My online grocery shopping: saving money+big time!(and my quick bean stew recipe for no fresh produce situations)

Being an avid frugal person, I used to avoid online grocery shopping, thinking the produce will not be as good as the produce I hand pick , the prices will be considerably higher, and I will not get that “vibe” you get when strolling along the supermarket aisles -that “vibe” that sends you to the kitchen raving with new ideas and recipes. 

Well- turns out I was wrong- I mean totally wrong- on all 3 counts.

#1: turns out my online supermarket declared that they handpick the best products for their online customers, and that turned out to be true. on the rare occasions that I discovered a few overripe bananas or something like that- Immediately wrote to the customer service online- and they reimbursed me that instant.

#2: The online prices are a bit higher than shopping at the cheapest supermarket, but: at the end of the day- the cost is lower. let me explain:

A.Let’s all admit– when we go to the store- specially a supermarket- we tend to buy more than we planned. the carefully made list turns after a few minutes to a mere guideline- at best. I know for a fact that there wasn’t even once that I managed  walking down the vegetable and fruit aisles without suddenly remembering “I had to get strawberries or a specific brand of these lovely mushrooms”. this does still happen to me while shopping online- but not as frequently as it did while going to the store.

B. “oops- I forgot (this or that)!“…this happened to me soooooo many times…it is embarrassing to even admit that there were times I went to the store to get something and left with a huge grocery bag- that had nothing to do with the original things I needed to buy….this kind of thing doesn’t happen to me anymore: I start making my online list when I see I need something, and keep adding and changing throughout the 3 weeks between each delivery.

C. Items on sale and wise shopping: stores have their ways to get rid of certain items by presenting them as a “great deal!!” when actually- if you were to browse through the other companies selling the same product- or even the same brand selling this product in a bigger bag -you would have realized the deal provided wasn’t such a big deal. i found out that I was much more frugal when shopping online- looking- and finding items I actually needed to buy- and were on actual sale- than my go-to-the-store days.

D. When I shop online I am not tired or hungry – I have the time to ask myself if really need that product- or am I deluding myself about that 3 layer meringue “I am definitely going to make”. I also have the time to actually go to the pantry and check if I have the product at home or not.

E. What about that cost of fuel?

#3: The “vibe” issue- that is true- my Ipad /phone can’t transfer the smell of fresh organic produce. but luckily I learned to use my imagination and get thinking about recipes while assembling my online shopping list- mind you the gap between each online order at our house is between 3 to 4 weeks.

No downsides?

Of course, there are downsides. but the upsides in my opinion- outweigh them considerably.

I can’t avoid the fact that after 2 weeks- most of the fresh produce isn’t fresh anymore.

although I have great tips for keeping my fruit and veggies fresh, I am not superman- and cannot turn time backward.

So- I look at this as an opportunity to be creative: I am out of tomatoes and cucumbers? no big deal- I will sprout a fresh batch of sprouts and add walnuts and quinoa instead! I am out of tofu? I will soak beans instead.

I look at every situation of food items shortage as an opportunity to go through my pantry and find forgotten treasures-or be innovative with what I have left. this is also a great opportunity to make sure groceries aren’t piling up and expiring. 

for example- make a bean stew: (with lots of garlic!!super healthy!)

Quick fix no fresh produce situation bean stew:

1/2 bag- about a cup before soaking- dried beans -soaked at least overnight then cook until tender (but not mushy). I usually have cooked beans waiting in my freezer. saves time.

1 can -of canned tomatoes

1 garlic head -at least! peeled

2 large onions-diced

4-5 potatoes- regular or- even better– sweet potatoes.

frozen turmeric (I peel and dice fresh Tumeric and freeze it in ice cubes on the very day my groceries arrive. this ensures I have fresh Tumeric for at least a month.

My frozen vegetable stock- I batch cook and freeze ahead

condiments- salt&pepper, paprika, and friends- to taste.

Start by pan-frying onions in some vegetable oil, add the potatoes, then the garlic, let simmer for a few minutes then add boiling water to cover, add the canned tomatoes, let simmer a few minutes, add the pre-cooked beans and condiments +tumeric, and let simmer until you taste and fall over with delight.

*Last tip- add a little bit of brown sugar -I mean a tiny bit- like 1/8 of tsp -the canned tomatoes are a little acidic and the tiny amount of sugar helps balance the overall taste.

I believe I cut up to 30% on my grocery bills since shopping only online, not to mention tons of time.

Try it-maybe it will work for you as well. the cooliflower.

I am not a medical/health/emotional/financial /nutrition or any other kind of expert as far as it concerns the contents of this blog,  therefore anything written on the blog is not to be taken as any kind of advice, and should you choose to rely on anything  I write on this blog- you are doing it at your own risk and at your own responsibility.