Publix, has the the motto "where shopping is a pleasure". While I'm super grateful that we have a great grocery store, and I'm equally thankful we live very close by - grocery shopping has never been a pleasure for me. In fact I have often felt that it was a burden. I guess it has always felt like such a production. Maybe it's because I live in a small town and you are guaranteed to run into more than one person you know there.
When I first heard of WalMart grocery pick up, I was stoked. Order your groceries on your phone, and go pick them up? Sign me up. Well, for some reason our WalMart decided not to participate in that. So, when I saw Instacart signs in our local Publix, I was wondering if they were actually going to have that set up for this area. Skeptical, I waited it out. My sister ended up trying it one day when she was stuck home with sleeping kids and she said it was awesome. So, I decided to give it a shot! It was such a nice experience, we decided to sign up for a full year of grocery delivery!
In short, you shop for your groceries within the Instacart app or website. Then you select a delivery time and check out. Once you check out, you let somebody else to the shopping for you!
There are so many reasons we love this service, and even though it's a membership we feel it's 100% worth it. Here are a few reasons to love Instacart:
We've Saved Money
The same items on sale in the actual store are also on sale within the app. We've easily added Buy One Get One items and the total is automatically updated. There are coupons to clip and weekly sales just like in the grocery store.
Additionally, I can't tell you how many impulse items I throw into my shopping cart when I physically go to the store. When you are shopping the app or on the website I don't feel the impulse to add random items to my cart. I think it makes it a lot easier to stick to the list. Plus, when you can see your total as you're shopping I think it makes it really easy to stick to a budget. You aren't having to add things up in your head while you go down the aisles.
For example, my weekly grocery shopping budget is about $100. We are a family of two and that includes packable lunch items and 6 dinners. I have found that when I go into the grocery store I usually spend between $120-140 (the higher number reflects when Blake goes to the store with me, hah!). Since using Instacart, our totals have been more like $80-$90. Actually under budget!
You Save So Much Time
Our lives are incredibly fully scheduled. Our grocery shopping window was already limited to either Sunday afternoons or Tuesdays at like 9pm. If we missed that window our whole week was thrown off. It sounds dramatic, but it's true.
Instacart makes grocery shopping something that we can accomplish without sacrificing something else. It takes me about 15 minutes total to meal plan and find everything on my list. In fact it takes even less time than it did at first because Instacart saves the items you buy frequently. We are pretty consistent in what we buy so this makes it painless. Additionally, you choose the time you want your delivery. Each week is a bit different, but I have found that getting my groceries delivered on Tuesday mornings, a day when I work from home, is so convenient!
Just a quick note on logistics: With the Instacart app you actually watch as the person shops for you and you know when they've finished. It will also tell you when they are on their way to your home. There is no 9-5 window like repair people give you. This helps you plan your day!
After you checkout Instacart gives you a total of how many hours you saved by using their service! I love to think about how much I was able to accomplish during those extra hours!
You Aren't Sacrificing Control
This was something I was curious about before I signed up. What if the store is out of a particular item? Or what about choosing good produce?
After you select your items and check out, Instacart will ask your permission if certain items are acceptable substitutes should something be out of stock. For example, if they are out of organic roma tomatoes would non organic be okay? You also provide your phone number to your shopper, so they can text you if they want to confirm something is a good swap. Only a few items have been out of stock in my experience so far. If something is swapped, the price is adjusted, and you get a new receipt.
My shopper has always chosen great produce too. I've never gotten anything I wouldn't have chosen myself! Remember you pick out what brand of an item and the quantity of the things you'd like. The shoppers pay very close attention to what you've chosen so you are going to get what you want!
If you use my referral link to give Instacart a try you get $10 towards your groceries! (Or use code: KWOOLSEY1F31AD)
Let chat! Leave a comment below if you are interested in trying out grocery delivery! Have you used Instacart or another similar service? Let me know if I'm not the only one who doesn't love grocery shopping!
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