Americans love food delivery, but it comes at a cost. Here are some tricks to save money when ordering online. Sign up for a service that offers a subscription plan. Use your credit card to get cash back or rewards. Just make sure you pay your bill in full each month.
Look for Discounts
Whether it’s your favorite potato chips, laundry detergent or meat, you can save money online ordering food by knowing how to spot a discount. When shopping for food online, it’s important to have a clear list of what you need and to stick with it while ordering. It’s easy to stray from your list and buy more than you need just because it’s on sale, which can add up to overspending. Instead, figure out your “burn rate,” which explains how long certain products last you, and stock up accordingly. Many food delivery services offer discounts for new customers if they order a specific amount. Watching for these special offers may save tens of dollars or perhaps more. You can find these offers by signing up for a company’s email newsletter, regularly checking their social media accounts and using coupon websites that offer GrubHub coupons or any food delivery deals. Moreover, food delivery companies often offer special discounts to customers using their service rather than third-party apps. This way, they can avoid charging customers extra fees that can add up quickly.
Check Your Mailbox
Many restaurants and delivery services offer their email lists to customers to promote special deals. These deals may include coupons for free food items or reduced delivery fees. It is a great way to save money on your food orders. It’s important to list the food and groceries you need before ordering them online. Try not to get tempted by items you want but don’t need. It will prevent you from overspending on your order. Some food delivery services also offer subscriptions, which can reduce your delivery and service fees. It is a great option for those who use their service regularly.
You can also save on food delivery costs using a credit card with cash back and promo codes. It will help you reduce your bill significantly. Some payment apps, such as Venmo, Paypal, Zelle, CashApp, etc., also offer exciting coupon deals and offers, which can further reduce your billing amount. Using this method will give you maximum savings on your online food delivery expenses. Moreover, it will also help you to control your impulsive purchases and stick to your budget.
Skip the Delivery
If you’ve been relying on food delivery services during the pandemic, it’s important to remember that many local restaurants also struggle to stay afloat. Many of these restaurants pay hefty fees to delivery apps to use their service, which can significantly reduce their profits. If you can, try ordering from these restaurants directly to save them those fees and help keep them afloat in the wake of the crisis. Many delivery companies allow you to skip deliveries, and it’s easy to do. You can usually miss an order up to 2:00 pm the day before it is scheduled to arrive. Finally, some delivery apps recommend a tip for your driver and restaurant server. While I’m as frugal as anyone, it’s important to tip the people helping you get food in your house when underpaid and overworked. In the end, ordering meals online is an expensive habit, but you can cut costs by doing comparison shopping and taking advantage of sales, bonuses, coupons, and other incentives.
Order in Bulk
Bulk purchases help you save money when you shop online. However, this is only sometimes a good idea, especially for food items that don’t keep well in large quantities. You’ll want to create a shopping list before placing your order and stick to it. It will help you control impulsive purchases that can lead to more waste than you need. Also, make sure you’re comparing unit prices when deciding whether something is worth buying in bulk. Ask yourself if a case of soda is cheaper than purchasing individual bottles or if you need 36 rolls of toilet paper. You can find many foods in bulk at wholesale prices using a few tips when ordering online. For example, look for “bulk” in the product description or search bar. You’ll often be rewarded with additional choices not found in the regular retail store selections, such as bulk candy and organics. Also, consider checking out food catalog companies that sell in bulk. These are often intermediaries that buy directly from producers or farmers and typically sell to consumers, wholesalers, and restaurants.
Check Your Credit Card
When you order food online, you typically pay with your credit card. That’s a convenience for you and the company you’re buying from, but it can also cost you more in the long run. Consider getting a dining credit card to help customers save money by offering special discounts and cash back. These cards are available from many banks. Another option is to check your existing credit and debit cards to see if they offer special deals on food deliveries. Some cards include delivery services as part of their dining and entertainment rewards programs, which can save you some money on your orders. Lastly, if you’re a power user of food delivery services, consider ordering ahead to maximize your savings. While this won’t work for perishable items, containing an extra burrito bowl or pizza can save you multiple deliveries charges in the long run and give you days of leftovers for less. Check your credit card rewards program if you also earn additional points or bonus incentives on these transactions.
