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YOUR MONEY


Convenience vs. Cost Grocery prices are higher online than in stores — but you can still find savings. ::


BY JILL SCHILDHOUSE M


any people regularly outsource household chores from landscaping to housecleaning —


and now, grocery shopping has fallen into that category, too. One in six consumers now buys


groceries online and has them delivered each week, according to a July 2022 survey by PYMNTS, a business platform that monitors developments in the connected economy. And in 2021, more than 70% of


U.S. households ordered groceries online at least once. Sure, some of this trend can be


attributed to COVID-19. Yet even now, long after the lockdowns, many households aren’t willing to give up the convenience of services like Instacart, Amazon Fresh, and Walmart+.


But is the timesaving benefi t


worth the extra cost? After all, you may be paying higher prices for your food when shopping online, not to mention delivery fees, service charges, fuel surcharges, and tips. Fortunately, there are ways to


save on grocery delivery and actually pay less than you would when shopping in the store. Here’s how.


1


PAY FOR THE MEMBERSHIP You can use services like


Instacart without paying the yearly membership fee, but it’ll cost you each time you do so. Alternatively, if you pay the


annual membership fee, each delivery over $35 will be free. The same $35 minimum is true of Walmart+. So, if you use these services on a


regular basis, you’ll save money in just a few deliveries by buying the


One in six consumers now buys groceries online and has them delivered each week. Some of this trend can be attributed to COVID-19. Yet even now, long after the lockdowns, many households aren’t willing to give up the convenience of such services.


annual membership. (If you already pay for an Amazon


Prime membership, Amazon Fresh is an included perk.)


2


CHOOSE NEXT-DAY DELIVERY VS. SAME-DAY


Sure, there are times when it can be helpful to have your groceries delivered within the hour, but it pays to plan ahead. For example, even if your


Instacart order is over $35, you may incur an additional fee starting at $3.99 for same-day orders. But if you order in advance, you avoid that fee.


3


ADHERE TO THE MINIMUM CART PRICE REQUIREMENTS


Most grocery delivery services have a minimum threshold for free delivery, making buying just a few items at a time cost prohibitive. Instacart, Walmart+, and


Amazon Fresh all off er free shipping on orders over $35, so make sure you’re hitting that threshold before ordering.


4


CHOOSE CURBSIDE PICKUP Much of the appeal of a grocery


MAY 2023 | NEWSMAX MAXLIFE 77


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