When Jeannette Campbell, a 43-year-old mum of four from Thrapston in Northamptonshire, UK, first downloaded Olio, she hoped it might help her reduce food waste. What she didn’t expect? That it would also help her feed her family on a budget, spending just £4.03 on a week’s worth of dinners, instead of her usual £56.69.
Her secret? A mix of imagination, community spirit, and Olio’s new partnership with Iceland, which showcases real-time yellow-sticker discounts directly in the app.
💡 Saving money and reducing food waste with Olio
Olio users can now see real-time yellow-sticker reductions from Iceland stores near them – meaning they can be the first to know about the latest discounted food and pick it up at a fraction of the usual cost, just like Jeannette did.
Alongside these discounts, Iceland’s new £2 Lucky Dip bags – available to claim through the app – offer at least eight mystery grocery items nearing their sell-by date, giving users an exciting new way to save money while rescuing good food from going to waste.
And for those who love a freebie, Olio’s Food Waste Heroes programme plays a huge part too. Trained volunteers collect surplus food from local businesses such as supermarkets, cafés, schools and more – and share it completely free with their local Olio community through the app.
Jeannette’s £4 week – feeding a family on a budget with Olio and Iceland 🍴
Armed with a few yellow-sticker Reductions Feed finds and free surplus food from her local Food Waste Heroes, Jeannette turned rescued ingredients into budget-friendly, family-approved meals for less than a fiver.
Here’s what she made:
Monday: Quesadillas – yellow label wraps, ham and lettuce from Iceland, topped with leftover cheese. Cost: £1.75
Tuesday: Baked courgette boats – courgettes and hummus from Olio. Cost: £0
Wednesday: Veggie stuffed garlic balls – leftover rolls, plant-based mince and cheese from Olio, plus an extra courgette. Cost: £0
Thursday: Smashed croissant pizza – croissants from Olio, yellow-sticker chicken from Iceland and homegrown veg. Cost: £1.20
Friday: Ready-meal feast – a selection of frozen ready meals from Olio for a stress-free night. Cost: £0
Dessert: Fruited frozen yoghurt slices – cinnamon rolls, yoghurt and reduced blueberries. Cost: £1.08
Total: £4.03
Full price: £56.69
By the end of the week, Jeannette had cooked a mix of fresh, fun and family-friendly dishes – all while keeping good food from going to waste and saving her family money.
💬 “You really can make a meal from almost anything.”
For Jeannette, the challenge turned into something more meaningful – a way to get creative and feel part of a community that’s doing good.
“I love looking at what’s in the cupboard or fridge and asking myself, what can I make out of this? It takes a bit of imagination, but that’s half the fun!”
As the main cook in her household, she enjoys finding new ways to stretch her budget without compromising on taste.
“Feeding a family on a budget doesn’t mean sacrificing flavour or quality. It just means being open to looking at your ingredients in a different way. With a little willingness and creativity – and accepting there’ll be a few mistakes along the way – it really is possible to make a meal from almost anything.”
Want to feed your family on a budget and help save good food from going to waste?
Download Olio today and discover even more ways to save with the Olio Savings Challenge!
