Grocery delivery costs $20 more per order, but you still save money.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, getting groceries delivered was completely unthinkable. After all, I have a car, work from home with flexible hours, and have several large supermarkets within a 10-minute radius of my home. Why would you ask someone to do your food shopping for you and spend extra money in the process?

But like many people, I’ve changed my mind about grocery delivery during the pandemic. Back then, I was much happier investing extra money into the cause if it meant I wouldn’t have to go to the store and expose myself to a virus that was scaring society.

Currently, grocery delivery is something I only pay for on rare occasions. But when the week is too busy or the weather is too disgusting to leave the house, I sometimes order groceries through my local supermarket.

Typically, between delivery fees and tips (not required, but always tip the person who brings your food to your door), you’ll end up spending about $20 extra per order compared to what it would cost to shop for the food in person. But here’s why the extra $20 is worth it.

1. Frees up time

As a freelance writer, the more time you spend writing at your desk, the more money you can make. Ordering groceries online takes less than 15 minutes. But if it’s big you could spend an hour or more in the supermarket.

This makes it easy to justify the cost of grocery delivery. Because saving an hour can often make you $20 or more in that hour. So, when all is said and done, I will actually be ahead financially.

2. It prevents my impulse purchases.

I’m a person who likes to get in and out quickly when buying food, but I fully admit that I tend to end up buying extra things when I go to the store. Sometimes it’s a box of donuts. Other times it’s a bag of chips.

Most of the items you buy on a whim at the supermarket are snacks and not good for your health. Additionally, the costs of those items can all add up.

When you order your groceries to be delivered, you don’t have to worry about impulse buying because you’re not walking down the supermarket aisle and seeing a product you like. Rather, they are typing the product into the search bar and adding it to their shopping cart.

Now I can admit that in the context of grocery delivery, most of the money saved comes in the form of more hours at work. Because my impulse purchases usually don’t amount to $20 per shopping trip. Rather, at a regular supermarket you might spend $3 here or $5 there. (Costco, my friends, is a different story.) But still, it’s an added perk.

Is grocery delivery worth it?

Anyone who works as a freelancer will know that outsourcing various tasks, such as buying groceries or mowing the lawn, can be financially beneficial as it allows you to earn more money. Before you tell yourself you won’t pay extra for a particular service, think about how the extra time will affect your bottom line.

It’s been said that even if you’re not a freelancer, you should pay for the convenience of freeing up your time. Maybe you are a salaried employee with a hard job that pays well. If so, why not spend some of your hard-earned money freeing up time in the evenings and weekends so you don’t have to run errands or do maintenance around the house?

It’s easy to see grocery delivery as a waste of money. But if it’s affordable and beneficial, it may not be a waste at all.

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