Student life is great. Running out of money before the end of term? Not so much.
If you’re figuring out how to save money on food as a student, you’re in the right place. There are some easy wins – and our free app that makes it even simpler. Here’s what you need to know 👇
What’s Olio?
Olio is a free app that helps you save money and fight waste. Unlock free food from your favourite supermarkets, get discounted groceries and find free household items being shared by your neighbours. Keep more cash for the things that matter – all while helping the planet.
Get free food near you with Olio
Olio is a free app where people pass on surplus food every day – everything from fruit and veg to chef-prepared meals. Unsold food from nearby businesses gets added to the app daily that you can request and collect.
Most food gets shared after 9 pm, so make it part of your evening scroll.
You can also use Olio’s Reduced Food section to see what’s been marked down at local supermarkets in real-time. No more wandering the aisles hoping to catch someone with the yellow sticker gun.
See how students like you are using Olio
Find out why Yaz loves Olio and learn how Rachel uses it to budget better.
Become a Food Waste Hero
Want to take it a step further? Sign up to volunteer as a Food Waste Hero and collect surplus food directly from local businesses.
You keep between 10–100% of what you collect and share the rest with your community. Get free food, help the planet and earn some good karma too – it’s a win-win!
There are over 100,000 Food Waste Heroes already doing this across the UK.
More ways to stretch your food budget
We’ve put together a full guide on how to save money on food as a student – from batch cooking and freezer hacks to understanding food dates and planning your shop.
➡️ Read the full guide: the best ways to save money as a student
Ready to give it a go?
Download Olio for free and see what’s being shared near you today. Every meal you grab on Olio is money back in your pocket — and one less thing going to waste 💚
