I know that this post is probably late in coming however it’s very relevant. I thought I would share how I have been getting groceries delivered to my home or just by using pick up at the local stores.  A pandemic is a serious threat and we, as a family, take that threat seriously. If you don’t then that’s fine. But we do. So here’s how we have been getting our groceries since the Pandemic started.

Here are some ways to get groceries to your home that do not charge!

 

First off, I guess I should say that I am a borderline prepper. So when I began hearing about the pandemic in China I began stockpiling a few things. I had already stockpiled canned foods, tea, coffee, sugar, flour, yeast, pasta, rice, toilet paper, dog food, etc. I am not prepared for a year without being able to get food. But with my fridge, freezer and small stockpile I am prepared for 3-5 months of rationed food for my family of 5 (and it would have to be rationed). I do have seeds and also know how to plant a garden and make it grow. So if all else fails I would rely on my gardening too. This year my garden failed because of all the rain that came after we planted it. Our seeds rotted. The only thing we have been able to get from our garden this year is tomatoes. Which we dearly love so yum! 

After I had already begun stockpiling a few things then others began to do so as well and the supplies began to run low. It’s never really bothered me. I mean I do prepare and want to make sure I have what my family needs but I also know that if push came to shove we can do the hard things. So we will be fine. The only hard part about this is that I have 5 almost fully grown adults to feed. My children are now 23, 17, and 14 in addition to myself and my 6″2′ husband. That requires a lot of sustenance. But if there’s another run on toilet paper I can cut up old sheets or plant more lamb’s ear to get the job done. I used to be a cloth diapering mama. There’s not much that scares me. LOL I could also just buy a bidet like this one. But I digress! 

So in those first few months I totally put my Amazon prime membership to work. In addition to watching tv and listening to tunes on Prime I also was able to get groceries delivered within a two hour window and it was wonderful. I loved it. I used it so much the first two to three months of lockdown. At that time my hubby was still considered essential so he went to work almost every single day while we stayed home during the lockdown. It was so nice to know that whatever I needed I could order and get say at 9pm that night if I wanted it too. Now it did cause me to look at things differently. So lots of things were out of stock and I had to resort to ordering butter lettuce (something I had never used, eaten or ordered) because that is the only thing they had that was close to salad. I am so amazed at how things are still flowing right now. Grateful I guess is a better word. I know you can’t find Chlorox wipes and lysol but I have rags and chlorox so we are fine! This was my first choice for groceries when the pandemic began. 

Middle Tennessee area grocery pick up from stores without a fee

As time went on though I needed more groceries than I could comfortably get delivered from Prime. So I began using Kroger’s click list. They are awesome. I was able to order for my big family and get most everything I needed. Now even today there are still times when I can’t get everything. But that’s ok. I’m totally fine with that and can adjust by either saying yes I want the substitute or no thanks I do not. I still am using this to this day and they are not charging me when I go pick up my order. It was supposed to be $4.95 per order but it’s been free each time since the pandemic began. Which makes sense to me…don’t send me to the store and keep the employees safer by just bringing the groceries out to us! I am totally onboard with that! 

The next one I also use a lot is Walmart pick up. It has been a lifesaver to just place my order and then run over to Walmart and they have it ready and bring it out to you. So very nice! I have utilized this a lot as well. If you haven’t tried Walmart pick up you definitely should. Use this and enjoy $10 off your first order from Walmart Grocery.
http://r.wmt.co/v/dina_240  It has been a great way for me to stay out of the stores and still get what I have needed. Now I’m not saying I never go into the grocery stores. I do. But if I can order ahead and get what I need I try to do that first. Then running in because I forgot something is my last resort! I have grocery shopped probably 10-12 times since lockdown. I much prefer all these great ways to get groceries for free without a fee! It has been amazing! 

I have also done a Sam’s pick up. I ordered everything online and then ran to the store and they grabbed it for me and brought it out. Easy peasy. It was nice. I prefer Walmart over Sam’s because in that one I do not have to go in at all. But the Sam’s one was nice too because sometimes you just need a 5 lb bag of gummy bears. haha! 

I know about instacart and shipt but I don’t use those as they charge a fee. These are the ones that I use because there is no fee. They are keeping my family fed and me out of the stores as much as possible. 

If you’re looking for groceries in the Middle Tennessee area this is what I have done to get my family’s needs met and stay out of the store. What have you been using for groceries since the Pandemic started? How has your shopping changed?