..... probably south central - obviously the south coast doesn’t create much waste 😄
Sometimes when I have too many carrots I cook them and then puree. I freeze the puree in 1 cup size and use this to make carrot soffle or to replace bananas in a bread recipe. Thanks for another great video!
I like that bread idea Gayle x
Good ideas Tess; budgeting from a different starting point sounds good but I guess it could leave gaps. Perhaps we could take advantage of good prices for family favourites and batch cook meals from those items, say minced beef and sausages. We could spend an afternoon now and again cooking batches of sloppy Joe, bolognese sauce, burgers or pasta bakes with sausages and sausage rolls etc… Then whack them in the freezer for a lean week.
My dogs sometimes get a spoonful of pureed carrots with their food.
I have been buying only markdown meet at my local Kroger stores in the United States for many years I also look for other markdown food and non-food related items when I shop and that's how I decide what I will be eating if I don't use it right away I freeze it. I have 4 cats that I feed wet and dry cat food so I'm always looking for anything in the markdown section places like home improvement and farm supply stores when I find cat litter cheap I stock up. My local Township collects bread and baked goods from local grocery stores so I will check there they are open Monday through Friday once in awhile they will get free vegetables and every other Thursday they provide a free meal and bingo so I take my mom there she loves her bingo we will go tomorrow.
We only buy what’s “on sale” and meal plan around those items and what we already have put by. We also don’t cook meals every day: Leftovers or soups and sandwiches instead. I also plan to use more recycled/free stuff. I save seeds and trade them for seeds I need. In February our area Seedy Saturdays will start up and there is a Free Seed Exchange Table at each event. Thanks Tess!
I have partnered with relatives to share the bargains that we find. We live 45 minutes away from each other. One of us travels to see their elderly parent every two weeks. The foods and bargain goods are traded and exchanged during the visit. This could be done with friends or neighbors, too. We are saving a lot of money and items from the landfills.
Today the abundance is bell peppers that are being chopped, sealed in bags and frozen for later use. Also, apples that were sorted, and stored or used accordingly to the imperfections. Every penny counts.
Keep up the good ideas. I have dumpster dove and have found many useful items. Including food.
This is very encouraging, Tess. I have started up again helping at a food bank at a local church, since my work schedule has changed. We are allowed to get some of the food, and I am so grateful. There were many potatoes, lettuces and collards, chicken and baking items (like you, post-holiday surplus). Since my hours were cut back at work, this was a wonderful blessing.
I love your plans. My goals are
1. Try to save as much as possible.
2. Have another no-spend year...all the year through. For some reason, which I don't know, when October arrives, I start spending. This year I'll focus more on not spending when October comes...or that's the plan, anyway.
3. Find a local food bank and start using it again. The ones I used to use closed during the pandemic.
4. Simply eat less. I've started eating only when I'm hungry...and I'm eating less. I need to cut portion sizes now.
Keep up with paper work so I don't end up with late fees on anything.
5. Get all my health check ups taken care of. I have 4 left to go; physical therapy, dental check up and cleaning, eyes checked for new glasses and a visit with a functional medicine doctor. I want either clean bills of health or ways to improve health. That'll keep my health related bills down. We'll see what happens.
6. Keeping the temperature inside the house between 64-65° Fahrenheit to save gas.
7. Turning the entire electrical box off for an hour or 2 every day.
8. Keeping the stove turned off at the breaker box until I'm ready to cook, and then turning it off as soon as I'm finished.
9. Grow a small garden. I'm not capable of taking care of much, but I'd at least like to grow a bit of food.
10. Use drying racks in the basement for clothing and just put clothing in the dryer for a few minutes to take out wrinkles. 11. Keep the washer and dryer unplugged unless in use.
12. Keep everything unplugged unless in use.
Love listening to you, Tess. ❤ I get such good ideas from you! 😀
Do you put clothes in the dryer before or after you line dry?
Concerned about you. So unusual to not see a video from you in so long. Hope all is well. Best wishes and hope to see you back soon.
Thank you so much Jacki. We're good. Just had to deal with some life stuff. xxx
I think I would make some potato soup since the weather is so cold. You can use carrots in with that too. I love freecycle! I have received so many wonderful items to decorate my home. I also use benefited from Craigslist & next door which also gives away free things. I just donated some clothing & toiletry items to a local church that has a blessing box for people to get things they need. One set is old school lockers & the other one is from hanging file folder shelving from an office. You can place items in there for people to take. So many people going thru rough times right now. I am bracing myself for my next gas & electric bill.
How lucky to get free food. Good luck in your attempts to reduce your costs even further.
Great video! I too have decided to 1) shop alone and leave the teenager at home 😆, and 2) shop the discounted items only. I have been making more at home such as our bread, treats, dried beans, etc... It is very hard to stretch a budget but I like the idea of dumpster diving. I too need to devote more time to finding foods that are out there and allowed to go to waste. I work at a restaurant and am vowing to check on the last day of the week at closing for foods that are going to be pitched. Definitely food that could feed my family as well as some of our animals. I hate food waste and with such hard times as we are experiencing, we all can benefit from frugal practices:)
Definitely agree with No 1. Please leave children and babies at home. With mum, dad, gran/grandad, neighbour. People go shopping with every family member like its a outing.. If you have to go in the car with partner and kids, leave them in the car. They have phones and tablets to keep them occupied. You buying food and needs, not outing to Legoland.
Tess, You work so hard for your family and I'm sure they appreciate it. You have great ideas to keep your grocery bills down. I hope you always get great picks from your app. It's crazy we're in these times now. Good luck in your finds 🙏🏻
I’m using Olio too and now have a freezer full of those mini sausage rolls 😂😬 I have decided to give my teens an allowance, for clothes, outings and toiletries each month for them to manage and when it’s gone, it’s gone! I haven’t ever formally done this before but I think it will save me money.
Like you, I have been requesting more from Olio recently. When I go to collect, I can't believe the amount of food that the Food Heros have to distribute - and people just aren't requesting/collecting it, so I don't feel guilty asking for more - I'd rather do that than it have to be thrown away (my freezer is full to capacity at the moment!!)
If you had your pressure canner, you could be canning potatoes and carrots. I have been canning for over 40 years and still love it. I wish we had the access to the free food like you. You are blessed with that. Love your videos.
I'm glad you enjoy canning when we had a garden I hated doing it since I've moved into town with a small yard don't have room to grow anything anymore. I can get canned goods including potatoes very reasonably priced at the grocery store and they taste fine to me
Tess, all of these ideas were great! Thank you for sharing!
I've been doing bottling for a couple of years. You just need jars/bottles, hot water and a homemade sugar syrup with a dash of lemon juice. I have a cupboard full of bottled fruit so I can buy reduced price at scale if I see it in the shops or when I go foraging for blackberries in autumn etc. I have limited freezer space so this has been a huge money saver.
Hi Tess, I am a pensioner,xad don't feel safe going out at night to pick things up from olio, especially in place I don't know, so I miss out on this sadly. I am going to change my shopping habits this year and just ( if I can ) shop at Iceland on a Tuesday were I can get the 10% off. I am also going to stop having my coffee from Ringtons because of the price, £7 for 2 jars !!!! I have just become a pensioner, and will be getting less now than I did when on benefits, so having to pull my belt in further. X
This was so encouraging! Thank you for time you invested.
I've been using Olio and like you felt reluctant to not abuse people's hard work and generosity. I spoke to the 2 people who I've picked up from and they're happy for you to ask for anything. I even pass quite a bit to my son and his partner now too. It's better than ending in landfill after all.
It's definitely better than it being wasted.. every ounce of food shouldn't be wasted..Its just not right. More so at the moment when everyone is struggling.
Tess, excellent truthful ideas. We have heavy shower curtains hanging under our window drapes. We use portion control and eat all leftovers. 2 fruits and veggies raw per day. Orange juice, milk, chocolate drink, hamburger were
purchased deeply discounted. So, salisbury steak, hamburgers, meatloaf, rice pudding. Take Care, everyone is concerned about the future in our home.
Our local Olio volunteers had over 1,200 bags of parsnips at xmas (the shop had counted them).
A friend has just sent me details of an app called sustainability yard. It offers free building and gardening materials- she's just registered her building firm so that any surplus from projects will be available free to people - may be worth you having a look.
Is that UK I'm in Scotland
Is Olio in the USA? I saw the app, but I couldn’t get any information on whether it’s close to my town.
Hello Tess, unless I missed it it seems to me that you never mention soups. Which i think is à very cheap, fullfilling, and healthy food which you can produce in large quantities and freeze. 😉
New subscriber here from Frugal Jo. Looking forward to catching up on your existing videos and future releases. Blessings from the US.
Hi Yol! Thank you so much for coming over. It's great to have you here :-)
Lovely video Tess. Our olio is not up to much at the moment, I live in a village but our nearest town is only 4 miles away but never has much in offer. I’m in the schools mums what’s app group and we often offer each other hand me downs or hand me down school uniform . And I gave my sons desks away as it wasn’t the right size for him. We offer each other surplus home grown fruit and veg. I love where I live such a sense of community for a tiny wee place x
Hi tess what about foraging I've always fancied that and drying nettles and dandelion tea love to do all that Rose hip s I watched a channel other week they were picking all sorts it realy interests me I won't bother with mushrooms incase I pick up too stools by mistake .but u want ti earn a bit of money si going to get furniture small pieces snd de courage them see if I csn sell them x
Hi Tess. lovely video as always. I have decided to do a no spend year, as I am semi retired and work half day, I would like to save more towards my retirement in 2 years time. I have tweaked my budget to a point where all the things that I could cut out were taken out. I am trying not to spend more on groceries than I did last year, so I have to find ways to be more frugal. I shop the bargains and then do the meal plan accordingly. I have been growing some veggies and herbs and will start baking my own bread again. I do batch cooking to last a few days to save on electricity. I also use the instant pot quite often.
Love this collab. Wishing you the best. I get free stuff from the trash as well. Recently someone had a broken dishwasher on the side of the road. We were able to use the silverware container that they left inside of it when they set it out. It was in perfect condition.
I'm new here from Annabelle @ The Bluebirds are nesting. Last year I learned to pressure can and canned meat, green beans, cabbage & potatoes. I already knew how to water bath can and make pickles, relishes and jams. I also had a much larger garden and despite our horrible drought, preserved alot. I grew chard, carrots and beets for the first time. This year I plan to grow my squashes in large pots on trellises as I have squash bugs that have decimated those crops every year.
I also need to can more fruit as I am almost out now. Dh eats it every day. 1 pint jar lasts him 3 days. So 2 pints a week means 26 pints but that is the minimum. We also share with our son & family. I'm aiming for 80 pints of fruit.
We don't have chickens (too many wild animals and barn cats) so I'm looking for a reliable chicken lady. I water-glassed eggs last spring and am starting to use them now.
Thankfully we raise our own beef and have people we can buy pork and chickens from.
Right now I am cooking from the pantry & freezers and only getting the bare dairy and produce items. I plan to do that again in February. We have plenty and I want to rotate it and use it. Replacing it with new is so expensive but I don't want anything to get wasted by spoilage.
If you live in an agricultural area, check if there's a local gleaner's association. This can be another way to give and get excellent quality fruits and veg, some organic.
Also, do you buy food for your chickens? Is it possible to supplement your chicken food with the items your family can't eat from the Too Good To Go bags? That will net you more eggs and less food cost for the chickens?
Hi lovely, I had the same thought of shopping for only marked down items. I’m vegetarian so there isn’t always a lot of food that would suit. Even so, it would still save some pennies. Great video Tess xx
I, also am vegetarian. I live in a tourist area and the local grocery stocks a lot of vegetarian “ meats” that are shipped frozen but put out thawed. Usually on Sunday, as our day trippers head home, this stuff is 30 to 50 percent off. Yes, I do refreeze it.
Just stopping by to say you're missed! I hope everything is ok with you and yours 💕
We're good, thank you so much. Just had to focus on some other stuff for a while. XXX
Loving your channel. A suggestion for your dehydrator, maybe use greaseproof paper rather than kitchen tissue, I think the food will come off better. For making powders I put soft foods like your peaches through a blender first making a purée or juice. I then use plastic food container lids as trays to spread the puree onto. Put these into my dehydrator till crispy. Then like you powder for future use.
I have found that if I cook apples in a pan. Then mix it with other soft fruits in the blender. The dehydrated results come out like soft leather. Cut into strips with scissors they make great fruit snacks.
I love making fruit leather, it's dead easy and lasts for a long while. The taste is just pure fruit and because it's chewy you can take your time eating it so it lasts longer
What a blessing your food haul was!
Thankyou for all you do. That red color looks so good on you. Warms up your face.
Wow on the carrots and potatoes! So useful! It is all fantastic. I mostly meal plan after gathering... You are doing a good job Tess.
We have moved last year and the Olio isn't functioning too well in the area yet.
Enjoyed the collab, great to see so much frugal wisdom in one place. 🥰
Are you in Cottingham?
@@Tess-FrugalLiving No, but worked there for 14 years. It's not far away from where we live now.
@@LovingLifeOnLess i grew up in Withernsea and then moved to Wales. After that, I lived in Hull for about 13 years. Recognise that East Yorks accent anywhere 😊
Small world. My grandparents lived in Withernsea and my uncle still does!
Hi Tess, it's so good to see you, I love the idea of the Olio app, I hate food waste. Wish we had it in South Africa too. I enjoyed your video, I am thinking about buying a dehydrator, do you think it is worth it? Hope you have a lovely week. Lots of love.
I am planning to try to use my dehydrator more this year - I have just made some wonderful fruit leathers out of some leftover tinned pineapple chunks and excess kiwi fruits (I subscribe to Oddbox which "rescues" surplus fruit and veg that wouldn't make it to the supermarkets) and I pureed both and spread very thinly on the special dehydrator paper and they were delicious. I like the dehydrator because not only does it help to save money by being able to buy in bulk, but it also saves an incredible amount of space in the pantry!
If you have a backup on hand such as a few bags of frozen veg, there's less risk in meal planning around the reduced items (which are unpredictable). If you don't need the frozen veg, just roll them over to the next week.
More often than not, we have meal planned after shopping. Either way, we often begin with the sales adds and a list then create a rough meal plan (pencil is good).
We buy reduced items for the following week and freeze them.
I know fuel prices are fluctuating everywhere. It does seem the UK is getting slammed more than anyone. I'm just trying to manage my budget and save more money. My car's been in the shop so I'm not shopping much at all.
Like you I am checking out Olio and the yellow stickers. However I am finding reductions and not that great and often it is snack type stuff that we would not eat. I am just going to have to watch what I cook.
Making sure nothing goes to waste and my meaisxare often a mix of what is left in the fridge.
I live in the states I have been shopping at Kroger and buying nothing but marked down meat and I try to find whatever other mark down food and non-food related items I can find this really helps with my budget
I'm here from Claire and Jo. Nice to meeting you.
Hi Paula, Thank you for coming over. It's great to have you here. 🙂
I hop to tighten things up as far as ways of saving a bit on water, electricity, etc. I've gotten sloppy with my habits and I have to get back to doing the 'little things that add up'....because they do add up. I've also begun saving a bit each payday for Christmas next year. I have begun serving less meat, as well. I'm not making a grand announcement to my family, but I'm just choosing dishes requiring less or no meat more often. I'm also trying to get in better shape/health because I do not want a doctor bill any time soon (or ever, really.). God bless!
Hi Tess, love this video, lots of great ideas as always! I too plan to use the Olio app more, only downloaded in Dec so I haven't used much but intend to use more. I have also signed up for a cash back card to use when I spend in certain shops, hoping this will help when I need things mainly for the kids in specific shops. Keep the tips and videos coming you are so inspiring! Thank you
I would be interested in to see how you are storing you vegetables in the shed.
We have been eating out of the freezer this month, some meals are better than others but we could stand to lose some weight....no meat sales at our stores so we have cut back.
Could you buy reduced meat and put it in your freezer? As other fruit, veg, sauces go on reduced or offer, then make a menu to incorporate your reduced price meats? Combine what you were doing with your 2023 frugal plan?
I live in the states I have been buying nothing but mark down meat for many years and whatever else I can find food or non-food items reduced in my local stores this really helps the budget. I plan my menus around the markdown food I find
I suggest carrot and lentil soup, grated carrot salad with slivered almonds, sultanas and a squeeze of lemon juice or, most tasty, carrot cake 🍰
My husband thinks we should leave reduced items for people on lower incomes than ours. I understand this, but I worry about it going to landfill. However he’s fine with reduced things if they’re speciality vegan items, as fewer people will want those. So we’ve filled our freezer with reduced-price vegan delights left over after Christmas or on offer during Veganuary! Lots of fun things. Now I’m looking forward to the nettles coming up, so I can make delicious and healthy nettle soup. We actually have some big purchases this year which is making me very nervous - but we’ve saved up the money, so it should be ok.
Its well worth finding out times thats reduced go out i ask staff at my local shops . I also have a food pantry about 3 mins from my house . Limit is 10 and that money goes back into the community center to help with taking kids out for the day and little hols . Always helps with waste. There is more waste than ever now as people cant afford the prices x
The pressure canner will be great for the veggies!!!❤️❤️
I must admit I am a yellow sticker Queen, I don’t go down to the supermarket and wait in line ready for the fight
for the knocked down food but if I have to go down for something and I see discounted produce I can use I will pick it up,
ask the floor staff what is the time to go if you need to pick up yellow stickers and some are helpful with or
to avoid the fight they may say it is at different times, it,s worth a try perhaps?
A canner is a must have!! You will love it!!
I'm quite excited but will have to get saving hard. They're expensive to buy here. 😊
Do you mind telling the cost? I know they are expensive in the US also.
@@kathywolfe6606 £329 for a Presto 23 quart pressure canner. £414 for the same canner with some jars, tongs etc. 😲😱😬
I've just made a curried root veg soup, it uses curry powder, chicken stock, onions, carrots, potato, parsnips and a neep (receipe is on google if your interested). I also added some celery and zucchini as I have a glut of them at the moment. Even though were in th middle of summer and after having our main meal at lunch time we find soup a great filler at night. Are you going to dehydrate sime of the carrots? You can make carrot powder maybe?
I backwards meal plan too since inflation started. If I go early I always find deals and fill up little bits to make meals
I'm so, so interested in your pressure canning journey. If you could share, maybe videos w/us as you learn, that would be wonderful and helpful. Thankyou
I will Denise :-). It may take me a while to save up for it, but once I've got it, I'll definitely share.
I owe you a huge apology from weeks ago about taking advantage of the free food..I have since learned that it’s free to anyone and not a food bank donation type things so many things are different in the UK verses the US..Please except my apologies..Now on to what I do with my carrots that would help you greatly I think..I grate them and dehydrate for my carrot cake..I slice, dice , blanch for a few minutes and dehydrate for things like soups and stews..they will last you years if stored in a air tight, cool dark place..Same with potatoes, I shred and dehydrate for hash browns..I have sliced and cubed, blanched and dehydrate..but my favorite is to dry can them the flavor is so delicious..you can use them in soups, stews, fry them, make potato salad,,some say to mash but I find them not appealing mashed l]to much texture in my opinion, not soft but you may like them..hth..
Hi Tess I’m new to your channel, so hi. You can waterbath everything instead of pressure canning until you get your pressure canner 🥰
Hi Pam, Thank you for coming over and joining us here. I am considering doing some water-bathing. Just doing some research and getting my head around it. :-)
😊
Well Tess,Like you Just buying reduced Produkts,or they who are a Promotion.( Almost buy the Things That are in Promotion,and making a meal ( or 2) Out of it)
Then eating at the Moment the Freezer down.with a Lot of Friends,we don't give any Gifts for birthdays(- or making it ourselves),to save Money. The time together counts.👍
I’m doing the same Tess, cutting costs even more …where I can
Is being a food hero for Olio something you could look at doing yourself, get first go at the best things or is that not how it works.
That was great. I tried too good to go, it wasn’t great for us. I’m making all our bread, to save money as GF is 3.50€ a loaf and it’s not good either
It feels a bit like gambling to me, if you know what I mean. I'd rather buy things I KNOW will be useful for us. X
Great job❤
Thank you 😄
Can you put in request that you pick up any leftover food that no one wanted from Olio?
what is the canner / pressure cooker you want? Can you feed slightly off bits to the chickens?
Hi Ros, I am aiming for a Presto pressure canner. Love Jars in the UK do a starter kit which includes the canner. We'll see how it goes :-)
Thank you Tess
This is a great video, love how you save these foods from becoming waste
There are 2 things here I would love to see and hear more about, firstly how you store those veggies in the shed and protect them
And secondly the dumpster diving, I have heard of this before but never actually done it, how do you learn where these things are? Xx
Thanks Mary-Ann. I'll look at doing a video regarding food storage in the shed. :-).
Re: dumpster/skip diving. It might be worth you watching my Dumpster Diving - Freegan Life playlist. There are only a couple of videos on it so far, so shouldn't take long lol. I basically just keep my eyes open for skips, bins and places where people dump things. I also look out for things left outside for people to take. Over time, I've learnt where good skips are and they become my regulars. I picked up a couple of things yesterday from a charity shop skip. It's surprising what you can pick up.
Don't have anything like any free food apps in my area or in my state in America.
Have you heard of or looked into the Flashfood app? I’ve been using it in the US for many months now. Everything is half price and I’ve been able to fill our freezer with many different kinds of meats (including steak we couldn’t otherwise afford). Lots of produce, cereals, boxed items, and canned goods (not at date but with a tiny dent or ding, but perfectly fine otherwise). It has been such a blessing to us since I discovered it. Our local markets post their items 9-10 AM. I check it faithfully every day. Others have discovered it more over the last few months, because items go quickly. I’ve told everyone I know about it too. Hopefully you can get the app and see what markets near you participate. The larger the city the more stores available. Blessings to you and your family.
How do you cook with dehydrated food such as carrots etc, have never seen it until I joined your channel, super vid by the way?
Hi Tess Olio is a great app but could you please let people know that Food Waste Heroes can not give out use by dated food after midnight, Display Until and Best Before dated food can be given the next day. If a Food Waste Hero is found to be doing this they will lose their collection slot.
We quit paper products. We use old cotton T-shirts cut into squares. Designated colors for noses. No more toilet paper. For poo, shower style rinse with toilet sprayer hose. In winter for wee, designated t-shirt square which we wash. In warm weather toilet sprayer. Charity shops cloth napkins. We save $30/month which is $360 per year or $3600/ 10 years. We also quit beauty salon haircuts. I bought a perfect bob template off the internet. It makes a blunt cut bob. Don't buy their scissors. Spend enough to get quality haircut scissors because that makes a difference. Basically I looked at everything I spend money on and quit. Advanced planning helps me. I always have a flask of tea, a thrifty meal, and snacks packed when I leave for work or a day of errands. We scratch cook everything unless store price is cheaper. Eating thrifty healthy foods These are tough times.
You got some very good deals! Wish we had such things here in Michigan!😊
I was able to significantly reduce the grocery budget by losing 60 pounds. As I lose weight I am only buying smaller clothes from charity shops and ebay
Does anyone know what happened to Frugal Jo? I can't even find her channel anymore. :(
Jo has ended and deleted her channel. She is happy and well though, so please don't worry about her. ❤️
Store carrots buried in 5 gallon buckets that are filled with sand
What has happened to your channel?? I so looked forward to your channel.
Hope you and the family are well.
I am concerned that storing vegetables in an outside shed will attract rats. You need secure metal containers as they will eat through plastic.
olio is too dificult i have tried
Hi Tess, please feel free to delete this comment... in the UK we are not allowed to feed food that has come into our kitchen to chickens only food that goes directly from garden to chickens.
Sorry to mention this but I don't want you getting into any trouble x x
Why? We always fed our food scraps to our chickens, when we had chickens. We're in the US.
Well, I've learnt something new - I didn't realise this!
DEFRA regulations state that chickens of any type-commercially kept, pets, layers, non-layers, those intended to enter the food chain and those that are not-cannot be fed kitchen scraps and waste, even if you only keep a couple of chickens and have no intention of ever earing them or selling them.
The only exception to this rule applies to households that are 100% vegan, and that never have any meat or dairy products within the home. This only applies in the UK, other countries may have their own restrictions - or may not have any at all.
@@FrugalMrB Do you know what the reasoning is behind this?
Wow I never knew this and I am thinking to get chickens soon. I always seen people giving there chicken scraps
Lots of good food available.
Great job❤