If you’ve read my articles before, you know I love to vent a bit. Grocery stores are one of my favorite places to complain about. There’s always something to discuss, from other shoppers to cart habits. But let’s talk about something I’ve been grumbling about a lot lately: the rising cost of groceries.
In Denmark, there’s a woman who’s tackled this problem in a different way. Instead of relying on coupons or special deals, Sofie Juel-Anderson has taken up dumpster diving. Yes, you heard that right. She hasn’t set foot in a grocery store for four years. “I haven’t done a food shop in four years,” she says. “I find all of my food in the dumpster. In 2024, I spent just $99 at the supermarket, mostly on essentials like toilet paper and dish soap.”
Thanks to her unique approach, Sofie has saved a good chunk of change. She uses that money to travel and visit friends around the globe. “The money I have saved allows me the freedom to travel,” she adds.
Sofie’s journey into dumpster diving began while she lived in Australia. “I was always curious about it,” she explains. After trying it for the first time, she found a surprising amount of food, much of which was still good to eat. “Some was expired, but a lot wasn’t,” she recalls. It became a fascinating new hobby for her.
While it might not be for everyone, Sofie’s story highlights a creative way to combat rising food costs. If you’re interested in new ways to manage your grocery bill, her journey might inspire you to think outside the box—or, in this case, the dumpster.
