Having Your Groceries Delivered Just Might Save You Money

When my two youngest, who are only 17 months apart, were little, I took advantage of Peapod, a local grocery delivery service.

While there was a small fee for this service, the price was well worth it because it kept me out of the stores with two kids under two.

These days, there are plenty of people opting for grocery delivery service.  There reasons are varied—they have a busy work schedule, they don’t want to shop with the kids in tow, or they have to drive too far to get to the grocery store—just to name a few.

You may think of grocery delivery services as a luxury, but the truth is, for a variety of reasons, they just might save you money on food!

Easily Inventory What You Have At Home

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been at the store with a certain recipe in mind, and I can’t remember if I have one of the essential items at home.  So, I buy it because otherwise I won’t be able to make the recipe. Then when I get home, I find I already have said item.

If you’re placing an order online, you can easily look through your pantry and freezer so you don’t end up buying items you already have at home.

Be More Intentional With What You Buy

When you’re placing your order online, you likely have a grocery list in mind.  Otherwise, clicking through endless pages can be monotonous and time consuming.  You know what you need for the upcoming week’s meals, and you place it in the cart.

Some people who order online regularly pride themselves on how quickly they can place their order, especially when so many online stores save your favorite items from previous orders, making ordering even easier.

Make Fewer Impulse Buys

At the grocery store, you’re more likely to be distracted and check out items you never meant to buy.  Or, if you have to shop with your kids, you have to constantly monitor them to make sure they’re not putting extra items in the cart.  They may also beg for items they want.

Ordering online takes care of that.  You can shop online when the kids are napping, or in school, or sleeping at night.

Avoid Eating Out

Some busy weeks, you may not even have time to go to the grocery store.  When that happens, you can likely pull together a few meals from items you have in the pantry or the freezer, but after that, you may start buying take out.

Ordering groceries online saves you from this trap.  Even if you don’t have time, you can still have groceries delivered to your home, and you’ll likely also be eating healthier foods.

Stay In Budget

If you order online, as you place items in your cart, you’ll see your total.  This can help you stay within your grocery budget.  While you may know that you should add up your items while shopping in the grocery store, most people don’t do this and then are often in for a surprise when they check out.

If you do go over your grocery budget, emotionally, taking items out of your cart is easier to do when it’s a virtual cart versus a real cart at the grocery store.  Once an item makes it into your physical cart at the grocery store, you likely won’t remove it; instead you’ll just go over budget.  (Sound familiar?)

While a grocery delivery services may seem to be frivolous (after all, you have to pay a delivery fee), chances are, when you consider all of the variables, you likely will save money with a grocery delivery service.

Do you have your groceries delivered?  If so, do you think it’s more expensive?  Or, do you just prefer to go to the grocery store?