Grocery Shopping Made Easy

Online ordering services make grocery shopping easier for busy parents

Alabama-based grocery delivery service Shipt is coming to Charlotte. Shipt, which works much like Uber, launches in Charlotte Sept. 29 and allows shoppers to have groceries delivered to their doorstep. That means no lugging a baby on a rainy day to the store or getting out of your PJs if you've had a rough night with lack of sleep. 

To use the service, shoppers make a grocery list using the Shipt app. Then Shipt shoppers can either accept or decline the order — much like an Uber driver. If a shopper accepts the order, they do the leg work (shopping a local Publix) for you and bring the groceries to your door. Shipt is currently looking to hire 300 drivers, which come to think of it could be a side business for a stay-at-home mom who is a savvy shopper. Shipt delivery will be available in the greater Charlotte area, Matthews, Cornelius and Concord. Of course, the service comes with a convenience fee. According to the Shipt website: "Our customers can expect to pay about $5 more using Shipt than they would on a $35 order purchased in the store themselves." You must spend $35 for free delivery or incur a $7 delivery fee, (which is nothing compared to taking baby or toddler out on a cold, rainy day, in my opinion). I'm going to suggest you also tip the driver, though the Shipt website says it is not required or expected.

If you aren't comfortable with a stranger dropping off a sack of sundries at your doorstep, there's also the convenience of Harris Teeter's Express Lane shopping. After paying a joining fee, you can order groceries online. Harris Teeter employees do the shopping for you, and you simply roll through and load your groceries. It does require a four-hour lead time, but still pretty convenient if you don't want to shop the aisles with the kids.

Maureen Carlomagno, owner of Your Wellness Coach, hosts classes on how to take advantage of online grocery shopping. "Stay in your car, park in the designated parking spot, and your groceries come out to you," says Carlomagno. "You can even ask HT staff to pick up a latte from Starbucks for you on the way out. How's that for special service." 

Topics covered in Carlomagno's class include:

• How to stick to your grocery budget
• How to shop from the comfort of your home or office using the Harris Teeter app and website
• How to make eating healthy easier through online shopping

Email Carlomagno for more information on online grocery shopping classes, and come learn more time-saving tips for a more balanced life at Charlotte Parent's Mom Matters event Oct. 16. 

Both the HT service and Shipt sounds pretty enticing, though each comes with extra cost, during the baby days to come in my life soon, a nap may trump that hour spent at the grocery store.