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| via Modern Mechanix |
No they don't. But if they did, here is what I would tell them.
Two words: Grocery delivery.
Five more: Peapod. Safeway. Netgrocer. Homeland. Schwan's. Who'd I leave out?
What? Don't those deliveries cost money? Don't you have to tip the driver? Isn't is a total violation of the Slow Food Ethic, and won't Cynthia Lane Schames come after us? Don't you go crazier online at the Internet grocery than a drag queen on Zappo's?
Yes, yes, it depends, and no.
In fact, grocery delivery is the reason I can aim myself at the sweet spot of $100 every week--the point at which the base delivery fee drops to $7.95, which can be further reduced by up to $3 depending on your payment method and choice of delivery time. I try only to shop the specials, and I plan ahead so I can stock up. I can research prices, locate coupons, and revise my order repeatedly right up until midnight the night before delivery. My delivery fee is usually only $5.95. I clip enough coupons to pay for the tip of about $5, and since I am saving between $30 and $40 each time now, I can still call the net gain pretty sweet.
I often use CouponMom to cross-reference the weekly specials in my neighborhood with the coupons in the paper that week. Their system is so straightforward, even I can use it. Peapod doubles the coupons under a dollar, so that's extra nice too.
Peapod is a better environmental choice for me and the customers it's serving, as a single truck will save perhaps a dozen trips in a day. I am less sure about Netgroceries and other delivery-by-mail outfits. One compromise might be to order dry goods through a net delivery service and buy fresh items locally.
Peapod often uses discount promotion to lure unsuspecting new customers into their web and reward stalwarts. Sort of like a cult. Since I am already a member, I cannot test-drive the first-time codes, so please email me if they do not work. You will likely be prompted to enter the email of the person who referred you. That's me: lisaschamess@gmail.com.
Refer-a-friend: You can save yourself and me $10 each when you use this link to start a Peapod account.
Other first-timer special: Since I like you, I'll tell you that you can actually get a full $15 off all by yourself by going directly to Peapod.com (is this like the Prisoner's Dilemma?).
The other sites I've gathered up contain information about areas they serve. I would not say I've provided an exhaustive list here, but I am happy to help you find out more.
Especially if I get a kickback.
[republished with new information on 7 February 2012]
Ms. Schamess, would you have any ideas how I could not waste money at all the grocery stores here in europe? Euros don't even look like conventional money, like a toy, so spending it is a piece of cake. Gelato places are everywhere, tempting non-stop. the fact that my mother is obliged not to starve me doesn't help, so if i spend all money on chocolate, I get more :D And... I've tried everything... Today I bought a can that you can't open, unless you break it but that looks hard to do.. so i've stuffed it with change; guess it's a start. would you have any suggestions what I can do or how i could take saving money more seriously?
ReplyDeletesweetie, it's a long process...especially starting college in another country. there's a lot to absorb. be patient with yourself.
ReplyDeletedoes your school have a meal plan? are you able to cook for yourself? if you tackle the problem one meal at a time that might help. Start with breakfast, have the same low cost breakfast each day: fresh yogurt and fruit, or cereal and milk. Try to make your breakfast cost only a little, then start working on a plan for lunch. Let dinner be expensive for a while if you have to.
Any tips you can pass along for grocery delivery in Afghanistan would be greatly appreciated. I have some small papers with squiggly lines and dots on them, not sure if they are coupons, and if so, from what century.
ReplyDeleteSigned,
Helpless in Helmand
i can see i'm going to step up the pressure on my stable of overseas researchers.
ReplyDeletethe best advice i can give you is to join the military of a world power suffering from a huge case of historical exceptionalism. those guys deliver all over the world.
I did as you suggested and presented myself and one of my "coupons" to the military. Apparently my "coupon" indicated that I was a terrorist wanting to turn himself in. After the interrogation, they say they will feed me a re-heated corn dog and a re-heated hamburger made with USDA Prime Formed Meat-Filler. And the best part is, that it will be FREE FREE FREE! I definitely feel like I am on the right track since I began reading your blog.
ReplyDeleteGratefully,
Hopeful in Helmand