Having your groceries can be a great convenience. You can save time by not having to drive to the store. Plus, you get to grocery shop from your couch. Not to mention it is much easier to search for items on a website than in a store. Seriously I can never find some things. During the current pandemic, going out to the store can be dangerous for some.
Convenience often comes with a cost. You may be wondering if there is a way to save money and have your groceries delivered?
I am here to say that it is possible! I have been using various services for the past ten years and can still stick to my food budget.
Do you want to save money while grocery shopping online?
Here are 10 Online Grocery Shopping Hacks For 2020.
Let’s go to The Chalkboard.
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How do I Start Grocery Shopping Online?
If you are curious about which service is the right one for you, check out our primary services comparison. You will be surprised as to how many services are available throughout the country. Walmart has recently started a subscription service to rival Amazon Fresh.
Is it More Expensive to Grocery Shop Online?
We’ve addressed the costs associated with shopping for groceries online. You can read all about it in our online grocery shopping comparison. It is not more expensive to shop online, and dare I say you can even spend less if you follow these hacks.
But how do you save money grocery shopping online? Even though you may be sitting on your couch as you shop, it is not much different than going to the store as far as how to save money. Online retailers are just as eager to get your business and offer fantastic discounts. You just need to learn how to find them.
So let’s get to it.
10 Tips to Save Money Grocery Shopping Online
Before You Shop
- Have a meal plan and shopping list. If you have read any of our articles, you probably know that we are huge proponents of meal planning here at The Kitchen Chalkboard. A little bit of effort each week can save you a ton of time and money. You can read our Ulitmate Guide to Meal Planning to get started. Having a plan isn’t just good for when you go to the grocery store. An exact list of what you need before you shop will help you save money online as well. There are just as many temptations to buy extra items online as there are in store.
- It’s time to signup for the retailer’s emails. Like the brick and mortar grocery stores send out a weekly circular, some online retailers send out weekly emails. Don’t delete them! They have super sales on items listed or even coupons for money off of future purchases. My family can immediately tell that something was on sale. A recent case was veggies crisps on sale for 25 cents. My son said, “you would NEVER buy these at full price.” My eight-year-old has my number.
While You Are Shopping
- Shop the sale section. There are often steep discounts on items in there. You can tweak a recipe and save a ton. Perhaps you swap one type of squash for another. Fruits and vegetables often have great sales. If you see a pantry item with a deep discount, stock up, but remember only to buy what you know you will use.
- Don’t buy EVERYTHING online. Recognize that there are things you should NOT be buying online. I find that meats and paper goods are significantly cheaper if you purchase them in bulk from a wholesale warehouse club. Costco has a two-day grocery delivery for non-perishable items.
- Check out the retailer’s store brand. Many times these products are excellent! I can still remember wincing at the thought of NO BRAND cereal on our table growing up. It just wasn’t the same! But, oh, how far we have come. The Happy Belly brand by Amazon Fresh has some great items.
Save Money At Checkout
- Timing matters. Some services will take a few dollars off your order if you have a delivery during their slow times or allow a longer delivery window. If your schedule is flexible, it’s worth it.
- Never pay for shipping. Most services will waive delivery fees if you meet a minimum. Review your cart before you check out. If necessary, check the sale section to see if you can stock up on pantry goods to meet your minimum.
- You can use coupons! Just because you are shopping online doesn’t mean you can’t use coupons. I get asked all the time, can you use coupons on AmazonFresh? YES! Theirs. On the homepage of AmazonFresh, scroll down, and you will see a whole category of coupons. And it’s not just Amazon; other services allow you to hand over coupons to your delivery driver. A big caveat for coupons is to buy things you need. Simply because you save money on something doesn’t mean you have to buy it. When you throw food away, remember that there is a value to it.
- Review your cart. Take a minute before checkout to look at your items and pay attention to the quantities. It’s easy to hit add one too many times. This review is your last chance to delete any items you no longer want. To avoid a trip to the store, make one quick comparison of your shopping list versus the cart to make sure you didn’t forget anything.
Save Money After Checkout
- Review your bill. After the order arrives, make sure you got everything you ordered. It doesn’t happen often, but there is no need to pay for an item you didn’t receive. A quick email to Customer Service will correct the situation. Often they will include a coupon for future use, too! They want your business.
Additional Tips
- When you think of an item, add it to your cart. It will be there when you are ready to shop. Also, if you have an Alexa, you can add items to AmazonFresh through there. Don’t worry about crazy orders. You need to approve the addition to your list before it is purchased. Just another great way that Alexa is excellent in the kitchen.
- Suppose delivery time is crucial for you. Select it when you begin shopping. Most retailers will give you at least an hour to check out. Sometimes slots go quickly, and it is the best way to ensure you know when your delivery will arrive.
What Do You Think?
Have you tried grocery delivery? What are your thoughts? Have any great money-saving tips you’d like to share? Let us know in the comments below.
Happy Shopping!
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Sabrina Addams says
I liked how you recommended adding items to your cart when you think about them. I have a pretty bad memory and can completely forget about the specific item I went to the store to get. This seems like an easy way to remember everything that you need and keep it all in one place.