Grocery Shopping makes me SMILE!

No – seriously!

I do actually remember a time, long long ago, when I did quite enjoy the task of grocery shopping. There is something semi-therapeutic about wandering up and down the aisles, casually picking up and examining new products, admiring the displays of mouth-watering meals that I could make at home, and generally enjoying the blissful state of ”chill-out” mode that would embrace me as I entered the doors. (OK slightly off track, but I always thought it brilliant that whether it was day or night, sunny or raining, inside those doors it was always safe and warm – kinda like casinos!! How clever are those grocery shopping psychologists!!)

Anyways, children happened and supermarkets became my worst enemy. And then came the best news that any mother with young children could have hoped for. You can grocery shop – FROM HOME!!!!! Oh the joys, the tears, the celebration!! This was life-changing, and it still is. I would be lost without my Coles Online. Every Sunday I sit down and “go shopping”.

I have got this down to a fine art now – here is the quickest way to do your shopping. (I promise you will be thanking me for this!!).

First - Book your delivery time slot. The earlier you get in the better chance you get the slot that you want. The 3 hour slots are cheapest so they go quickest. Be warned – you have only have TWO HOURS from the time you pick your slot to complete your order, otherwise they give your window away to somebody else. This has happened to me a couple of times and I nearly cried!! I guess they don’t understand how easy it is to be torn away from your “shopping” when you have toddlers. Hopefully they change this soon!

Second - The best part is that they have a Master list which contains every single item you have ever purchased. So first thing I do, is run through the list and simply add anything to my cart that I have run out of.

Third – Look for the online specials – sometimes there are fabulous bargains to be had and they are only available online!!

Fourth – have the catalogue handy? Go through that and add any specials you like the look of. It’s also a great trigger to remind you of things you have forgotten. (It’s my online version of browsing the shelves).

Finally – add anything else on your shopping list by item. You can do this quickly by just typing in the name at the top of the screen. I usually have my meal planner or recipe books next to me so I can “order” straight from there.

And that’s it – you are DONE!!!!

Now the truth is that it IS a little more expensive than shopping in store, but I find that I don’t impulse buy as much as  I used to, I am not as swayed by pretty packaging so I tend to just stick with the home brands or whatever is on specials, AND I would just about pay ANYTHING to avoid shopping with 4 children.

So the VALUE for money is exceptional.

Delivery day is always exciting – the driver are MOSTLY happy and friendly and the kids love having a chat. They will USUALLY unload your bags for you and put them straight on to your kitchen bench or wherever you ask them to. I say mostly and usually because I guess it’s like any person – you get brilliant ones, and you get so so ones. The brilliant ones are so brilliant that I almost feel like hugging them before they go (but then that would be a bit weird, right?).

Look at this – all delivered to my KITCHEN!! Seriously fabulously wonderful.

I love shopping online!!