Does Grocery Delivery Ever Come Out Cheaper?

With all of the new grocery delivery services serving Cypress, TX apartments, it's hard to ignore the convenience. But is the easiest way of getting groceries good for your wallet? Here's what you need to think about.

Costs of Grocery Delivery

There are several ways grocery delivery services make money.

• Monthly or annual membership fees.
• Delivery fees.
• Higher prices on food items.
• Driver pay covered by tips.

Many services charge multiple fees. For example, you might need to buy a $50 annual membership, pay $5 per delivery, pay 25% more than store prices on what you order, and tip the driver $10. Of course, this is a worst-case scenario, and you may be able to find better deals — especially as competition increases.

Costs of Going to the Store

Going to the grocery store isn't free. You're not just spending $10 to pick up a few things you forgot for dinner. You're spending your gas and time. Even if a grocery trip only takes a gallon of gas, that's almost a delivery fee.

You also need to think about the way you shop. Do you keep going to the store every time you need something? If so, that could cost more than ordering because ordering online requires you to plan ahead instead of making multiple trips, and you're less likely to buy impulse items.

Other Things to Think About

You should also think about your life in general and how grocery delivery fits in. If you don't work a traditional nine-to-five job, it's very easy to get in and out of the grocery store on a weekday morning after rush hour dies down.

If your only option is going to the store after work during the afternoon rush, you get stuck fighting rush hour traffic and dealing with the thousands of other people who can only shop at that time. In addition to the inconvenience, this could make it more likely that you'll feel like spending money on eating out or picking up takeout instead of cooking at home.

To learn more about the grocery options near our apartments, call our office today.