How to Save Money on Grocery & Household Expenses

With a toddler in the household, my grocery and household trips with her can end up costing me an extra $100 or even more.  As a busy Mom, I am always looking for ways to save time and money.  This year, I have discovered some apps that allow me to save BOTH that I am going to share with you:

Walmart Grocery

This app allows you to purchase your Walmart groceries online and scheduled a pick-up time.  When you order is ready, you receive a notification from Walmart, you will let Walmart know that you are on your way and the app keeps track of your location as your drive the store.

When you get to the designated pick up area, you hit a button letting Walmart know you are outside and within about 3 minutes, your order is rolling out of the store.  The employees will load the bags into your car; you do not even have to leave your driver seat.  It is amazing and stress-free.

Also, if you pay with Walmart Pay and you are using its Savings Catcher, you will accumulate money to use for future visits.  Savings Catcher allows you to receive the difference back if a local competitor advertises a lower price on an item you purchase through Walmart or Walmart Grocer.  You just enter your receipt number from your e-receipt received from Walmart into Savings Catcher on the Walmart app and watch the money grow on your Walmart e-gift card.  You can use your e-gift card later.  THANK YOU, WALMART!

Downside to Walmart Grocery

The only downside to this service is you can rarely get a same-day pick-up time so you have to plan at least a day ahead for your grocery shopping.  Also, if you selected it was ok to substitute items that were not available the Walmart shopper chooses which brand to substitute without your input.

Shipt 

This app is a grocery delivery service that offers same-day delivery.  You can really get to know the Shipt shoppers and they will deliver them right to your home.  If it is available in your area, it is very easy to sign up and start your grocery shopping.  Currently, in Montgomery, Alabama, where I live, Shipt is available to pick up groceries at Winn-Dixie, Publix, Costco, and Target.  I paid $49.00 for a discounted annual membership.

I used this app for the first time yesterday, it is so easy and stress-free to do my grocery shopping now.  My shopper texted me to let me know when she started shopping and if an item was not available, she texted me to find out which replacement would work, if any.  Also, I forgot to order my husband’s favorite drink so since I had the shopper there, she was able to get it without me having to go back to the app and place another order.  AMAZING!

When my shopper delivered my items, she could have brought them into my house straight to my kitchen.  However, my husband and I were both home, so we opted to just receive them at the door.  Now that is some service!  If available in your area and you are interested in joining Shipt, use this link to receive a $50 discount on your annual membership.

At this time, Shipt does not allow you to use coupons with your orders but I believe that if you are shopping from a store with electronic discounts tied to your phone number that the Shipt shopper could enter your designated phone number if you told them to do so at checkout.

I cannot wait to use this app to do my Costco shopping.  Costco and Target are the two stores that I can walk into for one thing but walk out with an over $100 bill.  How these two stores display its items are tempting to me and my 4-year old.  Therefore, the less I enter the doors of these two stores the better!  I am saving money just by keeping away from its doors.

Target Order Pick-Up

Finally, Target has a drive-thru pick up service that is really easy to use.  Just place your order from your Target app and indicate you want to use Order Pick-up.  When your order is ready, you will receive a notification from Target letting you know your order is ready and will be ready for a few days.  You can pick up your items anytime within that window.  Just go to your Target app and let it know you are on your way and when you get there hit the button letting them know you are there.  It is that easy!

Downside to Target Order Pick-Up

The downside to this service is that the Target representatives have to use the hand-held scanning devices to scan the barcode on your Target app, which never seems to work easily for them, and have you to sign stating you picked the items up.  The Walmart service does not make you do this!

Contact an Experienced Budgeting Attorney

As a working Mom, these three apps are making my life much more manageable and saves me money too.  Now I can focus on the more important things in life.  Happy Thanksgiving and Savings to You!

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