Make Your Life a Little Easier: Try Online Grocery Shopping

by Valerie Deneen

For many of us, shopping for groceries can be time-consuming and stressful. Depending on how far away the closest grocery store is, several trips can add up to a large gas expense. The hassle of reaching for items on high shelves, loading groceries into the cart, unloading onto the checkout lane, reloading them into your cart and finally into your car can be physically exhausting as well. Thankfully, there is an alternative that can allow you to do yourshopping from home-- online grocery shopping.


Shopping for groceries online is not exactly a new concept, but the execution has come a long way with better service and faster delivery. Most grocery delivery services offer a wide selection and a customer satisfaction guarantee. Some companies even boast that they willunpack and put away your groceries for you (for a small fee, of course). If there are items that you tend to order on a regular basis, consider a subscription service that delivers at regularintervals so you will be sure not to run out.

Not only does online grocery shopping give you the convenience of not having to leave your home, but it also makes it easier to save money. Besides the fuel savings, adding items to your virtual shopping cart displays a running total of exactly how much you have spent. Depending on where you live, you may not pay sales tax either.

In addition, many stores offer internet specials as incentive to get customers to try ordering online.To get started, do a Google search for "online grocery" and add your zip code. You may have to browse a bit to decide which company is best for you. Add items to your shopping cart, and when you are done shopping, click "check out" to pay for your items and schedule a delivery time. Then, sit back and relax, but make sure you are home for your scheduled delivery time, or you could be charged a re-scheduling fee.

Tipping the driver is usually not required, but always appreciated.Here are some basic online grocery stores that offer US nation-wide delivery to help you get started:Amazon Grocery (www.amazon.com) - Offers a wide selection of non-perishables, and has a convenient subscription service for items ordered at regular intervals. The subscription service is largely discounted.Groceries-Express.com - Northern Detroit, MI can have frozen foods delivered, but they also offer nationwide delivery of most groceries.NetGrocer.com - This is one of the most well-known online grocery stores. They offer a full line of groceries (including frozen foods).