side street.
Savings off the beaten path.

EVERYDAY SAVINGS

Worth checking before you buy.

A few checks that could save you money on things you were going to buy anyway.

Choose what you need

Choose a tool or guide above. You can switch sections whenever you like.

Which pack is actually cheaper?

Put in the shelf prices and pack sizes. Use the price you can actually pay, including any loyalty-card requirement.

Pack A
Pack B
Enter two packs to compare their cost per kg, litre or item.

Compare like for like. For a multipack, enter the total quantity. A larger pack is only better value if you’ll use what’s in it.

Does the pub pack pay off?

CityStack costs £25 before delivery. It gives £10 off a qualifying £20+ bill at up to ten different participating pubs. Let’s include the upfront cost.

For example, three £10 redemptions leave £5 saved after the £25 pack, before delivery or extra travel.
The conditions behind the sums

This assumes buying a new £25 pack, spending at least £20 each visit, and claiming £10 once at each different pub. Take the current physical special beer mat and have it stamped. Only count visits you would make anyway.

Check current participation, expiry, delivery and exclusions. Don’t assume other offers stack. Food or drink above the minimum bill costs extra. No commission is paid to Side Street.

Current pack price ↗ · Full conditions ↗

Terms read 9 September 2026. The calculator uses that £25 pack price; recheck it before buying.

Browse the participating-pub leads

A bit less on the food shop.

Start with what you’ll actually eat. A cheap bag that goes to waste isn’t much of a deal.

See what’s going spare nearby

Olio has free food shared by people and volunteers rescuing shop surplus. Request something you can use, agree a collection time, then pick it up.

The catch: It’s whatever is available nearby, not a guaranteed weekly shop. Check the listing and collection details. Olio also has paid and reduced-price sections, so make sure you’re looking at the free food.

How to find free food on Olio ↗

Official guide read 9 September 2026. No local stock checked.

Try a surplus pickup on your usual route

Too Good To Go can be handy if you’re flexible about what comes home. Check the price, contents guidance and exact collection window before buying a Surprise Bag.

The catch: You may not get to choose the food, and a bag can be cancelled. Add any extra journey cost. If you need specific ingredients for dinner, an ordinary shop may make more sense.

Check Too Good To Go ↗

Terms reviewed 8 September 2026. Live bags and dietary suitability need checking in the app.

Before you buy another one.

Before you replace something, see if there’s another option.

Borrow the thing you’ll use once

Need a drill for one job? Library of Things has household kit you can reserve and collect locally. Worth checking before you buy something that’ll spend most of its life in a cupboard.

The catch: It’s paid hire. Compare the full hire period, collection journey and any extras against buying or borrowing from a friend. Return it clean, complete and on time; responsibility for damage and late returns matters.

Find out how borrowing works ↗ · Borrowing terms ↗

Official information read 9 September 2026. Local prices and availability vary.

Give the broken thing another chance

Repair Cafés bring people and volunteer repair skills together. Look for a local session before giving up on something that might be fixable.

The catch: Check the local session’s dates, accepted items, booking rules and any parts or donation costs. Free help doesn’t guarantee a successful repair.

Find a UK repair group ↗ · How it works ↗

Community Repair Network’s UK directory and Repair Café’s explanation read 9 September 2026. Individual sessions need checking.

Your library card can do a fair bit

Camden’s digital library includes free ebooks, audiobooks, magazines and newspapers for its members. Worth a look before paying for another thing to read.

The catch: This is Camden’s service, not a promise that every borough offers the same apps. You’ll need a valid membership, and popular titles may have a wait. If you’re elsewhere, check your own council’s library page.

Camden’s digital library and joining details ↗

Council information read 9 September 2026.

Make your next clothes browse a plan

Check the dated clothes swaps and second-hand sales, then choose a free-entry slot if it suits you. Go in with an idea of what you need and a limit you’re happy with.

The catch: Free entry doesn’t mean free clothes. At kilo sales, weigh the item before paying and add any ticket or journey cost.

See upcoming second-hand dates

Going out? Check the whole bill.

These services can help, but the percentage is only the start. Open the catch before booking or subscribing.

Terms reviewed 8–9 September 2026. These are ordinary links with no referral commission. Slots, prices and availability need a fresh check.

Find a place in the guide