For someone with a busy schedule, going to the food store can take a lot out of your day. When you’re strapped for time the last thing you want to think about is what you’re going to be eating. Learn why online shopping is better for saving stress and sanity. Plus get a list of my favorite places to order groceries online.
*Disclaimer: Some of these links are affiliate links, this means when you sign up or purchase from these links we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Root Nutrition & Education also participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Learn more in our disclaimer.
As a busy woman, you may have a lot on your plate. Food shopping can be the last thing on your mind. Unfortunately, this task is one of those things that needs to be done constantly. Luckily, there is a solution. Online shopping is good for easing the stress that comes with having to constantly go to the local food store.
This form of shopping can help to ease the burden of time spent on tedious activities, however, there are some downsides to online shopping. Learn the advantages and disadvantages of online shopping.
Advantages of Shopping Online
I love online shopping. Implementing this into my weekly routine and has made for an enjoyable and easier shopping experience; even better than retail shopping.
When it comes to online shopping v. in-store shopping there are many advantages of internet shopping. These explain why online shopping is better. They including the following:
- It saves time
- You can shop from anywhere 24/7
- Lowers travel costs
- Saves you money
- Prevents distractions when shopping
- No waiting at check out
- You can avoid crowds at busy stores
- Your grocery lists and orders will be saved
- A wider selection of goods
- Learn more about the products
It Saves You Time
One of the advantages of e-shopping is it saves you a ton of time. I would say this one of the major reasons why online shopping is better than traditional shopping. Just think about how much time it takes to get in your car, go to the store, purchase all your items, get online, check out, bring the bags out and load up your car, then drive home, and unload and put the groceries away.
The typical shopping trip can be anywhere from 41 to 54 minutes with about 1.6 shopping trips per week. This means food shopping can take between about 4 and 6 hours of your time a month.
Are you going to multiple stores on one shopping trip? That can take even more time. Just open a few browsers and you can do all your shopping in one sitting.
When you shop online you get back the time spent getting to and from the store. This can be a big help if you have other things you need to get done.
You Can Online Shop from Anywhere 24/7
As long as you have an internet connection you can shop from anywhere and at any time of the day. This means you do your online shopping in between meetings or whenever you get a break in your day.
Traditional in-person stores have specific hours they operate. If you have a busy schedule this may leave you no time to shop. Having 24/7 access to purchase what you need is another reason why online shopping is better than in-person shopping.
Lowers Travel Costs
Buying online can help cut down on travel costs. Since many online stores are now delivering right to your door you don’t have to drive anywhere to get what you need. This can be helpful if you are looking to lower your travel costs. You will save money on gas as well as wear and tear on your car from not having to go to the store all the time.
This is also a benefit if you don’t have a car. When I used to live in Hoboken there was no need for me to have a car since I commuted into NYC and everything was walkable. The grocery store was accessible by foot but I still had to lug my groceries home and carry them up the stairs to my fourth-floor apartment. That was a real bummer. Online shopping saved me from having to do go to the food store all the time.
Maybe you live somewhere and need to take public transportation to the store. You can save money by ordering groceries and have them sent to your house.
Search For Exactly What You Need Without Distractions
How many times have you gone into a store and come out with way more than you wanted to purchase? The nice thing about online shopping is there are no distractions that occur with in-person shopping. You will have to walk through an entire store to get to the area where you want to shop. Along the way, there can be marketing gimmicks enticing you to pick up stuff that you don’t need or want.
The nice thing about online shopping is you can find exactly what you need right away.
You Can Save Money
Another reason why shopping online is better than in-store shopping has to do with having more chances to save money. While you can do price comparisons of physical retailers, you are limited to the manufacturer and in-store coupons.
The internet offers a plethora of ways to make online shopping cheaper than traditional shopping. These include:
- Third-party coupon apps and websites
- Online wholesale clubs that offer discounts when you sign up for a membership
- Cash-back sites that give you a percentage of cashback when you purchase through their website or app
- Social media coupon promotions
Using these tactics can help you get lower prices on items you need to buy.
No Waiting at Check-Out Lines
As in-store shopping becomes more automated there tend to be fewer cashiers and more self-check-out stations. While these are nice to have I find the lines at the do-it-yourself kiosks are getting longer and you wind up waiting just as long as you would on a regular line.
With online shopping, there is no waiting in line. Just get what you need and check out as soon as you’re done!
Avoid Crowded Stores
If you work 9 to 5, then the weekend is your only time to shop. The problem is this is when everyone else is shopping too. Local stores can be packed at various times.
Your Grocery Lists and Orders Will Be Saved
The online stores will save your grocery list and previous purchase. I always love the note asking if I need to purchase something that was on a previous order. This can be helpful if you tend to forget things on your list.
A Wider Selection of Products
Physical stores only have so much room to hold products. So they will be limited in the number and type of products they carry. Sometimes items are only available online. So the nice thing about this type of shopping is that you can find a wider selection of hard-to-find items. Search online to find exactly where they sell that particular product that you need.
You Can Learn More About Products
A food label can only tell you so much. If you are interested in learning more about a company you can find it online.
Disadvantages of Online Shopping
With all these advantages you may be wondering if there are any disadvantages of online shopping? The answer is yes, doing online shopping only does have some drawbacks. They include
- Increased demand for online shopping
- Unavailable items
- A lot of packaging material
- Possibility of things being spilled or broken in transit
- Transit times may be longer than you want
Increased Demand for Online Shopping
The demand for online shopping has increased over the years and this could cause some time restraints on when orders are available. Trial and error can help you find a sweet spot of what is the best time to order.
Unavailable Items
Though the internet does offer the ability to get things you may not find in the stores. Products still have the ability to be sold out. This could cause a problem if you need something right away. Typically they do know when it will be in stock and you do have the ability to get at a later date.
Lots of Packaging Materials
There can also be a lot of packaging materials in one box. When things are shipped in the mail they may be in multiple boxes and bags. While they do this to protect the product, it can be annoying to have to unwrap everything.
Possibility of Spilled or Broken Items During Transit
Companies make their best efforts to protect products when intransit. However, sometimes products can break or spill when they get to you. The one upside to this is that a company will usually send you another product at no charge.
Transit Times May Be Longer Than You Want
Depending on how a product is delivered will determine how fast it can get to you. Some modes of transport tend to be slower than others. Expedited delivery can also cost more than regular shipping. Using local stores with delivery services are your best bet for getting what you need right away.
Overall Here is Why Online Shopping Is Better
When you look at the big picture there are both advantages and disadvantages of online shopping. However, the advantages of e-shopping tend to outweigh the disadvantages proving that at times it may be better than retail shopping. I love that with a click of a button I can have something I need to be sent over. It means more time spent doing the things that I want and need to get done.
If you are someone strapped for time you may benefit from online shopping. To get you started below is a list of some of the best places for groceries and pantry items.
Best Online Shopping for Groceries & Pantry Items
*Some of these links are affiliate links, which means that I will earn a percentage of any sales, at no extra cost to you. Learn more in our disclaimer
is a great website to get nonperishable snacks and other pantry staples that make mealtime a cinch. They have organic and non-GMO products as well. They also have cleaning products and personal items like toilet paper, shampoo, body wash, and deodorant.
Thrive Market
Thrive Market is like a mix between Costco and Amazon. You sign up for annual membership to get discounts on all kinds of foods and pantry items. This website is a great way to save time from physically having to go to the store. They have organic and non-GMO products, foods, and snacks. Learn more and get 25% off your first order and a free gift. They also offer a FREE 30-day trial to try before you buy!
Amazon Fresh
Amazon is the place to buy just about everything you need. Since they purchased Whole Foods you now can even get groceries delivered right to your door! This delivery service works with local whole foods or Amazon warehouses so you get local groceries right to your door. They offer free delivery on orders over $50.
Instacart
Instacart is a fabulous service. It gives you the freedom of not having to shop and get you the products you need the same day. They offer thousands of products from stores where you already shop. Save yourself that trip to the market and get a personal shopper in your area to shop and deliver groceries right to your door in as little as an hour! Learn more here!
Fresh Direct
Fresh Direct if you live on the east coast this website can be a help in the kitchen. You can order all your groceries online and have them delivered to your door at a date of your choosing. The one downside of Fresh Direct is the delivery time slots can get taken up quickly if you do not order in advance.
They also have great customer service and even delivered groceries to me on a fourth-floor walk-up when I was living in Hoboken. You know exactly what you are spending before you check out. They even have already prepared meals so you don’t have to worry about what you’re having for dinner this week. Learn more about this time-saver.
Butcher Box
Butcher Box is the best destination for organic meats and grass-fed beef. If you are underwhelmed by the quality of meats and poultry at the supermarkets in your area Butcher box is a great alternative to get premium quality meats and poultry. ButcherBox is a home delivery service for 100 percent grass-fed and grass-finished beef, free-range chicken, heritage breed pork, and even wild salmon.
The nice thing about this service is they offer nutrient-dense meat options. I have also found that per pound it was cheaper than my local supermarkets. Learn more about Butcher Box.
Boxed
Boxed offers a combination of pantry items and some fresh foods. They feature typical supermarket brands. There is no membership fee but if you want to get free and cash rewards you can join their Boxed up membership. It is $49 for a year. This gets you free shipping on any order over $19.98 plus 2% cash rewards and exclusive perks. These are exclusive discounts, promotions, giveaways, and gifts with purchase. Shipping is also free for orders over $49. Anything under that will cost about $6.99 to ship. The website is also offering 15% off your first order.
Shipt
Shipt is similar to Instacart. It offers delivery of fresh products from local grocery stores. Someone will shop for you and get you groceries and have them delivered the same day. It is not as widespread as Instacart but also offers shopping at retailers like CVS and Bed, Bath, and Beyond. You will need to sign up for a membership to use Shipt. It costs $14 a month or $99 for the year. This will take your monthly cost down to $8.25. There is also a delivery charge of $7 on orders under $35.
Pair These With Rakuten For Cash-Back
Rakuten is a cash-back website I like to use for online shopping. They offer a percentage back when you shop through their portal. They also have an extension that can be added to your browser. Whenever cash-back is available a little sign will pop up telling how much you can get back. Rakuten offers cash-back through Butcher box, Thrive Market, and .
By reading this information-only website, you take full responsibility for what you choose to do with this website’s information or outcomes. The information on this website has not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration or any other medical body. It is shared for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any disease. Consult your doctor or healthcare provider before making changes to your diet, exercise regimen, or lifestyle. By accessing or using this website, you agree to abide by the Terms of Service, Full Disclaimer, and Privacy Policy. Content may not be reproduced in any form.