Do you spend more on groceries online or in store?

[BeMintBiscuit]

Without a doubt, food is biggest expense and I'm really trying to conciously bring it down. Our big fall down seems to be the 'popping out' for a couple of bits or a single thing that we're missing for dinner and coming out with a basket. I've just done what I think should be a generous weekly online shop (and maybe just need one small top up) and I was pleasantly surprised with the cost in comparison to in store.

Do you think you spend more online or in store? Always interested in how differently it works for each family.

I’ve done a weekly on line shop at that very little helps place for years. It’s now just the 3 of us at home (all adults) and I still think it’s better to have my shopping delivered.

i find I can put what I need into the basket along with what I would like 😂, then I can play around with it before I check out so I keep to budget. In store I tend to get a bit carried away and find I go over budget so easily

i tend to have a delivery on a Thursday morning and it covers everything we need for a week. That doesn’t stop me going out occasionally and picking up some odds and ends especially if the family suddenly decides to come and stay,

I do have a well stocked larder and a chest freezer I’ve got to the nice position of really just replacing what we’ve had and buying some extras on offer and what have you. I more or less just buy the same fresh stuff every week and then run the fridge down so by Wednesday night it looking rather sad.

i think it saves my a fortune shopping this way. My son and DIL would shop as they needed and were spending a fortune, I understand, they don’t have the money to stock a larder and bulk buy. So in January I gave them the money todo just that, they had a massive order to completely stock the cupboard and since then have started doing click and collect once a week, they have said the savings are amazing. Also using my mums old saying of “you can only eat it once and when its gone it’s gone” eat all the treats by Sunday that’s tough no more until Thursday that step alone saves money.

its amazing what you can produce from the end of week fridge if you have a well stocked larder.

I found online grocery shopping both more expensive than in person + incredibly frustrating. Without fail every week I was forced to spend unwanted time/money on top up shops due to silly substitutions or short dates. Drove me mad and I was very glad to be back to in person shops once recovered from surgery - I don’t understand how anyone does online!!

I feel like I’m able to find better deals in person, plus I’m not particularly impulsive re: food and can stick to a list quite easily, even whilst wandering around the shop.

When I shop online there are less 'impulse buys' but sometimes I find it difficult to reach the threshold for free delivery. Or with Ocado for example they charge for delivery and also charge for a small shop fee if you don't spend, I think £75 then also charge for bags. The reason I use Ocado is that I've never had a substitution or something that's become out of stock, like the other supermarkets.

In person I tend to pick up things impulsively such as chocolate or biscuits, so less careful. But as a whole probably spend more online, especially Ocado as you've got bags, delivery and 'small trolley' fee that can add a bit to the total.

I’ve never got the knack of shopping online - I forget stuff that I would have thought of instore, I buy the wrong sizes, and the substitutions drive me mad. I end up having to go to the shop to pick up missing things anyway, so there’s very little benefit to it.

I do a big weekly shop, and get a milk delivery to avoid needing a top up shop. The milk is more expensive than it would be picking it up myself, if I could be disciplined enough to only buy the milk. I figure it saves me a good bit by keeping me out of the shop, plus petrol.

I shop online to a strict meal plan. I rarely have daft substitutions, but sometimes items are very nearly out of date, which is annoying. I can normally swap meals around so it doesn’t matter, but I do send things back if necessary.

I rarely do top up shops, mainly because I’d have to drive a considerable distance to do so.

The rare times I go to a supermarket, I spend considerably more than I do online, even with paying for an annual delivery pass.

I think that's a wonderful idea to help your son and DIL out with that. It makes complete sense and helps them in a practical way to get on track. Lovely thing to do!

I find online shopping to be expensive - for me

I like to go in store and look , and see where the bargains are and work my meal plan around that

Im often stood still looking at recipes online when I see a good bargain

I found that shopping online took a flipping age looking through everything and adding to basket, and having a list stores ment I was gathering up stuff I might not have eaten in weeks

Definitely spend less online and less calories too as a bonus. I can check my cupboards & recipes as I go and save myself buying a whole load of tasty crap that I'm notorious for spending on as i always seem to be starving when I'm in store.

Also means I can't nip across the road from Tesco to M&S for overpriced but super tasty treats 😋.