One in 10 shoppers now buy all their groceries online, while half of us do at least part of their shop from the comfort of their computer.
That’s according to market analysts Mintel, who expect the industry to grow 75% by 2020.
As we spend more of our cash with the major supermarkets online, it’s important we take steps to avoid being ripped off – just like when shopping in-store.
To help out, we’ve put together a list of simple hacks for online grocery shopping.
Get rewarded for your spend with a cashback credit card
1. Make use of all the various introduction offers
The first thing you need to do is throw loyalty out the window and try each of the major supermarkets once.
That’s because they all offer hefty discounts on your first shop – these can be worth anywhere up to £20. So even if one works out slightly pricier than your usual store, you’ll almost certainly be better off.
Just take note of the minimum spend required to qualify, otherwise you’ll have wasted your time.
As an added bonus of shopping around at all the major outlets, you’ll get a far better sense for which is cheapest for your specific needs
2. Don’t simply renew basket
One of the handy things about an online shop is you can simply re-order – either the whole list or a select few items. However, doing so could mean you miss out if that item (or a similar one) is on special.
It takes more time, but always shop for each item individually. And if you aren’t brand loyal, leave that out of your search term and you should be able to take advantage of any deals on other brands.
3. Don’t waste money on carrier bags
When you’re down the supermarket, you can easily skirt the 5p shopping bag levy by simply bringing your own, or using a bag for life.
How you avoid this charge online depends on where you’re shopping. You should generally be able to tick a box specifying you don’t want bags. If you don’t do so you’ll be charged a flat fee, usually around 40p.
At other stores like Ocado you’ll be charged for the bags regardless. However, it will pay you 5p for any bags you hand back (up to a maximum of 99).
These don’t even need to be from Ocado, so handing over a bunch you have stashed away could help you save a little extra on your shop.
Get rewarded for your spend with a cashback credit card
4. Book in advance – or bulk buy delivery slots
You can be charged up to £7 for a single delivery, so it’s essential you keep these costs under control. Daytime deliveries during the week are available for as little as £1, but obviously not everyone can be home at that time. Booking an evening or weekend delivery two or more days in advance should secure you a slightly cheaper slot.
If you get two or more shops delivered a month from the same supermarket, then you should definitely look into buying a delivery pass.
These allow you to get unlimited deliveries for free, provided you shop costs more than a stipulated amount (usually £40).
Passes run from three months to 12 months, with the longer passes securing you a cheaper rate. Depending on which pass you go for, you’re looking at paying between £3 and £7 a month.
Read our guide to the cheapest supermarket delivery deals
5. Earn cashback, register loyalty cards
You can earn cashback on your supermarket shop by signing up to sites like Quidco and Topcashback.
Check out their offers before each shop and you could quickly rack up a healthy bank balance.
Finally, If you shop regularly at one store you’ll no doubt have a loyalty card with them. Remember to register it on the supermarket’s site so you rack up points when shopping online.
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