Grocery Delivery Service is a Game Changer
If you are still going to a grocery store, you are doing it wrong. Signing up for a grocery delivery service has been the single biggest game changer to my life in the past 8-years of being a parent. I used to run around to 3-4 different stores a week. I’d get my produce from one store. Bulk items from Costco. Speciality items from another…. blah blah blah. Sound familiar? Since I signed up for Instacart grocery delivery service, I now order my groceries from my couch, bed, in the car and have them ready for me when I get home from work, back from vacation or when I just don’t want to out a damn bra on. I love that I can order my daughter’s favorite waffles from Vons, my lettuce and veggies from Sprouts and my paper towels from Costco all while watching Bubble Guppies with my two year old on the couch. No more schlepping cranky kids in and out of the car, waiting for parking, waiting in line and forgetting half the things you needed because your two-year old decided to have a melt down in aisle nine.
Here is the quick and dirty:
It costs $149 a year. All deliveries are free thereafter. You can tip on each delivery per your discretion.
You can order from multiple stores, so long as you hit $35 minimum per store. This is not a problem for me. EVER.
The app will store your past purchases from each store so you can easily select your go-to items in a flash. You can also designate replacement items and give other instructions such as grinding coffee beans or picking green bananas. It’s super intuitive.
You can also elect to have the shopper text you in real time with updates and replacement options so you know exactly what the happs is.
They will deliver within two hours or you can schedule it for a specified day/time. I love scheduling my groceries for delivery when I get home from work or vacation.
You do not have to be home to receive your groceries. There are SOME exceptions to this (i.e. alcohol). You can make a note to leave the groceries at your doorstep if you don’t want to be bothered or are not home.
Do you save money?
While I have not done an analysis on this personally, the argument could be made either way. But, I’m leaning towards yes. I definitely save on less impulse purchases. For example, I never have yogurt-covered pretzels or Australian licorice on my grocery list, yet somehow they always end up in my damn cart. Duh. Not the case when I order them through the app. I also seem to pay attention to the prices a lot more and now know that my favorite bagels are almost always 30% more at one particular store that I had always bought them from. I feel so cheated. I could also argue that since our fridge is more readily stocked we are eating out less. The flip side to all of this, is that I’m ordering groceries a lot more often. Time will have to tell on this one. Regardless, the convenience factor trumps everything.
How to do it:
Download the Instacart app on your phone.
Plug in your zip and see what stores will deliver in your area. For me, it was ALL my go-to spots except for Trader Joe’s. I’m secretly hoping a top exec from TJ’s is reading and will start participating as a result of this powerful piece of literature. My life will then be complete.
Sign up when you see how magical it is.
Happy Shopping (from your couch)
PS. The cute baby is not included in the service.
