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Life can get so busy that it can be hard to fit everything on your to-do list in. Grocery shopping has always been the one thing I dread the most because it can be so time consuming! I always end up spending way more time and money than I originally planned to when I go to the grocery store.
Discovering grocery pickup has been a great way to spend less time at the store, stick to my grocery budget, and simplify my life even more!
Have you ever thought of trying a pickup service at your local grocery store? If you are unsure about it, check out these seven ways that grocery pickup helps to simplify my life!
What Is a Grocery Pickup Service?
Grocery pickup is when a store allows you to order the items you want to buy online and then personal shoppers do the shopping for those items! You choose the date and time slot that you want to pick your groceries up from the store, show up, they load them in your car, and then you leave!
You can choose to pickup the next day or later in the week, whatever is most convenient for you.
You can work your pickup time easily into your daily routine. It’s a free service that can save you time and money!
You should get a reminder email, text, or notification from the store about your pickup, but it is also a good idea to set a google calendar reminder so that you don’t forget!
1. You are less likely to forget items on your list
How many times have you gotten home from the store only to realize you forgot important items on your shopping list? This is the worst feeling! It throws off the meal plan, and usually makes for an unwanted extra trip BACK to the store.
Do you really have all this time to be wasting at the store?
I know I don’t
When I put in my grocery pickup order, I usually always have my list beside me. I go down the list, and put the items in my cart. When I finish adding the items on my list, I try to do a quick look through the cabinets (if I am home) to make sure I did not miss anything.
I always make sure I have all the items marked off my list before submitting my order. If something happens to be unavailable (which happens occassionally), I will add it to my next shopping list to get it next time.
There is no spending time running around the store to find that item you missed, not getting an item because you don’t know where it is.
Grocery pickup allows you to get what you need without any hassle.
2. It’s More Convenient
How much more convenient can it get than shopping for groceries in your pj’s? That’s one of my favorite ways to shop! I get to shop for my groceries in my pajamas, pick a time that works for me to pick them up, and not even have to get out of my car!
You can fit grocery shopping into your morning routine on a Sunday night before going to bed to start your week or any other day you have some extra time.
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3. Leaves more time to get the other things done on your to-do list
We all wish that grocery shopping was a quick task, right?
There have been plenty of times that I went to the store hoping that buying groceries would only take an hour. Then two or three hours later, I was just getting done… how did that happen?
By the time I was finished with buying groceries, I had to leave so many things undone on my daily to-do list.
Am I alone?
With grocery pick-up, you are in and out within just a few minutes, leaving SO MUCH time to get all the other things done!
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4. It keeps track of how much you are spending
This is one of my favorite aspects of the grocery pickup! When you put in your order on the app, it keeps a running total of how much you have spent so far. I think this is great because if you have a specific budget, this allows you to keep your purchase within that budget.
It’s a huge help with keeping your grocery shopping within your monthly budget. It also keeps you from having to make the extra effort of adding everything up as you are going through the store (if you wold do that to stay within budget).
On the other hand, there is nothing like getting up to the register at the store, realizing you have gone way over budget, and it is too late to start putting stuff back.
If you start getting close to your budget while shopping on the app, you can start taking things out of your cart or focusing on the essential items. I love that I can always tell what I am going to be spending before I am even done shopping!
5. You are not as tempted with impulse buys
I would be lying if I said that I wasn’t tempted with impulse buys. Unfortunately, my mom passed her love for chocolate down to me, and I just can’t get past those kiosks without throwing a candy bar into my shopping cart!
Although there are opportunities to be tempted with impulse buys when ordering groceries online, the temptation is much less. There aren’t drink cooler, candy bars, and gum waiting for you at the check out counter to just grab and throw in the shopping cart without thinking about it.
You aren’t walking by food, clothes, or whatever it is that tempts you into spending more money.
If you have a hard time walking past things you don’t need, then grocery pickup may be the answer for you!
6. It makes meal planning easier
Meal planning was a huge step towards a simpler life. It has made dinner time so much easier in my house. We always know what’s for dinner, and we know that we have the ingredients to make it.
I like to print out a monthly view calendar and write down meal ideas for a week or so at a time. Then, I create a grocery list based on the meal plan. I always want to make sure I have the ingredients for all the meals! Then, I add other things that we need as well.
I love that I can double check the items I need for my recipes. This means that I will not forget anything that I need for all the meals I have planned for the week. There will be no running to the store (or sending one of your family members- you know they love that!) to grab what I forgot this week.
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7. Makes grocery shopping easier with children
I don’t have any children of my own. But I do have a niece, nephew, and my friends have children, so I have heard stories and understand what it is like taking your child to the store.
While this might not be a daunting task for some of you, for others, it is. The last thing you want to do is go grocery shopping with all your children.
Grocery shopping with children can be a stressful task. Grocery pickup can solve the dreaded task of dragging your children to the store for two hours to shop, and it is one less thing to stress you out.
Now, you can do curbside pickup, have your groceries loaded in the car, and never have to get the children out of the car. You will be back home within a few minutes!
What About Grocery Delivery?
Many grocery stores offer delivery services now (I honestly don’t know why I haven’t tried them). You can cut out shopping trips altogether if you prefer!
You can shop for groceries online and then have them delivered straight to your front door. I’m not sure what the fees are for this, but many services will give you free delivery for the first time to allow you to try it out. Have all your household products, groceries, and more delivered.
Have you tried delivery? I would love to know how that went for you and if you liked it over free pickup!
I would love to hear why you love grocery pickup and how it has simplified your life!
Until next time!
Catherine
Online grocery shopping has saved me so much time – and my sanity! 😄 I typically have mine delivered but pick-up is also a great option.
I need to try delivery soon! I’m sure it’s much better than pick-up.
I think grocery pick up is a great idea. One of those things that came about during COVID and stuck.
It’s one of the good things from COVID!
Grocery pick up service has improved my life in all the RIGHT ways. It saves me time, energy, cash, and I cook a lot more from scratch now… Good post!
Thank you! It has also improved my life in all the right ways!