YOUR MONEY THE DOWNLOAD
Be sure to go to the store’s own website — not Instacart, Shipt, or another grocery delivery service site — to get the best prices.
delivery service is the delivery part, but you’ll save time and money and still enjoy plenty of convenience by choosing curbside pickup instead. Yes, you’ll have to leave your
house, but most of these services are truly touchless. Just throw a robe over those jammies, pull up to the store, and pop your trunk.
5
PICK STORES THAT CHARGE THE SAME PRICES AS THEY
DO IN THE STORE
Most supermarkets charge higher prices when you shop online than when you shop in the store, but some stores, including Target, Giant Eagle, and Whole Foods, charge the same, and if you opt for curbside pickup you won’t pay a fee or tip. Meijer charges the same prices, but adds a fee for curbside pickup. Be sure to go to the store’s own
website — not Instacart, Shipt, or another grocery delivery service site — to get the best prices.
6
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF TRIAL MEMBERSHIPS
Most of the grocery delivery services off er free trial memberships, so try creating a schedule that’ll give you complimentary access to diff erent ones for a few months to test which you like best. Walmart+ has a free 30-day
trial, and Instacart will give you unlimited free deliveries for 14 days. Combined, that’s already six weeks of waived fees.
7
SKIP BOOZE Some services, like Instacart,
charge an “alcohol service fee” to cover the additional cost
78 NEWSMAX MAXLIFE | MAY 2023
associated with “ensuring compliant delivery of alcohol products and ID verifi cation.” Those with an Instacart membership pay a reduced fee, but it’s still an extra fee, nonetheless.
8
SHOP AT DISCOUNT STORES Discount grocers like Aldi and
Lidl off er online shopping, too, and oftentimes, even with their higher prices online, you’ll save money. Generally, Aldi and Lidl have
cheaper prices than regular supermarkets because they carry fewer products — only about 2,000 to 5,000 compared to the average supermarket, which carries about 40,000 — and they sell mostly their own store brands as opposed to a wide variety of brand-name products. These retailers also keep costs
low by spending little on advertising, employing fewer workers, and using bare-bones displays, shelving, and store décor.
9
ADD UP THE EXTRA PERKS Free shipping isn’t the only perk
grocery delivery services off er. For example, your Walmart+ membership will also get you discounts on fuel, plus select prescription drugs for free, a Paramount+ subscription for free, free shipping with no order minimum, and other limited-time off ers. (Currently, this includes six free months of Spotify Premium.)
10
EARN REFERRAL CREDITS Love your new grocery
delivery lifestyle? Tell your friends and family about it. Instacart customers can earn up to $1,000 in referral credits.
MONEY MATTERS
TRAVEL SAVINGS The cost of international travel is rising, as is everything else that’s touched by inflation. Demand is up 70% since last year, and the costs of international flights are up 35% over 2022. Hotel rates have also increased. What should you do if you’re craving a trip this summer? Avoid popular destinations. Think Norway or Iceland rather than Paris or London. Book now; don’t wait. Look for hotels off ering complimentary breakfast, transportation, or live entertainment.
PORTAL CHARGE You know that convenient website
platform your doctor’s of ice gave you access to? The one where you can read your lab results or message the doctor with a question in between appointments? Get ready to pay for that convenience. Medical centers including the Cleveland Clinic, Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, and Northwestern Medicine have started charging patients for portal use. In addition, some centers may now bill your insurance company for messages that require at least five minutes of a healthcare provider’s time — as much as $50 per message!
HAPPY BOSSES Tech layoff s, recession rumors, and
wage declines (yes, that’s happening, too) have spurred workers to join the gig economy. As a result, freelancing is at an all-time high, especially with millennials and Gen Xers. While self-employment typically rises in a down economy, entrepreneurs don’t necessarily make more than wage earners. But they’re happier. Indeed, freelancers report higher happiness levels across the board than their corporate-earning compadres.
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