How many times did you drag yourself into the car just to do your grocery shopping? Yep, we get it. Few people like grocery shopping.
You either love or hate shopping. You might not even have a problem shopping. It’s finding the time!
People use grocery delivery services, meal delivery services to make life easier.
It’s a simple concept: you choose your groceries from your favorite online grocery store, pay online and then they deliver your order right to your front door. A friendly driver delivers your groceries after you pay the delivery fee.
Table of Contents
Why You Should Choose Grocery Delivery Services
What should I tip my grocery delivery service?
What is the best grocery delivery service?
Is Grocery Delivery Worth it?
Why You Should Choose Grocery Delivery Services
It is not wrong or right to shop for groceries every week. A grocery delivery service does not have a bad connotation.
It is important to know why people choose one. We’ll look at some of the reasons for the decision:
Reduced Chance of Impulse Shopping
Imagine the scene. You’re walking through the store with a list, and then you see a great deal on your favorite beef steaks. The steaks are not on your list but they’re in the cart.
You’ve added $100 to your bill by the time you have finished shopping at your favorite supermarket.
Supermarkets advertise very cleverly. It’s because they know that you will buy the products at the end.
You can eliminate this from the equation when you shop online for groceries. You are more likely to stick to your budget when you only look for specifics. There is nothing to tempt you to buy.
Filtering the Products
If you’re looking for a specific item, it can be tedious to wander around the grocery store. You can find the items you are looking for by searching online.
Budgeting Tool
Shopping online is a great way to stay within your grocery budget.
By avoiding impulse purchases, you can also save money. By searching for deals, you can set yourself a challenge to spend less money than the budget that you have set.
These small steps will bring you closer financial independence.
The Helping Hand
It can be stressful to shop for groceries if you need help. Online grocery delivery services eliminate this problem.
It’s easy to buy online and pay for your order. Then someone will deliver it directly to your home.
This is a great tool for elderly parents or neighbors who are unable to get to the store, but still need their groceries.
Online shopping is available for their groceries, which are delivered to their home by the store.
Shop anywhere, anytime
You can order groceries online from your local store, whether you’re at home or away. You can save valuable vacation time by having your groceries delivered.
Your concierge will even bring groceries to your hotel room if your flight is delayed. This saves you time from having to buy food after you have just arrived!
You could find that grocery delivery services are a lifesaver, especially if your injury has left you unable to leave your home.
You can save time, money and sanity by using these services.
What should I tip my grocery delivery service?
When you receive your groceries, it is always a good idea to tip. Tipping is important, especially if you feel the driver was kind and helpful by bringing the bags into your kitchen.
It’s great to know that you are helping the drivers as much as you have been helped by them!
What is the best grocery delivery service?
Most grocery delivery services are to your advantage. Many people avoid grocery stores because they are too crowded or the lines are too long.
Also, they avoid them because of the temptations that are in every aisle. You can ditch your weekly trip to the grocery store.
In fine modern style, it’s 2019, (almost 2020) and stores are competing to deliver the best groceries.
We’re happy to accept that. It gives us more options to save money and receive a great service.
This FIRE calculator will show you how you can achieve financial independence by saving more over time.
Let’s take a look at some of the top grocery delivery services.
3, 2, 1… Go!
Instacart
People don’t like to wait days for their groceries to be delivered. They want instant service. Instacart’s grocery delivery service is easy to use.
You’ve probably had a day where you ran out of food in the refrigerator. Instacart can deliver groceries to your home within an hour.
Instacart is a little different from other grocery delivery services because it does not come from a storage facility.
They connect you with personal shoppers that bring you groceries directly from the store you choose. Instacart is not required to use the service, but if you do you’ll find that delivery costs are much cheaper.
What is the cost of Instacart?
Instacart Express membership costs $149 per year. That’s $12.50 per month. If you get deliveries at least one a week, this is a great deal. The Express service is available for one-hour and two-hour deliveries, as well as scheduled deliveries above $35.
Orders over $35 will cost $5.99 per hour. Orders that do not require rush delivery will only be charged $3.99. Minimum order is $10
What is the Verdict?
Instacart charges the lowest fees of all delivery services and delivers your groceries in an hour.
Walmart Grocery Delivery
Walmart has been expanding its grocery service by opening more stores in recent years.
It’s not surprising that they have over 5,000 stores just in the US. More than 1,400 stores now provide grocery delivery.
Order online, or via the Walmart app. Select delivery. This service allows you to plan your meals in advance and stay within your budget.
What is the cost of Walmart grocery delivery?
Walmart Grocery Delivery can be purchased on a delivery-by-delivery basis for $9.99. There is also a subscription model available for $12.95 a month or $98 yearly.
What is the Verdict?
This is a good option if you want to be able to choose what you buy at the supermarket. This option allows you to see the items you have previously bought, making reordering easy.
You can also save money by using their pickup service. The convenience of not having go to the store is still there, as your car will be loaded.
Peapod
Peapod is one of the largest online grocery stores in the US. They offer more than 12,000 products.
Peapod has everything you need, whether you are looking for organic products, seasonal items, or deli foods.
Peapod offers grocery delivery in 13 states.
What is the cost of Peapod?
Delivery is $6.95 for online orders over $100. Below $100, it’s $9.95. For home delivery, a minimum of $60 is required.
What is the verdict?
Peapod charges a small fee for orders over $100. However, their biggest downfall is the use of plastic bags when packing groceries.
The good part? The good part? They’ll recycle your bags if they get them back from you once you have taken out your goods!
FreshDirect
FreshDirect customers will know the quality of products available, whether they are generic or brand names.
DeliveryPass is an offer that allows new FreshDirect customers to receive two months’ worth of groceries at a price of just one penny.
FreshDirect currently only serves Washington, DC and portions of New Jersey and New York. It also services Connecticut, Delaware and Pennsylvania. FreshDirect serves Jersey Shore, the Hamptons and other areas in the summer.
How much does FreshDirect cost?
FreshDirect offers a free 60-day trial to all new users. After the trial, FreshDirect will charge $79 per six-month period. You’ll pay $129 for a year if you keep DeliveryPass.
What is the verdict?
FreshDirect is not worth it if you don’t shop online often. If you use it often enough, you will not be disappointed.
AmazonFresh
AmazonFresh comes with Amazon Prime. Currently, Amazon offers free shipping on orders over $40.
There is only one problem: you have to be a member of Prime to access the service. This means there will be an extra charge every month.
AmazonFresh is currently available in Seattle, Philadelphia, New York City, Northern & Southern California. The membership is expensive, but there are many great deals and the products are well priced.
What is the cost of AmazonFresh?
Orders over $40 are free with the annual $99 Prime membership fee plus monthly $14.99 fee.
What is the verdict?
The fee is still too high for some people, even though the price has dropped from $299 per year! You should consider it if you use Prime frequently or already have one.
HelloFresh
Another meal delivery service, this one sends pre-portioned and selected meals. The name says it all! The meals are very good quality.
You can save money by only purchasing the meals that you require. You can prepare simple evening meals without going to the supermarket.
You can choose the meals you want and ingredients you prefer.
It’s perfect for those who work all week long and don’t have time to prepare meals. HelloFresh offers delivery to all 50 states and the District of Columbia, but not to Hawaii or Alaska.
What is the cost of HelloFresh?
HelloFresh offers a very detailed pricing plan with a sliding-scale. This allows you to select what works best for you.
The Classic Plan ($60 to $120) is for 3-5 meals that serve 2-4 people. The Veggie Plan ($70-105 for 2-3 meals) serves 2-4 persons.
What is the verdict?
They offer more delivery states than the other services, but they only have a limited amount of meals. You would need to order delivery of other meals, or all the meals you want for the day.
The range is high quality, however, so it’s a great choice!
Vons
Safeway is the parent company of Vons. They offer same-day delivery of groceries – if ordered before 8:30am!
Vons’ grocery delivery service offers the ability to “Shop by History”. This allows you to save time and money by shopping what you have previously ordered.
You can store your purchases on your Vons Club Card in your mini-online store. You can shop quicker and easier with this service than any other.
Vons currently delivers to most major U.S. Cities.
What is the cost of Vons?
Delivery is $9.95 for orders above $150 and $12.95 for groceries below this amount. The minimum order is $49 and new customers get free delivery on their first order online.
What is the verdict?
Vons offers fast and convenient delivery for those who need it. Vons isn’t the cheapest, but you will spend less time shopping because you can browse by past purchases.
Google Express
Google Shopping Express was formerly known as Google Express. However, they do more than just deliver groceries.
From shoes to flowers and pet supplies, you can order them all here. In some cases, they can be delivered the same day.
Google Express has a large delivery area, but the time it takes for the delivery to arrive at your home depends on where the store is located.
What is the cost of Google Express?
Google Express membership costs $10 per month or $95 if paid upfront. With a membership you can receive free delivery or pay $3 for small orders.
You will only pay $3.99 per store for non-members.
What is the verdict?
Google Express has many advantages, including the ability to get deliveries from Target Costco and Fry’s.
Purple Carrot
Purple Carrot’s food is all plant-based. Vegans will love this place! Purple Carrot, which delivers meals in 36 states (similar to HelloFresh), is a meal delivery service that offers pre-portioned meals. Every week, the recipes and ingredients will be served.
What is the price of purple carrot?
There are plans that serve up to two people for $68 per person per week. Others, however, include three to four people and cost $74 per person per week. The first plan offers three recipes and the second two.
What is the verdict?
Purple Carrot offers the best options for those who have additional dietary requirements, such as being vegan or vegetarian. Even those who require gluten-free foods have some choices. It is also attractive because there are no hidden taxes or fees.
Yummy.com
This online grocery service provides a neighborhood store option. If you need it, you can have a 30-minute window for grocery delivery. Yummy.com operates in six Los Angeles locations, including Hollywood Playa Vista and Santa Monica.
What is the cost of Yummy.com?
Orders over $100 are eligible for free delivery, and orders below that amount will be charged $5.99. Minimum order is only $14.99.
What is the verdict?
Yummy.com offers the fastest and most convenient grocery delivery. Yummy.com is a great option for those who need to place an order quickly.
Martha & Marley Spoon
Martha Stewart is well-known, but now everyone knows that she offers a meal delivery service called Martha & Marley Spoon.
Martha allows shoppers to choose their favorite recipes and their preferred delivery date for pre-measured ingredients of high quality.
What is the price of Martha & Marley Spoon?
You can choose between cooking for two, three or four people. The number of people you cook for can range from two to four, depending on the meals that you need per week.
Marley Spoon costs a bit more than other meal delivery services.
What is the verdict?
It is more expensive, but you get to cook delicious, nutritious meals for the family. It will save you time and effort in finding the ingredients. You only need to follow the instructions!
Costco
Costco began delivering goods in Tampa in March 2017. Costco’s delivery service has been a hit with many people, and the company has expanded its services since it was launched.
Costco Costs How Much?
Shipt is the delivery service chosen by Costco. Membership with Shipt costs $99 a year. Costco’s unlimited delivery is included in this membership, which is cheaper than Google Express or Instacart.
If you do not want to commit to an entire year, you can also use a monthly subscription. Monthly membership costs $14.
What is the verdict?
No minimum order is required. Shipt will deliver as little as $35 but anything under that amount will be charged $7. Shipt works with Meijer, Harris Teeter and Whole Foods, so it’s simple to avoid the delivery fee.
Shipt will not charge you extra on busy days.
Plates
Plated is perfect for those who love restaurant-quality food but don’t have time to prepare it. Plated offers over 20 different recipes per week. Plated allows you to choose the date of delivery and how many people will be cooking. You can put the subscription on hold if it’s too expensive for you.
What is the cost of plated?
You’ll be charged $71.70 for meals served three nights per week to two people. You’ll have to pay $119.40 for four meals, three times a week. This could be your dream grocery delivery service if you have a busy schedule, work shifts or are a busy person.
What is the Verdict?
What if you could choose your own meals for the days when you are most busy? You’ll be glad you did!
Is Grocery Delivery Worth it?
Grocery delivery services may change your life. You will have so much more time, which means you can spend it on things that are worthwhile. You will save money and finally follow a budget.
Examine the demands of your family, your work schedule and your own life. You don’t have to run around like a chicken with no head – you can receive your groceries in just two clicks.
This original post originally appeared on The Money Mix. It is being republished here with permission.
