Author Topic: Possible to save money and time by never going to the grocery store again?  (Read 4799 times)

Kaplin261

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Has anyone tried this? Grocery stores are the only retail establishments that I visit now days. Most of what I get there can be ordered online and shipped to my home.

If I were to do this, how would I get my perishables? Eggs, dairy products, fresh fruit,vegetables and animal protein.

I plan to implement a aquaponics system next spring so that will take care of a portion of it. I was thinking maybe using a CSA but this does not seem to be cost effective.

frugaliknowit

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You would have to weigh whether the premium you pay to have a service like Peapod deliver your groceries is worth it.  Don't forget the time you spend ordering it and the time you need to spend at home waiting for the delivery.

If one were a SAHM with no car available and no grocery stores in walking distance, it seems like it certainly would be worth it (versus having a second car).

KMMK

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Delivery is more worth it if you have a job or business where more hours worked = more money. If I was super busy and richer, I'd love to have a personal shopper and chef. But right now I just go to the store - which is extra exercise as well (I'm car-free), which I like.

Playing with Fire UK

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I do pretty much what you are describing, but in the UK. Here is what I do YMMV:

I order online from whichever of the big grocery stores has a decent coupon (often £20 off £80 spend), delivery costs £1, which is less than fuel and time to get to the supermarket.

I order less frequently and buy tinned/dried foods as a preference.

Eggs - will last ages in the fridge,
Milk - I buy two filtered cartons (Cravendale) and tetrapacked UHT milk, this will last for months
Cheese - big blocks, cut up and wrapped and into the freezer
Meat - from specialist butcher who supply meat sealed and frozen in dry ice (which is awesome in itself), or from the supermarket delivery and into the freezer it goes (in portion sized sections).
Fruit + Veg - from the garden when possible, frozen from the supermarket and otherwise tinned or fresh from the nearby store.

This saves both time and money, I eat well and healthily. If you don't have a similar service then keep a look out, when it first started in the UK there were amazing introductory offers (or move over here!)

TrMama

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Some smaller, or more high end grocers have always offered delivery. Or there are delivery services available. That's how you can get perishables.

I used to have groceries delivered when my kids were small, I was working full time and DH was away for long periods. Not having to drag toddlers around the store with me was well worth the $8 delivery charge. I found I also spent less since fewer items jumped into my cart. I could easily search for the best prices and review the amounts before clicking the Buy button. This particular chain also let you  choose from several 2 hour windows for delivery. So I just picked a time when I'd be home anyway.

MsPeacock

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I think it is one of those situations where you can either save time (have groceries delivered) or you can save money (go to the store yourself) - but often not both. I order my groceries online from Shoprite (in my area we have Peapod, Safeway, and Shoprite for delivery - and some other stores that have curbside pick-up). It costs $10 for delivery, although they often have coupons for $30 or so off $150 order (which is really hard for me to have an order that large). Additionally they give their in-store prices for items, double coupons, and I can shop right off their sales flyer. If I am mindful I can generally come very close to Aldi's prices. Peapod is owned by Giant, and I think both Peapod and Giant are one of the most expensive grocery store options in my area (Peapod being even higher than Giant). Peapod has something like a $60 minimum order last time I used them years ago, and delivery was about $12.

When I have time I get to Aldi's and Costco for my groceries. Takes time but somewhat cheaper.

In a pinch I go to the Safeway or bodega that is very close when eggs or milk run out.

Thegoblinchief

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There's a local grocery chain here that's so much cheaper than everybody else it's a joke. It's worth the 10 minute each way drive even for $50 in groceries, because $50 there is $70+ elsewhere. I don't buy everything here because I like to spend food dollars as locally as I can.

I do order many of my dry goods (mainly wheat berries and rolled oats) through a regional delivery service once a year. Nearly all of our meat comes from whole/halves of animals purchased in bulk. We grow a large garden. Tried a CSA but won't do it again. I went with the most reasonably priced one in our area and it isn't any cheaper than getting exactly what I want at the famer's market.

Currently I go to the farmers market mainly for local eggs, plus bits of produce we're missing. Also the occasional meat not represented by the bulk purchases. Next year I'll drop the CSA and buy more at the FM. But the garden will also be bigger and better (yet again).

To the OP's question: I doubt it. If you're insanely susceptible to impulse buys at the store, a delivery service might net you ahead. I'm so good at sticking to my list I don't need to worry about it.

Telecaster

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We do one delivery from Amazon Fresh per week, more or less (not available in all areas). 

Pros:  It is awesome to have groceries delivered.   We try to meal plan everything out, and then get it all delivered in one day.  Works great.   We used to try to make one big trip one the weekend, and then maybe one more small trip during the week.  But the delivery eliminated the big trip, which freed up a large amount of spare time.  Worth it, IMO.   I should say also, I'm self-employed, so my spare time is potentially billable, and sometimes I don't have much free time available.

The produce, meat, etc. have been excellent quality. Typically better than Safeway, and well packaged. 

It is easy to make/add to a grocery list, and it remembers what you like to buy. 

Cons:  Stuff costs a little more.   Amazon also tends towards higher end products that cost more anyway.  Chicken is free range chicken, beef is grass fed beef.  Not always, but you get the point, it is a little fancy.   We tend to like better meat (and eat less of it), so this is a wash for us, but might not work for everyone.   

Non-grocery like paper towels and such don't really seem to be worth it.   We get stuff like that at Costco.   

In order to get free shipping, you have to buy a decent amount of groceries each month.

But over all, yes for us it is worth it.  We save one major chore each week, which frees us up for other stuff.  We like it. 

Bracken_Joy

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If you work a ton and having groceries waiting for you at home keeps you from eating out, grocery delivery could well be worth it.

Kwill

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I switched to powdered milk last year, and that has saved me both time and money. I am just shopping and cooking for one, so I was having to buy milk by the quart or else throw away some of it each time because I didn't use it up quickly enough. Now I just mix up a little when I need it for a recipe or want some in coffee, and I'm on my second container in almost nine months. Eggs will over a month in the fridge. Other than that, I can get by with pantry items and frozen fruits and vegetables.

I still waste plenty of time and money in other ways though. Need to get back on track with everything.