Ahead of his live Money Show on ITV last night, Martin Lewis took to Twitter to ask the nation a question that has totally divided viewers. The consumer expert shared a poll asking social media users to vote on their thoughts about supermarket yellow stickers.
Yellow stickered items - usually tucked away on an end-aisle somewhere - are usually products that are soon to come off sale or are nearing their best before date. Supermarkets will aim to sell them at a reduced price to avoid them going in the bin at the end of the day.
However, what Martin asked certainly got people talking, and debating whether or not some people should be buying them. There were some seriously mixed opinions on the matter.
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Martin asked: “ Supermarket’s reprice a few items close to use-by dates with ‘yellow stickers’ to sell em quick. Should those who can easily pay full price avoid buying em to leave for those who need?”
He then left four options to vote on, including: I’m skint but anyone can buy, I’m skint leave for need, not skint but anyone can buy and not skint leave four need.
More than 53,000 people cast their votes, with more than half (57.5 per cent) voting not skint, anyone can buy, with a further 15 per cent adding that they were less well off, but still agree that anyone should be able to buy the reduced items.
Meanwhile, 22.7 per cent of voters said they weren’t in poverty and you should leave the food for those who need it, with 4.8 per cent agreeing in the ‘skint’ category.
Social media users took to the replies to share their thoughts in more detail, with many explaining why they would leave the food on the shelves.
Paula said: “I’d leave it hoping that the more needy would get it. Unfortunately we live in a world whereby lots of people think of themselves before others…no matter how well off they are… you only have to remember the ‘Loo rolls’ during Covid.”
Pam Smith added: “I would leave yellow stickers unless I really needed them. From time to time I do need to buy food like that, but I prefer to be fair to others whose need is greater than mine at those times. 21st century Ruth and Boaz I guess. It's the way I was brought up.”
Another user, called Mark chipped in: “Moral don’t buy, leave for people who don’t have the money to pay, it’s a need to to people who are struggling to make ends meet. We have worked hard but people who have struggled which are not in their control find it hard to get on a level platform. We feel for them.”
Lyn commented: “I actually had that argument with myself last week, whilst shopping in Tesco. My better self won, I left the yellow stickers alone. I’m not particularly well off and I always hunt out a bargain, but taking the yellow sticker items just felt wrong.”
While Justine and Phil, from Oldham wrote: “We are not rich but there are many times I look at the discount and think ‘do you know what, we can afford to pay full price. Let's leave it for someone who needs it’”.
Others were firmly in the ‘team buy’ camp, suggesting that if it doesn’t get bought by the end of the day, it would simply go to waste.
Ines said: “It's very noble to think that if I don't get the discounted product, somebody in need will benefit from it. But I have no assurance that in fact my decision will lead to that. The only informed decision I can make is to buy what I will use and which, therefore, won't go to waste.”
Kerry Burgess added: “I make a habit of looking for #rescuefood to save from going to waste. Latest bargain was a mushroom stir fry for dinner for 39p!”
“When I buy yellow sticker items I do it purely because I fear,” Stafano added. “I know that many of them will go to waste, and I cannot stand waste. How do I know? Because they will be unsellable in just a few hours and there are a ton of them. Too little, too late.”
Tracey Fairbrother said: “Money is short close to payday but I can't say we're skint. We help our uni student son out weekly too so if I see a bargain I'll take advantage. There are food banks and other facilities out there for the more needy, I think all of us should be able to buy a bargain if we see one.”
But the general consensus is that - and one Martin agrees with - is that people who are shopping for yellow sticker bargains should do so fairly, and not ‘hog’ 10 of one item.
One commenter said: “It is fair that everyone has a chance to save on yellow stickers items, I work however my money is still very limited but I also think that if there are five chickens etc just take one and leave others for other people… shop fairly for all.”
Another wrote: “If there’s lots of something I won’t hog it, even if there’s plenty of space in my freezer. I take what I consider a reasonable amount for my use. I also don’t take “free from” stuff - gluten-free bread etc - as I don’t actually require that, and if you do, that shit’s expensive.”
A third added: “Great question and as someone who’s not skint, one I’ve asked myself when I’m standing in front of the reduced shelf. Feels right to limit myself to taking one, max two.”
While fourth commenter, Samantha, said: “I think there's a balance for example if there's something reduced that I will eat that evening then yeah I will get it because why pay more and potentially contribute to food waste but if there was say 7 fillet steaks reduced to £1 I wouldn't take them all for the sake of it.”
Do you seek out yellow sticker bargains? What would you have voted in Martin’s poll? Let us know in the comments below.
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