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 found the same with this. I seem to flick between online and not but when I do online - it's Ocado. But their fruit is about the only slightly disappointing part. I always think the same as you though - they refund without any argument, it's brilliant.

I do several little shops in the week so that I only buy what's needed for a few days and it's fresh.
As I'm single and veggie I'd struggle to get the minimum order value each week and so it's easier to pop in on the way home.

I probably spend more on groceries in-store, as I end up filling my basket with lots of things from the reduced section, plus a few intended essentials, and bits of things that are nice to have rather than necessary!

If I'm doing an online shop, I can look at recipes to see what I need, and shop accordingly, with a few treats that are intended to last. I freeze a lot of things, and always keep a vast stock of ingredients, because I try to make a lot of foods from scratch. I am very lucky, though, in that my choice of supermarket very rarely runs out of items, or offers mad substitutions. On the odd occasion that I use a specific supermarket from the nearest city, I rarely get what I want!

Online shop is always more ruthlessly managed and I keep within budget vs instore (even with scan as you go).. in store is much easier to spend ..

I’ve been using Ocado for about fifteen years. I pay £8.99 for a monthly SmartPass which gives unlimited deliveries at any time. It’s even better now they offer same day deliveries. Despite the divorce from Waitrose, and occasional ‘upgrades’ to the app I can’t really imagine being without it now. Easy browsing, seamless ordering, prompt deliveries and well presented, polite drivers. One can be frugal (price checked against Tesco) or extravagant there. It just works for me.

During Covid I branched out to more committed Riverford veg box ordering - and I’d say I possibly spend more there per month than at Ocado. Again, incredibly easy shopping and seamless delivery. I absolutely rely on it for fresh, seasonal food.

I order whole foods more or less in bulk from Hodmedods. It’s tremendously satisfying to see their packets ranged around my larder.

As a pescatarian not living by the sea I’ve developed a punishing The Tinned Fish Market habit. There’s no denying that does cost a fair bit per month - but browsing the site for new stuff and old favourites is a delight and I see no reason to stop ordering from them.

For most of the year I order baked goods and cheese from a fabulous local bakery, and then pick up in person. Slight hiatus right now so I can be sure of fitting into my summer clothes …

Coffee beans, again, ordered online, picked up at the roastery.

Almost all the alcohol I’ve bought in the past fifteen years has also been online, delivered to me.

So, in answer to your question, @BeMintBiscuit - probably 95% of my grocery shopping is online. The other 5% would be being irresistibly drawn into Waitrose if I’m running errands at that end of town, or a mooch around M&S for no particular reason, maybe once every six weeks or so. I live in a city so farmers’ markets in the midst of traffic pollution don’t hold much attraction for me. I definitely prioritise convenience - but also undoubtedly spend less than I would with endless ‘popping out’.

I do generally forget that other people are still doing their ‘big shop’ in person. If I did that my trolley would be mostly crisps. And gin.

Online.

I shop in store at Aldi which is pretty limited in what it stocks. Same old same old pretty much. Makes it easy to follow the list.

I find it more expensive and more wasteful getting it delivered. I go 4-5 times a week and spend around £50 for 2 people total

I do mine online as I don't drive.

The odd time I've been to do it in person I've always spent more

Definitely in store. This is why I only shop online.

I shop in the stores and I know I spend more shopping in person than when I used to shop online a few years ago.
I don't prefer shopping online, as I like to choose my own fresh foods, also checking the best before dates on dairy/ bread myself.
I shop the sales and have a good idea how much I'll spend, however, there are always sales on items I regularly use, and they are not announced, so I pick them up. Also, sometimes I see a yellow sticker item that I just can't say no to. So yeah, if I wasn't in the store I would save more on shopping, but would not be able to take advantage of hidden sales or yellow stickers.

I’m inundated with flash sale produce as I’m checking out of Ocado …

Sounds like a great mix and balance!

Wot, crisps and gin? 😂

I imagine food shopping for everyone is dependent on location as much as anything. When I lived in Edinburgh my groceries were all walking miles to Waitrose. And the farmers’ market and Valvona & Crolla. Plus a street that (in my memory) was all fishmongers, and queuing up at the butchers for game. (Before I gave up meat.) I miss the butcher’s. Not the meat, just the conviviality.

Online shopping doesn’t work for me . I like to visualise what I am buying and also find the best deals.

I've never shopped online apart from one Morrisons c & c during Covid (and then I was pissed off because the one thing I really wanted, a raspberry danish pastry wasn't in the order).

I use Aldi or Lidl mostly so no online shopping. There's very little choice so not much impulse buying. I also get stuff from a foodshare and once a month I go to Morrisons for branded cat food and coffee and that's it really. I don't like really big full trolley shops so tend to do a couple of smaller ones a week on my way home.

I think that's why I hate the idea of online shopping - having to do a big shop to make it worthwhile, I wouldn't have room to store it all!

£40 worth of groceries / household stuff is little more than a basket’s worth, though. I have a very small Ocado delivery coming this evening - £48. I could easily spend that on an idle wander around M&S, without even buying the specific products I’d prefer.

Online because of the minimum spend

I do a weekly Tesco online shop and make sure it comes in under budget.

It doesn't include meat or fruit and veg. We buy meat from a local butcher and fruit and veg from the greengrocer.

That works best for us. We rarely have to do a "top up" shop.

ETA I don't actually know if it's cheaper as I haven't been in a supermarket for over 2 years. But,for me, online shopping is worth far more as I hate going into supermarkets. It also saves so much time which is as important to me as money.