Smart Cart: Your Guide to Budget-Friendly Online Grocery Shopping

It's Sunday afternoon and we are running low on school lunch supplies. I am lying on my couch in my comfy pants, clicking away on my phone. After a few minutes I proclaim, "Done!" and toss my phone onto the coffee table with a smile. No, I haven't just solved Wordle. I just did a week's worth of grocery shopping without even putting on my shoes, and I'm feeling like one smart shopper.  

Yep, that’s right. Ordering your groceries online can save time, and money as well. The last couple of years have prompted an explosion in online shopping for everything, including groceries. These services allow you to put in your grocery order from the comfort of your home and then either pick up your order at the store or have it delivered to your door. 

Advantages of ordering groceries online 

• No more impulse buying. Well, at least the impulse buys you make inside the store! Grocery stores employ entire marketing teams to entice customers to buy extra items. Those flashy endcap displays are there for a reason — because they work! You see something that looks good or is on sale, and next thing you know, you’ve spent an extra $20 or $30. The store’s shoppers who fill your online order won’t buy anything that isn't on your list.
• Plenty of time to make that shopping list. Making a list (and sticking to it) is a surefire way to save at the store. With online shopping, you can take the time to carefully consider what you need from the comfort of your couch. You can also more easily compare prices and look for sale items from home because you aren’t standing in a busy aisle at the store. In addition, most sites automatically generate a list for you based on previous purchases, making it easy to check off the items you buy regularly.

• Encourages menu making and meal planning. To create that list, you need to know what you plan to cook for the week. Making a menu, especially if you base it on what is on sale that week, can really save your wallet. This also helps to cut down on wasted food and money. 
• Saves you time, and time is money. It can be hard to fit in an hour at the grocery store while juggling work, kids’ activities, driving carpool and all the other things parents do each day. It might be worth it to pay a fee and avoid shopping, standing in the checkout line and wrestling your kids while you shop.

• Save money by eating more meals at home. If you didn’t make it to the store and the cupboard is bare, taking the whole family out for dinner — even if it’s fast food — will probably add up to more than that delivery fee for a week’s worth of food. Having your groceries delivered offers the same benefits as pick-up, plus you will save even more time, and you’ll save on gas.

Challenges of grocery shopping online

• Fees. Delivery services have fees and you will need to tip, and that can add up.
• Produce selection. You won't be able to personally choose your own produce. For some folks, as long as someone else is doing the shopping (and bringing it to their doorstep) they are happy to eat whatever produce is selected. But, I know this issue is a dealbreaker for others. If it is, my suggestion is to order other groceries online and head to the store to buy produce in person. If you just stick to the produce section, your trip should be quick and stay on budget. 
• Mistakes. Sometimes personal shoppers make mistakes or misunderstand what you ordered. I once ordered green peppers and was surprised to pull two jalapenos out of my bag!

Online grocery shopping options

Most major grocery chains offer a pickup option. For example, Fred Meyer, QFC and Safeway offer online shopping, after which an employee delivers the bagged groceries to your car in a designated spot in the parking lot. These services are free, as long as you spend at least $35, (Kroger) or $30, (Safeway) and tipping isn’t allowed. Check the website of your preferred store to see what is available. I used to schedule my groceries to be ready for pick-up right after I picked my kids up from school, and would stop by on our way home. Super convenient!  

Instacart is a delivery service that can do your shopping at a wide variety of stores and then deliver to your door. There is a per-order delivery fee, plus you will need to tip your shopper. Instacart offers a monthly membership for $9.99 per month or $99 per year, which gives you free delivery for orders over $35 and smaller service fees. You can use Instacart without a membership, but fees will be higher. I remember the first time I used Instacart when my kids were and both sick (the company had only been around for a year or two). When those bags of popsicles and crackers arrived at my doorstep it felt like a small miracle. 

In some states (including Washington) Amazon Prime members can sign up to have groceries delivered for $9.99 per month. This includes unlimited grocery delivery on orders over $35 across Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market, and a variety of local grocery and specialty retailers found on amazon.com. Without the $9.99 per month fee, you can still get free delivery on orders over $100. Customers who aren’t Prime members can also use the service for a fee; a free trial is available.

How to make grocery pickup, delivery and in-store shopping work for your budget

Check your preferred store to see what is available. Many services, both pickup and delivery, offer a free- or reduced-cost trial period. This is a good way to dip your toe in and see if ordering online is helpful to you. Just remember to cancel the service if you decide not to continue after your free trial ends!

If you live more than a few miles from your store, check the delivery area to make sure you aren’t paying extra fees for longer distances.

Take advantage of digital coupons and sales while doing your online shopping. Take this time to compare prices as well to make sure you are getting the best deal.

Mix it up! Use a delivery service when you are really crunched for time, such as the beginning and end of the school year or during holidays. Other times, do the shopping yourself or choose the free pickup option.

Online ordering can be a great tool to save on groceries for busy families. Give it a try!