Just about everything in life (well, my life anyway) comes down to time versus money. And, if there is one thing I loathe, despise and abhor, it’s the time I spend at the grocery store. I find it cumbersome and tedious to have to sit there and evaluate each item, get aggravated by the individuals who sit in the middle of the isle mulling over which type of kidney bean is most appropriate – as if it is a life or death decision — , the screaming children and the long waits in line. So, in my online travels, as a method to avoid one of the things I hate the most, I came up with a few solutions to avoid the grocery store for the rest of my life.
1. Find the Right Services
San Antonio isn’t exactly forward thinking when it comes to grocery delivery services. Currently, in town there are two that I found currently, Burpee and a newer service, with Burpee being the cheapest in convenience and delivery charges – all orders over $50 are free. However, I have learned that you have to watch the product markup. Even so, with an average markup of $50 per order, for me, the two hours I save having to go to the grocery store, pick out each item and the aggravation caused by this, is worth it.
How I calculate this: When working, I am worth at least $45 per hour. Two hours (including commute) at the grocery store costs me $90 in lost revenue. So the online service is a savings of $45 each time.
2. Learn to Double Dip
For non-perishables, I have discovered that Amazon offers home delivery on many products. Using my E-bates account, I earn as much as three percent cash back on these orders, and when I shop the sales offered online, I often end up paying less than I would with my physical presence at the grocery store in the first place. I don’t know about you, but that is a win-win in my book.
3. Leverage Product
When seeking out products like Omaha Steaks or Schwann’s deliver services, I avoid costly delivery fees by (again) using my E-bates account, combined with my cash back debit card (which pays me one percent on all purchases) to keep my fees low and savings high. Again, a major time saver for me, and another way to make sure I am getting the best products for the best prices, while earning cash back at the same time.
4. Leverage Memberships
Stores like CVS, Walgreens and others offer membership rewards programs where you can save online and in store. Since these retailers are also hooked up through my free E-bates account, I can order many non-perishable and household goods (even toiletries), and then apply coupons and rewards points online, get free shipping and earn cash back from E-bates and my debit card in the process, typically increasing my overall savings to an average of five percent when compared to shopping in store. All while saving time and gas money to boot.
If you are like me, and the grocery store isn’t your favorite place to be, these tips will help you leverage your time, your life and your money to ensure you aren’t paying more for less. Happy hunting fellow shoppers!
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