Families in the UK are subtly changing how they make ends meet. Many have chosen a more personal approach, reviving bartering with digital tools that feel remarkably modern but have their roots in ancient simplicity, rather than waiting for government programs to fill the gap or for energy prices to decline.
Olio is now more than just an app for sharing food. These days, it also serves as a venue for useful trades, such as exchanging a children’s book for a torch or someone’s leftover rice for an old tin opener. Despite their modesty, the exchanges show something very evident: people are resourcefully adapting.
| Topic | Detail |
|---|---|
| Issue | UK Households Turning to Bartering Apps Amid Energy Cost Pressures |
| Main Apps in Use | Olio, Too Good To Go, Freegle, Vinted, Depop, GetOnlineAtHome |
| Energy Cost Increase | Still 50% higher than 2021 levels |
| Energy Debt Figure | £4.43 billion as of June 2025 |
| Common Solutions | Swapping goods, smart meters, budget apps, refurbished tech |
| Official Source | UK Parliament Committees on Energy Costs |
Another option is provided by Too Good To Go. The app collaborates with supermarkets and cafés to offer excess food in “magic bags” at steep discounts. These are more than just surprises for a lot of people; they are necessities. A jug of soup, a sandwich, and a pastry could be sold for less than £4. Importantly, there is only strategy and no stigma.
The national energy debt reached £4.43 billion by June 2025. That amount may seem insignificant until you’re the one looking at the pre-pay meter blinking red. The price of electricity is still almost 50% more than it was in 2021. This has drastically altered daily life for some households. Care is taken when boiling kettles. Wash loads are scheduled for off-peak times. During grid-friendly windows, devices are charged.
Freecycle and Freegle have subtly flourished once more. These platforms, which are based on surplus and generosity, are especially helpful when the economy is struggling. A school blazer here, an iron there—everything traveled through a series of homes, increasing its usefulness and saving someone from having to go shopping.
I talked to a retired Sheffield teacher who exchanges eggs from a neighbor for homemade marmalade. In order to remember who to thank, rather than out of obligation, she maintains a running log of what she has given and received. I was struck by that note. We occasionally overlook the fact that community ties are another source of wealth when analyzing economic survival data.
Although more structured than barter, digital platforms like Vinted and Depop have made it possible for users to reinvent their wardrobes without breaking the bank. When a child’s size changes, parents use them to switch up their wardrobe. For textbook money, students sell vintage coats. The exchange is cultural as well as monetary.
For households juggling work and school, refurbished technology from GetOnlineAtHome.co.uk and other sources has emerged as a vital resource. Even though it costs £95, a laptop can be used to submit assignments, go to a virtual doctor’s appointment, and look for part-time work. In contrast to ostentatious devices, it is incredibly efficient.
Installed in millions of homes, smart meters now allow for control in addition to tracking consumption. Nearly 50% of homes regularly use the in-home display, according to Ofgem. Before cooking, taking a bath, or even brewing tea, many people check it. When these steps are taken every day, waste is greatly decreased.
Additionally, the incentives are getting better. Over £9 million has been paid to participants in the third phase of the National Grid’s Demand Flexibility Service for modifying their usage during peak hours. Although a few pounds back for shutting off your oven early might not seem like much, it adds up over the course of weeks and households.
I have observed an increase in the formation of local swap groups in recent weeks. Facebook pages such as “North Essex No-Cash Trades” and “Southampton Share Circle” have become extremely active. One offered jam jars in return for compost. Another exchanged a pair of toddler shoes for puzzle books. It’s coordination, not charity.
These routines are now simpler thanks to budgeting apps like Snoop, Emma, and Plum. They track subscriptions, point out bill spikes, and offer ways to save money. According to reports, one family used app notifications to switch suppliers and cut back on discretionary spending, saving £1,800 in a single year. That number isn’t speculative. It’s digital survival.
There are other pressures besides energy. Rents are going up, food banks are overburdened, and public assistance programs are frequently sluggish. In spite of this, a lot of communities have developed surprising adaptability. They are converting disjointed instruments into comprehensive tactics.
As eligibility decreases, winter fuel payments have become less reliable for senior citizens. In order to exchange local resources, pensioners are increasingly bartering or participating in app-based communities. A spare blanket or a warm coat means more to them than ever before.
Children are gaining knowledge from this change as well. A seven-year-old proudly explained that they turn off the TV when no one is watching in one Kent home I visited, “because the numbers go up on the screen if we don’t.” A generation that views resourcefulness as a choice rather than a deprivation could be shaped by this kind of awareness if it is fostered at a young age.
This poses a subtle problem for policymakers. Households are reacting with agency, on the one hand. However, they shouldn’t have to. Although government programs have occasionally offered assistance, they frequently fall short of what is actually required. While budgeting platforms and bartering apps can help close gaps, they cannot permanently replace systemic change.
Nevertheless, the momentum is increasing.
Households are not only surviving but also innovating by working together with neighbors, repurposing items, and making thoughtful changes to energy use. Together, these decisions—many of which are made in secret—are changing how communities view value.
In many respects, bartering has come back because it is effective rather than because people want it to. It avoids inflation. Cooperation is rewarded. It serves as a reminder that they are not alone.
