How can I save money shopping for my groceries online?
That’s a great question, and one with a lot of answers! Just think, if you go to the grocery store and you’re like my wife, you’ve never met a grocery list you’ll follow. She may have some ingredients she needs for a recipe or something, but generally, it’s up and down every aisle. Literally, every aisle! The other day we went down the baby aisle. Seriously, our daughter is seven! What could we possibly need? So the first way to save money is that you can shop while you’re standing in front of your fridge, cupboard, closet, whatever. Ahh, you need rice, click, and you’ve bought it.
But more than limiting yourself to buying only what you really need, there are other great ways to save money, while sipping your coffee and staying in your warm pj’s!
- Use the online circular. That’s right, the circular. It looks just like the one that goes into the newspaper, but this one is even easier to use. Just hover over the item and click on it. A list of products, sizes, varieties, etc. appears on the right. Click on the ones you want to buy and there you have it, you’re actually shopping the circular! Putting stuff from the circular right into your cart!
- But Scot, what about coupons? Never fear! You can find coupons online, too. In fact, from many of the sites you can get right into an online coupon site, find the coupons you need, print them off and bring them to the store when you pick up your online order. You don’t even have to sort them!
- And one more way to save money…shopping from your previous cart online. Yes, you can just open up your last cart, add the things you need, take out the things you don’t, and five minutes later, you’re placing your order. Now think about it. It just took you five minutes to buy your groceries. How long would it have taken in the store? An hour? Two hours (especially if you bring the kiddies)? Just think about how much you make an hour at work (and if you’re a stay at home parent Salary.com said you worked the equivalent of $134,000 a year — in 2006!) and how much your time is actually worth.
So put down those car keys, put away your coat and boots. Pick up your coffee and log in to your local grocery store online. Your checkbook will thank you!
Scot Barker
