Episode Guide

Celebrating milestone birthdays can bring reflections on life's journey, as Jonathan and Brad recount the surprise unbirthday party for Jonathan. They transition into sharing insights on grocery shopping in the digital age, focusing on online grocery services and how they compare. Brad introduces his own exploration into the world of grocery delivery, comparing Instacart and Kroger's ClickList. They highlight the cost differences and the benefits of structured shopping lists to avoid impulse buys, emphasizing saving money and maintaining a healthy diet. Additionally, their discussion shifts to broader financial independence themes, with insights from a community member's financial journey, demonstrating that intentional planning over time leads to significant life changes. The episode wraps up with valuable community feedback and encouraging stories about optimizing expenses and pursuing financial independence.

Episode Timestamps

Episode Show Notes: Grocery Store Wars and Online Shopping Tips

Podcast Description: Explore innovative strategies for grocery shopping with hosts Brad Barrett and Dominick Quartuccio, who delve into online options and budgeting hacks that aid financial independence.

Episode Summary: In this episode, Brad and Dominick share their insights on online grocery shopping, comparing platforms like Instacart and Kroger's Clicklist to help listeners save time and money. The discussion emphasizes meal planning and preparation as essential strategies for effective budgeting and avoiding impulse purchases.

Key Takeaways:

Embrace online grocery shopping for convenience; it can lead to significant savings.
Establish a systematic meal planning approach to improve budgeting efforts.
Compare prices between platforms such as Instacart and Clicklist to find the best deals.

Timestamps & Topics:

Podcast Intro: Introduction to grocery store wars and the hosts.
Celebrating a Surprise Unbirthday: Brad recounts a surprise birthday party and its humor.
Exploring Online Grocery Shopping:
- "Embrace online grocery shopping for convenience, especially with a newborn!" - Dominick.
Comparison of Grocery Shopping Apps:
- Instacart vs. Clicklist cost analysis; Clicklist resulted in over $20 savings on the same order compared to Instacart.
Avoiding Impulse Purchases:
- "Avoiding impulse buys can lead to instant savings of hundreds!" - Brad.
The Importance of Meal Planning:
- "Strategize your grocery shopping: having a system equals having a plan!" - Dominick.
Feedback and Community Updates:
- Listeners are encouraged to share their experiences and tips.

Actionable Takeaways:

Use Online Services: Switch to platforms like Instacart and Clicklist to streamline grocery shopping.
Meal Plan: Dedicate time to create a meal plan and shopping list before shopping to minimize impulse buys.
Engage with the Community: Share and gather insights on optimizing grocery costs from fellow listeners.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What are the benefits of using online grocery shopping services like Instacart?
- "Using online grocery services can save time, help you stick to your shopping list, and avoid impulse buying, leading to significant savings."
What role does meal planning play in budgeting for groceries?
- "Meal planning helps ensure you buy only what you need, reducing waste and focusing your spending on planned meals."
How can using Clicklist save money compared to Instacart?
- "Clicklist costs the same as the store prices and incurs a small fee, while Instacart may charge more per item. Therefore, using Clicklist can lead to better savings."

Quotes:

"Save hundreds with Instacart by sticking to your shopping list!" - Key insight from Brad .
"Save and eat healthy by optimizing your grocery shopping." - Dominick .

ChooseFI Community - Engage with other listeners to share grocery shopping tips and strategies.

Discussion Questions:

What strategies do you currently use to manage your grocery budget?
How can meal planning reduce waste and save money?
What are the pros and cons of online grocery shopping for your lifestyle?

Action Items:

Implement a grocery shopping system utilizing apps to streamline purchasing.
Start planning meals in advance to optimize grocery shopping.

Podcast Extro: "You've been listening to ChooseFI Podcast, where we help middle-class America build wealth one life hack at a time."

Mastering Grocery Shopping for Financial Independence

Grocery shopping is a vital aspect of personal finance that can significantly impact your budget. With the rise of online grocery shopping and meal planning systems, mastering grocery shopping can lead to substantial savings and enhance your journey towards financial independence. Here’s how you can optimize your grocery shopping habits to save time and money.

Embrace Online Grocery Shopping

Using online grocery shopping services, such as Instacart and Clicklist, can transform your grocery shopping experience. Unlike traditional shopping, online services help you avoid impulse purchases, ensuring you only buy what you need.

Save Hundreds: You can save hundreds with Instacart by sticking to your shopping list. This approach eliminates the temptation to buy items you didn’t plan for, which can wreak havoc on your budget.
Comparison Shopping: Before making a purchase, compare prices between services. For example, a side-by-side comparison between Instacart and Kroger's Clicklist showed that a typical grocery order could cost significantly less when using Clicklist, with the same items totaling about $59 compared to $79 on Instacart.

Systematic Meal Planning

Creating a systematic meal planning strategy is crucial. Meal planning not only saves you money but also helps you manage your health better. When you have a clear meal plan, you know exactly what ingredients you'll need, reducing waste and expense.

Use Recipe Apps: Utilize meal planning apps such as Paprika to streamline your shopping process. Search for recipes you want to try, create a grocery list directly from those recipes, and check your pantry to eliminate unnecessary purchases.
Optimize Your Grocery List: By having a finely tuned list before you shop, you ensure that every item serves a purpose. Only buy what you need for your planned meals, which can significantly help you avoid impulse buys.

Creating a Budget-Friendly Shopping System

Implementing a structured shopping system can drastically enhance your grocery shopping experience. Here are some key tactics:

Stick to Your List: Always go grocery shopping with a list. This simple strategy can lead to instant savings of hundreds of dollars and keeps your focus on your pre-planned meals.
Time Efficiency: Online services allow you to save time by preventing unnecessary trips to the store, allowing you to allocate that time towards more enjoyable activities or family.

Meal Preparation and Health

Optimizing your grocery shopping is not only about saving money but also about ensuring that you maintain a healthy diet.

Healthy Choices: Systematic meal planning isn’t just budget-friendly; it helps you save and eat healthily. By planning meals in advance, you can include a variety of nutritious ingredients while avoiding unhealthy spontaneous purchases that often happen in physical stores.

Explore Other Online Grocery Options

Besides Instacart and Clicklist, there are numerous other online grocery services available that can cater to your preferences.

Check Local Options: Many grocery stores offer their own online shopping services. Walmart, Amazon Fresh, and Peapod are just a few examples where you can take advantage of the same benefits.
Stay Informed on Offers: Participating in communities focused on financial independence can provide you with insights on the best grocery shopping strategies and promotions from various online retailers. Supporting one another in locating the best deals can lead to collective savings for everyone involved.

Actionable Takeaways for Smart Grocery Shopping

Adopt Online Grocery Shopping: Consider making the switch to online grocery shopping to save both time and money.
Implement Meal Planning: Create a systematic meal plan that allows for streamlined grocery shopping and reduces waste.
Utilize Different Services: Explore different grocery shopping apps and evaluate which one works best for your needs concerning price and convenience.

By employing these strategies, you can optimize your grocery shopping routine and contribute positively to your overall financial independence journey. Remember, each step toward smarter grocery shopping is a step towards better budgeting, improving your financial health, and supporting your long-term goals.

Jonathan and Brad discuss ways to optimize your grocery shopping, the family emergency binder, and share stories from the community.

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How To Optimize Online Grocery Shopping

Recently, Jonathan decided to give online grocery shopping a try. Although he sometimes enjoys going to the grocery store, he has realized that it may not be the most effective way to spend his time.

The more time you spend in a grocery store, the more likely you are to deviate from your plan.

Most of us are familiar with the impulse buys that come along with grocery shopping. However, we may not realize how quickly these extra purchases can add up.

I know people that are saving hundreds of dollars a month using Instacart just because they are purchasing what is on their list.

Jonathan decided to compare two grocery delivery services: Instacart and Clicklist. Here's how it went:

Meal Workflow

Before Jonathan goes shopping, he finds meals on Pinterest that seem exciting. He inputs these recipes into Paprika, a meal planning app, and downloads the ingredient list to his phone. With these lists, he can create a shopping list and compare that to what he already has in the pantry. Once he has fine-tuned his shopping list, it is time to go grocery shopping.

In total, he has 28 items to shop for this week and he compared the total prices for both services. With Clicklist, the total was around $59 plus a $4.99 pickup fee or $12.99 delivery fee. With Instacart, the total was $79.

The difference between the two likely stems from the fact that Clicklist by Kroger is a part of the stores' daily operations. Unlike Instacart, which is a third party service not associated with a particular store. Instacart charges a 30 to 40% upcharge to make their business model worth it. Plus, you have to pay an annual fee for the delivery service.

Overall, online grocery shopping might be a great way to save time and money. The most important part of the equation to reclaiming your time. By switching to an online grocery service, you will likely regain a few of your precious hours each week. Plus, you can avoid impulse decisions to save yourself hundreds of dollars each year.

The time that you get back and the price transparency makes it almost priceless.

Online Grocery Shopping Options

Here are a few of our favorite online grocery shopping options that will help you save time and money. These are not your only options, but they are a good place to get started!

Please note: All information was accurate when this article was published. This type of info changes constantly so please be sure to check when you sign up!

Instacart Grocery Delivery

Although Instacart was more expensive for Jonathan's example, the service covers a wide variety of grocery stores.

Instacart delivers in as little as an hour from stores like Aldi, Costco, Sam's Club, Whole Foods, Sprouts, Petco and more. Pay a delivery fee each time you order or get unlimited deliveries for a year with InstacartExpressfor a flat rate.

They also charge a markup on the groceries you buy. Which can really increase your grocery budget, but if shopping online means you don't succumb to impulse purchases, you may still come out ahead.

Click List--Kroger's Grocery Pick Up

Click List was the best option as far as price in Jonathan's comparison. Order your groceries online and select a pickup time that's convenient for you. Pick your groceries up at your store's curbside pickup location and their associates will load your items into your car.

Plus, you get to try the service three times for free! After that fees vary by location.

Walmart

Walmart does not charge any subscription fees or price markups on your grocery pickup. You simply select your shopping list online and pick it up curbside for free. The catch is that your order must be at least $30.

You can get $10 off your first order of $50 here with the coupon code WOWFRESH.

If you want your groceries delivered, the fee is $9.95 on your minimum order of $30. However, you can score your first order of $50 or more here for free with the coupon code FRESHCAR.

Brad has found this service incredibly easy to use.

Shipt Grocery Delivery

Shipt gives you free same day delivery on orders over $35 from local stores like Target, Meijer, CVS, Petco, Kroger, Safeway and more. They charge $99 a year, or $14 a month, for unlimited deliveries. You do get a two-week free trial to check them out.

AmazonFresh

AmazonFresh is a grocery delivery and pickup service available in select cities for Prime members. They charge $14.99 a month, Prime members get 30 days free.

Amazon Prime Pantry

Prime Pantry is an online store where Prime members can shop for groceries and household products in everyday package sizes (for example, a single box of cereal). Shipping is free on orders of $10 or more, with a monthly fee of $4.99.

>Free 30-day trial for Prime members

Peapod

Peapod is an online grocery store serving Chicagoland, Milwaukee, S.E. Wisconsin, Indianapolis, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Southern New Hampshire, Maryland, Virginia, Washington, DC, Philadelphia, and S.E. Pennsylvania.>

You can get $20 off plus free delivery on your first order of $75 or more with coupon 60DAYSFREE

Safeway

Safeway is a popular grocery chain with locations in the western and central United States. They offer $20 off plus free delivery on your first order of $75 or more with coupon SAVE20

Vons

Vons delivers groceries to its customers from their Southern California and Nevada locations. On your first order of $75 or more, you can save $20 plus free delivery with the coupon code SAVE20.

You can check out what our community has to say about online grocery shopping in this thread in our Facebook Group. Lots of great tips to get the most out of your online grocery shopping.

Creating Options for Your Future

In Monday's episode, Chelsea talked about her amazing choice to leave her job as a hedge fund manager. Through hard work, networking, and a drive to never stop learning, she was able to increase her salary to $450,000 per year. She was in a world in which everyone made a high salary, but there were still people living paycheck to paycheck. Many assumed that they would always be making more so saving money didn't seem like a priority.

What are you doing today that will give you options five years from now?

You don't always know that you will still love your job in five to ten years. You may want to leave at some point. Although you cannot know what you will want out of your work life five years from now, you can make choices to give yourself options five years from now.

Working towards FI gives you the freedom to make choices that go beyond money. The math is simple, saving money gives you options and power over your work life in the future.

Related Episode: Finding Your Side Hustle With Nick Loper

The Family Emergency Binder

If you haven't started your family emergency binder, then don't put it off another day. Obviously, we all hope that nothing bad will happen to us. However, it is critically important to your family to have this information if there was ever an emergency.

Fill out the information one section at a time. Start with one section a week and just power through until you are finished.

Get something done. Don't let perfect be the enemy of done. You can always reiterate and make it better with the next draft.

In addition to the family emergency binder (20% off with coupon "CHOOSEFI"), you should consider other aspects of estate planning. Look into drafting a will and consider your life insurance options.

Check out our full review of her family emergency binder here.

Community Feedback

Let's take a look at what our community was talking about this week.

Shout Out To Greg

Greg called in to share that he has increased his savings rate to 60%. Just two years ago, they were basically saving nothing, so this is a huge accomplishment. Congrats Greg!

He shared that one of his favorite tips is to set up a separate email for all of your household bills. With this, you can create an easy way to make sure that all of your online bills are coming to one place. Either partner can log into this shared account and pay bills.

Congrats Micheal!

Micheal hit FI this week and is retiring soon. Congrats!

It's about the plans that you lay for yourself because the future is uncertain.

Micheal is retiring decades ahead of his peers which shows that it is very possible but you will have to work to get there.

Question From Terry

Terry called in to ask about planning for her upcoming retirement. She will be retiring in one year and looking for ways to strategize. With access to a traditional retirement account and a Roth, she wanted to know if she should dump her entire paycheck for her last year into her 457 accounts. Or should she start moving the money from her 457 into her Roth?

Answer From Sean Mullaney the FI Tax Guy

Sean, the FI Tax Guy, gave advice for two different situations because Terry excluded some information such as a potential government pension, Social Security benefits, and the required minimum distributions (RMDs) of her traditional retirement account.

If you were 69 and your last year of earned income is around $40,000, then at 70 you would be forced to take your RMDs from the traditional retirement accounts. These RMDs could significantly increase your taxable income for the year. In this case, Sean would not recommend making any sizable contributions to your 457 account at this point.

If you were 52 and your last year of earned income is around $80,000, then everything changes. You would be many years away from the RMDs, so you would be able to slowly move your 457 into a Roth account to minimize your long-term RMDs.

Any time you are thinking about effective retirement tax strategies take a minute to pause and think about it. Run the "great tactics" through your own goals to ensure that they support your long-term goals for retirement.

Related Episodes:

New to FI? Be sure to check out Episode 100: Welcome To The FI Community!