When you’re trying to save money, convenience doesn’t always seem like the obvious answer.
After all, you might assume that walking through the grocery store yourself is the cheaper option. But depending on how you shop, ordering your groceries online and picking them up could actually help you stick to your budget and avoid some of those little purchases that add up.
We’re not saying you need to give up the in-store shopping trip. (Sometimes you need to see the produce yourself!) But if you’re looking for a few simple ways to make your grocery budget stretch a little further, grocery pickup might be worth a try.
Start With What’s on Sale
One of the best things about shopping online is that you can take your time.
Before you start filling your cart, take a look at what’s on sale. Then think about what you could make with those ingredients. Maybe chicken is on sale this week. You could plan alfredo one night, grilled chicken another and use the leftovers for sandwiches or salads. Or maybe your favorite pasta sauce is on sale. Build a meal around it.
The idea is pretty simple: let the sales help shape your meal plan instead of deciding what you want to make first and then paying whatever the ingredients cost.
You don’t have to become a meal-planning expert. Even planning three or four meals before you shop can make a difference.
Don’t Forget Those Digital Coupons
If you’re already shopping through your grocery store’s app, take a minute to check the digital coupons before you check out. You may find discounts on items you were already planning to buy. And because you can see the coupons right alongside your shopping list, it’s a little easier to remember to use them.
A dollar here and a few dollars there might not feel like much at the time. But if you’re regularly saving a few dollars each grocery trip, those savings can add up over the course of a year.
Your Cart Doesn’t Have to Look Like the Store
Here’s another potential money-saver: you don’t have to walk past every temptation.
We’ve all been there. You go to the store for milk, eggs and a few things for dinner. Then you walk past the bakery. Suddenly you need cookies. There’s a new snack you want to try. You see a seasonal display and decide you definitely need whatever they’re selling. Before you know it, your $60 grocery trip is $90.
When you’re shopping online, you can stick to your list without being surrounded by quite as many distractions.
And there’s something else that’s helpful: you can see your total before you check out.
If you’re trying to keep your grocery trip around $100 and your cart says $127, you can take a second look. Maybe there’s something you don’t really need. Maybe you can swap a name brand for a store brand. Maybe you can find a less expensive alternative.
You get the chance to make those decisions before you’re standing at the register.
Give Yourself a Chance to Think
Online shopping also gives you something we don’t always have when we’re shopping in person: a little extra time to think.
See something you want? Add it to your cart. Then keep shopping.
By the time you’re ready to check out, you may decide you don’t really need it after all.
That’s especially helpful for those “well, it’s only $5” purchases. Five dollars isn’t a big deal. But five dollars here and five dollars there can become a pretty noticeable amount over the course of a month.
Look at the Price, Not Just the Sale
Here’s one important reminder: a sale isn’t always a savings.
If something is 30% off but you weren’t planning to buy it, you’re still spending money.
When you’re comparing products, look at the price per ounce, pound or unit when it’s available. Sometimes the larger package is the better deal. Sometimes it isn’t.
And don’t be afraid to choose the store brand. For plenty of everyday items, the less expensive option can do the job just fine.
The goal isn’t to buy the cheapest thing every time. It’s to make sure you’re getting value for what you’re spending.
Give It a Try
If you’re curious whether grocery pickup could help your budget, try it for a few weeks.
Before you shop, take a quick look in your pantry and refrigerator. Check what’s on sale. Plan a few meals. Clip your digital coupons. Build your cart and watch the total as you go. Then, before you hit that checkout button, take one last look. Do you need everything in the cart? Are you taking advantage of the sales? Is there anything you can swap or skip?
Those few extra minutes could help you keep a little more money in your pocket.
Sometimes Saving Money Is About Shopping Differently
Saving money doesn’t always mean giving something up. Sometimes it’s about making small changes that help you be more intentional with the money you’re already spending.
Grocery pickup might save you time. It might help you avoid the temptation of the bakery aisle. It might make it easier to plan meals around what’s on sale. And it might give you a better idea of exactly what you’re spending before you check out.
Will it save everyone money? Not necessarily. But if it helps you stick to your grocery budget and make fewer impulse purchases, it could be a pretty useful tool.