How I Went from Paying $100 a Month for Pastries to Just $30 — Without Giving Up the Freshly Baked Goodness

When I was in college, I worked at both Starbucks and Jamba Juice. At the time, I thought I had landed the dream student job — free drinks, flexible hours, and the inside scoop on how my favorite coffee shop and smoothie spot operated.

But it didn’t take long before I uncovered one of the biggest illusions in the café world: those “freshly baked” pastries sitting behind the glass? Yeah, they weren’t exactly freshly baked.

The Frozen Truth About “Freshly Baked” Pastries

At Starbucks, I learned that the muffins, croissants, and danishes came in frozen. Every night before closing, we’d pull out boxes from the freezer, arrange them neatly on trays, and leave them in the fridge to defrost overnight. In the morning, we’d pop them in the oven just long enough to make them warm and flaky again. They looked great, smelled amazing, and people loved them — but “freshly baked”? Not exactly.

At Jamba Juice, it was the same story. The pastries looked fresh, but they had traveled a long way from a factory before ending up in our display case. It felt a little disappointing. I had always imagined some early-morning baker kneading dough and pulling golden pastries out of the oven right before opening. Instead, it was just corporate logistics and freezer management.

After working there for a while, I made a quiet decision: I would never again spend money on a café pastry that I knew had been frozen and defrosted.

Enter: 85°C Bakery Café — My New Pastry Paradise

After quitting those jobs, I wanted to treat myself to the real thing. I discovered 85°C Bakery Café, a popular Taiwanese bakery known for its huge variety of freshly baked pastries, breads, and cakes. The first time I walked in, I was overwhelmed in the best way possible. The smell of butter and sugar hit me like a wave, and trays of pastries were constantly being refilled with piping hot buns straight from the oven.

Everything was fresh. You could literally see the bakers in the back, working nonstop, kneading dough, shaping pastries, and brushing on egg wash before sliding trays into the oven. It was pastry heaven — and I was hooked.

My Weekly Pastry Ritual

Soon, visiting 85°C became a ritual. Every week or two, I’d spend around $20–$30 on pastries. I’d walk out with a box of six to ten baked goods — perfect for breakfast for the week.

It didn’t feel like a waste. After all, I was spending money on quality — freshly baked, not defrosted. I convinced myself it was a small luxury that made life a little sweeter.

But after a few months, I started doing the math.

If I was spending an average of $25 a week, that came out to roughly $100 a month. That’s $1,200 a year — just on pastries!

Don’t get me wrong, they were delicious. But $100 a month started to feel like a lot, especially as other expenses piled up — gas, groceries, rent, the occasional night out. My “fresh pastry habit” was beginning to eat into my budget (pun fully intended).

The Search For Fresh Pastries At A Reasonable Price

I tried to cut back, but it was hard. I didn’t want to go back to those frozen, prepackaged pastries from coffee chains, but I also didn’t want to keep dropping a hundred bucks a month.

I thought about heading to a small Chinatown bakery — they usually have great pastries at lower prices. But the nearest one was over 30 minutes away. By the time I factored in gas, parking, and time, the savings would barely make a difference.

There had to be another way.

Discovering The “Too Good To Go” App

One day, while scrolling through social media, I stumbled across a post about an app called Too Good To Go. The idea sounded brilliant: local bakeries, cafes, and restaurants sell their leftover food at the end of the day at a huge discount — instead of throwing it away.

You don’t get to pick exactly what you’ll receive. Instead, you reserve a “Surprise Bag” — typically for about $4–$6 — and when you pick it up, it’s filled with whatever’s left over for the day.

For bakeries, that usually means a mix of pastries, bread, and desserts that are still fresh but can’t be sold the next morning.

It sounded too good (literally) to be true. Fresh pastries at a fraction of the cost? I downloaded the app immediately.

My First “Too Good To Go” Experience

I reserved a bag from a local bakery for $6. I wasn’t sure what to expect — maybe a few stale rolls or a leftover muffin.

When I arrived to pick it up, the staff handed me a large paper bag that smelled amazing. I couldn’t resist peeking inside before I got to my car.

Inside were five pastries: a chocolate croissant, a cheese danish, a matcha bun, a blueberry muffin, and a slice of coffee cake. They looked and smelled freshly baked — not frozen, not defrosted, not day-old in the bad way.

At full price, those pastries would have cost me around $20. I got them for $6.

I was hooked.

The Numbers Don’t Lie

After that first try, I started making Too Good To Go part of my weekly routine. I’d reserve one or two bags a week, depending on how many pastries I wanted.

Each bag cost around $6 and included four to five pastries, which meant I was paying roughly $1.20 per pastry.

If I stuck to just one bag per week, that added up to around $30 a month — instead of the $100 I used to spend at 85°C. That’s a $70 monthly savings, or $840 a year — all while still enjoying freshly baked pastries.

And best of all, I got to try a wide variety of items I might not have chosen myself. Some weeks I’d get croissants and danishes, other times I’d get savory buns or sweet rolls I’d never heard of before. It felt like a mini pastry adventure every week.

Why This Works So Well

Too Good To Go isn’t just about saving money. It’s also about reducing food waste. Every year, millions of tons of perfectly good food get thrown away simply because it wasn’t sold in time. By buying these Surprise Bags, you’re helping local businesses reduce waste and make a little extra revenue — while getting a great deal for yourself.

For bakeries, the food is still high quality. They can’t sell “day-old” pastries at full price, but they’re still delicious the next morning. It’s a win-win situation.

Plus, the random selection keeps things interesting. It’s like a mystery box of breakfast joy.

Tips for Getting the Best Out of Too Good To Go

If you’re thinking about trying Too Good To Go, here are a few things I’ve learned along the way:

1. Set notifications for your favorite spots.
   The good bakeries sell out fast. The app lets you “favorite” stores so you can get alerts when new Surprise Bags become available.
2. Pick up at the scheduled time.
   These are end-of-day deals, so be respectful of the pickup window. If you show up too early or too late, the staff might be closing or have already given away your bag.
3. Bring your own bag or container.
   Some places don’t provide bags, or they use paper ones that can tear easily if the pastries are warm.
4. Manage your expectations.
   Remember — it’s a surprise! You might not love every pastry you get, but that’s part of the fun. I’ve discovered some unexpected favorites this way.
5. Freeze extras.
   Ironically, I now freeze pastries by choice. If I get more than I can eat in a few days, I pop them in the freezer and reheat them later. They still taste great, and I never waste a crumb.

The Bigger Picture: Rethinking “Value”

When I first learned Starbucks and Jamba Juice used frozen pastries, I felt a bit betrayed. I wanted authenticity — that sense of something made fresh that day. That’s what led me to 85°C Bakery, where everything truly was freshly baked.

But over time, I realized there’s more than one kind of value. There’s monetary value — how much you pay. There’s quality value — how good something tastes or feels. And there’s ethical value — like supporting local businesses or reducing waste.

With Too Good To Go, I feel like I’ve found the sweet spot between all three. I still get freshly baked pastries, but I also save money and help cut down on food waste.

Rediscovering The Joy of Fresh Pastries — Without the Guilt

Now, I actually look forward to my weekly pastry pickups even more than my 85°C runs. Every bag is a surprise, and I’ve learned to appreciate the variety and creativity of local bakeries. Some even include little extras — a slice of cake, a loaf of bread, or cookies that didn’t sell that day.

It’s become a fun, budget-friendly ritual that makes my mornings a little brighter.

Final Thoughts

If you love pastries as much as I do but hate how expensive they can be, give Too Good To Go a try. It’s affordable, sustainable, and surprisingly satisfying.

I started out spending $100 a month on pastries because I wanted something freshly baked. Now, I’m spending around $30 a month — and still getting that same freshness (plus a little adventure in every bag).

In the end, I learned that “freshly baked” doesn’t have to mean “freshly expensive.” Sometimes, with a bit of creativity — and the right app — you can have your pastry and eat it too.