Every week or so I make a big trip to the grocery store. Sometimes I can leave one or two kids home with Eric, but usually I have to do it when he's working. Armed with a debit card, pushing one cart with the baby in front while dragging another cart carrying the older two (heaven forbid they not run away or fight otherwise), I grimly approach Meijer/Walmart/Aldi with the intent of doing some Shopping.
By the end of the couple hour trip, all of my nerves are shot, the children are usually shouting or have tear-stained faces (because WHY WON'T MOMMY GO TO THE TOYS?????? OR BUY ANOTHER DOZEN SPATULAS?????), the baby is hysterical (BOOBIES NOW), and I've overshot my budget by like 100% because I couldn't *think* with the arguing in my ear. I prefer to slog through the self-check instead of subjecting some poor cashier to Negi's occasionally rude comments or Oliver's shrieking. It's really fun making sure nobody runs away or launches themselves out of the cart while scanning and bagging solo.
It got a little better a few weeks ago when I started properly meal planning-- then I had a solid guide and didn't have to hope I'd grabbed enough snacks or actual food items and wasn't missing any vital ingredient. Sister B also volunteered to come with. The difficulties with the kids didn't stop though. (My mama used to do it with up to eight children solo. Mad props to her) All of this happened even though I enjoy grocery shopping, couponing, and finding deals.
This past week I discovered Jet.com.
Holy. Moly. Total game changer. As an experiment (and after running it by Eric first, who was enthusiastic because I do tend to blow my budget hardcore on groceries), I planned a week ahead and ordered. It was an order that I know would have cost about $150-170 at a combination of Meijer/Walmart/Aldi, with several Awesome Meals included (guac burgers, stacks, homemade pizza... all a little more ingredient-intensive than just pasta). With the 15% off your first three orders (currently the promo code is triple15 and runs until the first of april, but I think it's a common promo for them to run for newcomers), free crazyfast shipping over $39, and each item dropping in price *as you add more to the cart,* and the overall competitive prices to start... it cost $80. *Shipped.*
To be fair, I did try Amazon Pantry with the exact same grocery list. However, they didn't carry any cold items (about 40% of the list, so I'd have to go to Meijer anyway later) and what I did manage to find added up to $65. :| No promo codes and shipping was only free after $49 if you aren't a prime member (which we are, but mostly for the Dora episodes). It straight up didn't properly compete in my situation.
Elated, I spent another order getting the following two weeks worth of groceries for well under $200, and the final order was used to get Sister B her vegan-friendly foodshopping for a couple weeks. They have such great site design-- it's so EASY to find vegan and vegatarian and other dietary-need-friendly food! They carry such an impressive selection. They had both Gardein chicken strips (which we love) and some new vegan queso that Sister B proclaimed to be absolutely delicious.
FedEx dropped off about a dozen or so boxes this week, with 8 arriving yesterday. The only thing I didn't take into account was how much Jet wants you order to arrive intact-- I had four of the boxes filled with cardboard and paper that had been packed around the food, tons of ice packs dumped out in the yard, and the foamy pads took up another three boxes. It's all recyclable though, which is nice. And I have to hand it to them--two dozen eggs arrived without a single crack.
I stopped by their facebook page, and it's just full of people praising their customer service and selection. I had the pleasure of messaging them asking if there's a chance that they'd carry Gardein's Teriyaki Chicken in the future, and within five minutes they'd commented with specific details about the chicken that they'd enjoyed (that sauce is absolutely brilliant), and put in a request to stock it. So pleasant!
They also carry everything a big department store does. Toys, books, housewares, video games, auto parts... you name it, there's a very solid probability that it's there. The bulk/wholesale section has crazy good deals.
Did I mention that they have an excellent app? Sister B did her whole order on the app, and it was so incredibly painless.
I've been raving about this to my mom (who hates grocery shopping), and Eric is totally on board. I get to stay home and spend fun time with my family instead of traipsing through the store on a special kind of hellish mission, and I still have the food I need to cook for the family. Win/win/win/win.+