Hani Mahmoud, a resident of New York’s Upper West Side, loves visiting different eateries and trying out new food. But in an inflation-plagued city where everything is costly, he grapples with the escalating costs of dining out to avoid going broke.
Finding a good meal for just $10 (Rs 834) in 2024 seems almost impossible, but Hani Mahmoud, who lives here in New York, has found a way to relish delicious food without spending a lot. He collects leftover food from restaurants that would be thrown away so that he can savour dishes at a fraction of the cost.
He amassed savings nearing $1,700 (Rs 1,41,846) over two years with his dining pursuit. Contrasting common beliefs, Mahmoud is not a dumpster diver.
Hani Mahmoud, 32, works in public health and uses an app called TooGoodToGo. The app is from Denmark and helps prevent food waste. It lets people find and save food from restaurants and stores. It’s like having a dog that finds truffles, but instead of truffles, you find affordable meals from fancy places like Eataly.
Mahmoud enjoyed a lavish meal consisting of a 9×11-inch tray of lasagna, focaccia, salad, and more. He paid just $12 (Rs 1,001) for everything. That’s approximately half the cost of a basic burger meal at a Five Guys outlet in NYC.
In New York City, Mahmoud joins others who utilise cost-saving apps like TooGoodToGo and Flash Food from Toronto. Flashfood’s partnership with Stop & Shop has boosted its use among financially savvy New Yorkers.
Speaking to The Post, New Yorker Mahmoud said, “Trying out different restaurants around the city at a lower price seemed like a fantastic idea,” as he discussed his decision to use the app, which launched in 2020. He added, “It’s a way to help reduce food waste and support restaurants and small businesses by buying items they might not otherwise sell.”
Hani saved Rs 1.5 lakh by managing his budget with these methods. He saved at least Rs 1.5 lakh in the last two years. These apps stop food waste and give it to people who want it for less money.
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