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    Grocery Delivery & Pickup

    Order from your couch. Pick up at the curb, or have it delivered.

    Two ways to do this

    • Curbside pickup (free or $2-3) — you order, they bag it, you drive to the store and they bring it to your trunk. No tipping needed. Most stores offer this.
    • Home delivery ($10-20) — they bring it to your door. Plus tip. Best when weather, mobility, or time are issues.

    Best apps by store

    Walmart Grocery / Walmart+: Free pickup. Free delivery for Walmart+ members ($98/year). Lowest prices for everyday groceries.
    Kroger: Free pickup. The Kroger app also includes "Boost" membership for delivery.
    Publix Delivery & Curbside Pickup: Run through Instacart inside the Publix app.
    Target / Shipt: Same-day delivery from Target stores via the Shipt app.
    Whole Foods (Amazon): Free 2-hour delivery for Amazon Prime members in many cities.
    Costco: Same-day delivery via Instacart, or 2-day Costco Same-Day for non-perishables.
    Instacart: Pulls from many local stores (Aldi, ShopRite, Wegmans, Safeway, etc.). Higher tipping expectations.
    Amazon Fresh: If your area has Amazon Fresh, the app is among the easiest to use.

    First-time setup (any app)

    1. Install the app from the App Store / Play Store.
    2. Make an account — email and password.
    3. Type your home address and your card.
    4. If you have a store loyalty card, add it for the discounts.
    5. Browse like a website — search for "milk" or "apples", tap to add.
    6. Pick a pickup or delivery time slot.
    7. Confirm. You'll get a confirmation email and a tracking link.

    Save money

    • Pickup over delivery when you can — saves $10-20 per order.
    • Watch for fees: Some apps charge "service fees" of 5-10% on top. Read the order summary before paying.
    • Check substitutions: If something's out of stock, the shopper picks a swap. You can choose "approve substitutions" (less surprises) or "no substitutions" (you might miss items).
    • Don't autopay tip suggestions blindly — they suggest 15-20% of the WHOLE bill. For grocery, $5-$10 per order is generous regardless of total.
    • Try both Walmart and Kroger — prices differ surprisingly across stores in the same town.

    EBT / SNAP food assistance

    Most major grocery delivery now accepts EBT/SNAP (food stamps) — Walmart, Amazon, Aldi, Kroger, Publix all do. Add the EBT card in your account just like a credit card.

    Quick Tip — schedule a "regular order"

    Most apps let you reorder in one tap. Build a "weekly basics" list once — milk, bread, eggs, fruit, coffee — and re-order in 60 seconds every Saturday morning.