Quick Tip Tuesday: How to Grocery Shop Online

Sharing my tips and tricks for how to organize your grocery shopping so you can do the majority of it online!

This will save money and time on your grocery shopping!

I have had so many questions recently about my grocery shopping methods from friends, family, and blog readers, so I thought I would just put together a post on how I shop for groceries. I have a strict policy that I don’t run to the store throughout the week unless we need an emergency item, like baby meds or coffee creamer, or something comes up and we need something.

Otherwise, I grocery shop once a week and sometimes I can stretch it to once every two weeks. This method works great for me, but adapt it to your needs and let me know if you have any questions!

Ordering groceries online has seriously changed my life. I don’t have to go to the store nearly as much and that makes me SO happy!

I get my groceries from a few different sources, and I used to drive myself crazy going to three different stores every Friday for what we needed. For years, I worked part time and had my afternoons free for shopping, but I work full time now at my day job plus full time on this blog so there is not enough time in the week for multiple stores! I have my method down to a tee now, and grocery shopping relatively stress free!

This post is not sponsored by any of these companies! Just sharing my own tried and true methods!

Here is my stress free grocery shopping method!

Bulk Goods, Snacks, Beauty Items, Toiletries and Paper Goods – Delivered

Once a month I place an order from Boxed. We do not have a local Sams Club or Costco, so Boxed works really well for us. Shipping is free over $75 and the items come in usually 2 days! The prices are comparable to shopping in bulk and I find that I very rarely need to run to Walmart anymore for these types of items.

I usually order peanut butter, snacks, taco shells, condiments, parmesan cheese, cereal, coffee, syrup, toilet paper, feminine products, soap, pasta, and those types of pantry staples from Boxed.

I have also started ordering from NatureBox. The snacks are all healthy, good for you snacks, and our entire family loves them.

If you have been following along for a while now, you know that I am really trying to get rid of the chemicals and unnatural stuff that my family is exposed to on a daily basis and I know that I am getting great quality items from Nature Box that my girls can eat! If you want to try NatureBox I have a code for you to get a $20 box for free!

Dairy – Delivered

Once a week we have milk and eggs delivered from a local dairy farm. We pay a few pennies extra, but all the milk is fresh and has been milked less than 48 hours ago! Occasionally we order butter, dip, yogurt, or ice cream from this farm too.

If you are local, we use Vale Wood Farms. The drivers are so sweet and have given the girls little treats of chocolate milk when they see them and they even deliver cookies and milk at Christmas time!

Meat – Delivered/Grocery Store

If you read my Instant Pot Italian Wedding Soup post, you saw that I recently had a 1/16 of a cow delivered and we are absolutely loving it!  I have looked into buying shares of a cow in the past but the farms were always so far away or you had to purchase a ton of meat, and we don’t have the freezer space for that. I love that this was a reasonable size and was delivered frozen to us.

So convenient, inexpensive, and saves me so much time. I do supplement this meat with chicken and pork products from the grocery store that I buy once or twice a month. I usually stock up when it goes on sale.

I am considering buying a share of a pig too, so that I would only need to get chicken from the grocery store. We absolutely love Farmers to Families for our meat delivery, but you could also look for a local option. 

Fresh Foods and Produce – Grocery Store 

Once a week I go to the grocery store for vegetables and anything else that I can’t get delivered. I purchase the same items almost every week, so I have it down to a science. I usually purchase cheese, yogurt, frozen vegetables, fresh vegetables, bacon, sausage, bread, and anything special we made need for the week.

I always have a list and I usually meal plan for the work so I know exactly what we need. Some weeks this is enough food to last for two weeks and I love when that happens and I don’t have to go to the store again!

In total, I spend anywhere between $400-$600 a month on groceries, depending on if I am buying for holidays, parties, or any special events. I cook 5 nights a week, and one night we eat at my mother in laws and one night we usually order a pizza or Chinese. We eat leftovers for lunch or I buy at my school’s cafeteria.

Ordering groceries online is a huge time-saver, especially when you’re juggling a busy schedule! Here are some additional tips to make the process smoother and more efficient:

1. Plan Your Meals: Before you start adding items to your cart, plan your meals for the week. This helps ensure you buy everything you need in one go, reducing the need for additional orders.
2. Create a Shopping List: Based on your meal plan, create a list of required groceries. Stick to the list to avoid impulse buys and forgotten essentials.
3. Choose a Reliable Store: Select a grocery store that has good reviews for their online service. This can include timely deliveries, good product substitutions, and fresh produce.
4. Schedule Delivery Times: Choose delivery times when you know you’ll be home. Some services allow you to select time slots that are most convenient for you.
5. Use Coupons and Discounts: Look for promo codes, coupons, or membership discounts applicable to online grocery shopping. Many stores offer first-time customer discounts.
6. Check for Minimums and Delivery Fees: Be aware of minimum order amounts and delivery fees. Sometimes it’s more cost-effective to order a bit more to reach the minimum for free delivery.
7. Buy in Bulk: For non-perishable items or staples that you use frequently, consider buying in bulk. This often comes with a discount and saves time on future orders.
8. Select Substitutes: Many online platforms allow you to choose acceptable substitutions for items that might not be available. Take advantage of this feature to avoid missing essential ingredients.
9. Review Your Order Before Checkout: Double-check your cart before finalizing your order. This is a good time to make any last-minute adjustments.
10. Keep Track of Your Orders: Save your receipts or order confirmations. This can help you track spending and also makes it easier to reorder the same items next time.

These tips should help streamline your online grocery shopping, making it more convenient and efficient.

Here’s a list of popular online grocery shopping services and what makes each stand out:

1. Amazon Fresh
   • Benefits: Offers a wide range of products including fresh produce, everyday essentials, and even electronics. If you’re an Amazon Prime member, you can also enjoy free delivery on orders meeting a certain minimum.
2. Walmart Grocery
   • Benefits: Provides competitive pricing and a large selection of items. They offer both pickup and delivery options. The integration with Walmart stores means you can access nearly any grocery item you need.
3. Instacart
   • Benefits: Partners with a variety of stores, allowing customers to shop from different supermarkets on a single platform. Offers fast delivery, often within an hour, and the ability to schedule deliveries or pickups at convenient times.
4. Kroger
   • Benefits: Offers a seamless online shopping experience with options for delivery or free store pickup. They frequently have digital coupons and promotional discounts exclusive to online shoppers.
5. Target
   • Benefits: Ideal for buying groceries along with household goods, clothing, and more. Offers free pickup and same-day delivery through Shipt for a membership fee.
6. Whole Foods Market (via Amazon Prime)
   • Benefits: Great for high-quality organic and natural products. Prime members can enjoy benefits like special discounts, free 2-hour delivery, and exclusive savings.
7. Shipt
   • Benefits: Provides same-day delivery from various retailers. Requires a membership, which gives you free delivery for orders over a certain amount. Known for its excellent customer service.
8. Peapod
   • Benefits: Offers a wide assortment of groceries alongside meal kits. Peapod provides detailed nutritional information, making it easier for those tracking their dietary intake.
9. Boxed
   • Benefits: Specializes in bulk shopping without a membership fee. Ideal for stocking up on pantry staples, household essentials, and snacks with competitive pricing.
10. FreshDirect
    • Benefits: Known for delivering fresh, quality produce, meats, and seafood. They also offer meal kits and prepared foods, which are great for quick dining solutions.

These services can vary in availability depending on your location, so it’s worth checking which are accessible in your area and which align best with your shopping needs.

This post is getting super long so I am going to cut it off but let me know if you have any questions! I love having a concrete grocery plan. It keeps me from overbuying and wasting food! I hope this is helpful for you too!