Charlotte, NC — Groceries are expensive. Rent is worse. And if you’re a broke college student trying to survive in the Queen City, even ramen starts to feel like a luxury.
I’m Jackson, a senior at Davidson College and current WCCB Charlotte intern. This summer, I got a crash course in adulthood: bills, budgeting, and figuring out how to stay fed without torching my weekly allowance. Spoiler: I found an app that turned my grocery struggle into a surprisingly tasty solution.
Summer 2024 was my first time living on my own. No roommates, no meal plans—just me and my wallet. While the independence was thrilling, it came with a price tag. Rent swallowed most of my budget, and after some hard budgeting, I realized I had just $50 per week for groceries.
I started the usual budget tricks: prepping pasta and eggs, coupon hunting, watching YouTubers cook meals under $5. But eating the same thing every day wears on you. I needed variety, but without the cost.
That’s when I remembered an app I saw while studying abroad: Too Good To Go.
Too Good To Go is an app that lets restaurants and stores sell their leftover food at a discount. It’s a mystery—you don’t know what you’re getting until pick-up. But when your fridge is empty, mystery is exciting.
I decided to try it. My first order was from Yard Cooked Dishes for just $5.99. What I got was a giant container of chicken gumbo—enough to feed a family of four. I ate well for two days off one surprise bag. That moment was a game-changer.
Week after week, I kept using the app. Bagels, cookies, restaurant meals—all for a fraction of normal prices. One of my favorites was a cookie surprise bag from Tiff’s Treats in Uptown for $7.50. Even though I wasn’t a fan of the oatmeal raisin cookie, I devoured the rest guilt-free.
Curious why more people weren’t using it—and why there weren’t more restaurants listed—I turned my intern badge into a pass for deeper digging.
I interviewed Sarah Soteroff, Senior PR Manager at Too Good To Go, who broke down the app’s goals. Launched in Denmark in 2016, Too Good To Go now operates across major cities, including Charlotte as of June 2024. The app helps restaurants sell their unsold food to consumers for cheap, saving money and reducing waste.
In less than a year, Charlotte’s version has over 165 local food partners, 11,000 active users, and has saved more than 7,500 meals from the trash.
The biggest draw for consumers, Sarah explained, is getting “great food at a lower cost.” She compared it to ordering a bagel surprise bag—maybe you get a flavor you’re not into, but you still walk away with 11 others you enjoy.
For businesses, it’s a no-brainer. No new photos, no item descriptions, no extra staff. Just list leftover food and sell it instead of tossing it. Plus, it brings in new customers who might not have otherwise visited.
And it works. I’ve gone back to several places after trying their surprise bags. Too Good To Go doesn’t just save meals—it helps small businesses thrive.
I recently ate at Lang Van, a family-run Vietnamese spot in East Charlotte. They nearly shut down during the pandemic but were saved by the community’s support. Apps like Too Good To Go give another way to help: buy what would’ve gone to waste.
For people like me, who are trying to stretch every dollar, this is a huge win. For restaurants trying to make it in an uncertain economy, it’s extra revenue. And for the planet, it’s less waste.
If you want to try it, just download the Too Good To Go app, check your local listings, and grab a surprise bag. It’s that easy.
For businesses, signing up is simple. Head to the site, register, and start listing.
I would still be cooking microwave noodles if I hadn’t downloaded this app. Instead, I’m eating better, supporting local spots, and saving money. If you’re a student, a parent, or just someone who’s tired of paying too much to eat, Too Good To Go might be your new secret weapon.
I’m Jackson Morrice, a political science, philosophy, and economics major at Davidson with a minor in communications. I graduate this May and hope to work in digital marketing. But for now, I’m just a guy with a tighter wallet, a full fridge, and a tip worth sharing.
