15 Ways to Save Money on Grocery Delivery

Grocery prices seem to increase with every trip to the store. While it might seem like a luxury, grocery delivery might be a more affordable way to stock your kitchen.

Free trials, no delivery fees, discount pages, and other features make it easier to save money on groceries. Online shopping also gives you more control over the final total.

These tips and tricks can help you save a lot of cash on your monthly grocery bill, whether you live alone or have a family of 10 to feed.

1. Use Free Trials

There are enough grocery delivery and online options available that you can stagger free trials and pay nothing for a little while. This clever trick takes some effort but can save you from paying a lot in delivery fees.

Most services and stores prominently advertise their free trials, so they’re easy to find. Plan a free trial schedule so you know exactly when to cancel expiring ones and sign up for a new one.

2. Refer Family and Friends

Grocery delivery services love it when you bring them more customers. When you refer someone to the program, and they sign up, you can get referral discounts and deals.

If you know anyone interested in grocery delivery, check if it’s one you use and if they have a referral code. It’s a win/win, as your family member or friend can also enjoy a discount.

3. Shop the Deals

The chaos of the grocery store can make it tricky to find the sale sections and deals. There’s so much going on, and the sale items are not always clearly labeled.

Online shopping is a different story. There’s usually an obvious sale page you can navigate to so you can take advantage of the deals. You can save a lot if you bulk order sale items and confine yourself to the discounted products.

4. Find Coupons and Promo Codes

Finding coupons and promo codes for delivery services is often easier than finding them for in-person grocery stores. The discount codes often appear directly on the website or app or may even be applied automatically.

Additionally, keep an eye on your email and app notifications. Companies may send you discount codes and coupons that apply to specific products they know you like.

5. Plan Your Meals

This trick helps with in-person and online grocery shopping. It’s a bad idea to buy an assortment of groceries and hope you can make a few meals with them.

Instead, plan your meals and only buy the ingredients you need. This will also make deciding what to eat after a long workday easier and can cut down on unnecessary snacking.

6. Compare Prices

Comparing product prices in person can be challenging with all the hustle and bustle around you. Plus, stores move products around, and they may not be labeled properly on the shelves.

Online grocery shopping makes comparing prices a breeze. Consider store-brand products, bulk items, and other affordable options. Seeing all the prices makes the cost differences easy to identify.

7. Edit Your Cart

The beauty of online grocery shopping is that you can see your cart total before paying. We’ve all been in the checkout line and watched in horror as the total climbed far higher than we expected.

In that situation, there’s not much you can do. You’re locked in. Online grocery shopping, however, allows you to assess your cart and delete or add things as needed. It can also help eliminate impulse buys. Always assess your cart before you check out.

8. Look for Free Delivery

Some grocery delivery services offer 100% free delivery. You might be surprised to learn how many services are free, so you don’t have to worry about additional delivery fees.

You typically need to reach a minimum to qualify for free delivery, so consider this when choosing a delivery service. Some services charge as much as $15 for delivery, so you can save a lot of money by opting for free delivery options.

9. Choose Flexible Delivery Windows

Busy delivery services often feature discounts or free delivery when customers select flexible delivery. We know this option is less accessible for super busy people, but those with free time can take advantage of it.

This might mean you have to wait longer for your groceries. It can also mean you get a large delivery window, like a four or five-hour window. So, you have to be home and ready for the groceries, but it’s worth the savings for most people.

10. Decline Substitutions

Depending on your situation, declining all substitutions may not be feasible. For example, a family with a newborn likely needs diapers and formula and can’t go without.

However, most people don’t need everything on their grocery list, so substitutions aren’t always necessary. Decline as many substitutions as possible, as those products are often more expensive than the original item.

11. Set Minimums as Your Budget

Many find it challenging to set a grocery budget and stick to it. An easy way to choose a budget is to adhere to the minimums set by grocery delivery services.

If the minimum total for delivery is $100, set your budget at $105. This means you’ll qualify for the delivery or discounted fee every time but still have a clear budget.

12. Use Existing Memberships

You may already have a membership that offers affordable grocery delivery. Memberships and loyalty programs to stores like Walmart and Amazon often extend to grocery services.

Amazon Prime members can use Amazon Fresh for free (with some guidelines), so you don’t have to pay anything extra to use the service. Check your existing memberships for grocery services.

13. Sign Up for Subscriptions

You can use free trials and experiment with different delivery services as recommended. However, committing to a subscription service is probably worth it once you run out of free trials.

Choose the subscription service that best suits your needs and commit to that service. Look online for any promos or discounts on the subscription before signing up.

14. Place Large Orders

This tip may sound counterintuitive, but small delivery orders often cost more in the end. To avoid additional fees, place larger orders that easily meet the minimum.

Large, infrequent orders can save you money if your delivery service charges a small fee or you tip your delivery person. Rather than paying $3 for delivery and a $5 tip every week, do it every two weeks instead.

15. Consider Curbside Pickup

We know this is not delivery, but curbside grocery pickup still allows you to order your items online. That way, you can still edit your cart and stick to your budget more easily.

Certain stores offer discounts for curbside pickup because it’s easier for them. You can save money on delivery fees and tips by using a small amount of gas to get there.