Shopping Tips While on Stay at Home Orders

I thought I'd give some practical tips for essential shopping while your city/county/state is on "Stay at Home Orders" during this Covid-19 Pandemic. (Keep in mind I am in Texas and your local stores options and availability will vary!)

First and most important tip: Order using an online app if you can to avoid going into the physical store. I know it can cost a little more money, and I know they don't always pick the best produce/meat/dairy but right now I think the most important point is that we aren't crowding the stores to pick out our groceries. We are staying home and limiting exposure. I've found that I've been able to get *almost* everything I have on my list by shopping a couple of the online apps vs trying to go in to the store and praying I don't get infected or that those items will be in stock. I've found that Costco and Target have the best online apps for shopping delivery. Download the Costco app and choose 1-day delivery. Choose your items. You will have to choose a delivery time (if one is available) and then check out. Your items are delivered via Instacart.

I've noticed that the last few times I've ordered this way, they do not give you a delivery time of that same day- they're pretty backed up so your order might not be delivered same day- one of my orders took an entire week, but at least I got it!

For Target, you can use their grocery shopping (same day) app called "Shipt".

This is also a shopping as a service app that charges a fee but the shoppers are very good, they text you and you can shop different items if they are out of what you needed or they can offer another option if they're out of the brand you requested. I had really good sucess getting my entire order same day from them.

Second tip (if you don't want to/can't shop online) is to trade off shopping with a trusted friend or family member. For all of those items that are hard to get online, or that you don't trust to a delivery service, try trading shopping days with a good friend or family member that is in the same boat as you. Not only are you limiting exposure by all of you going to the store, but you're also doing something nice for someone you care about. And the bonus? You can see their sweet face when you drop their things off at the front door!

Third tip - Go to the store early in the morning, mid-week. Going to the store on an early Wednesday morning will help you avoid the crazy madness that is a Saturday or Sunday and it also (for obvious reasons) gets you there right when they open. The stores are typically stocked and the cleanest they'll ever be first thing in the morning. **Check with your local store to make sure they aren't open to only immunocompromised or elderly on Wednesday mornings! Definitely don't want to go when they are trying to assist those that need it more!

What are some ways you are getting your shopping done during this time? Leave a comment below!