Online Supermarket Shopping for Beginners

For some of us, supermarket shopping is a ton of fun – a chance to catch up on new products, to have a chat with friends we meet along the way, or to exchange a friendly smile with our fave checkout assistant. It can even act as downtime away from work or home. For others, however, it can be the last thing in the world we want to be doing, especially when it’s a weekly chore, not only for ourselves, but for a friend, neighbour, or loved one we’re caring for. But here’s the good news: if supermarket shopping for yourself, or another, is something you could do without, we have the answers! So read on …

Easy-as

Online grocery shopping isn’t new, but many of us haven’t yet taken advantage of it because getting our heads around the procedure seems all too difficult. As with most things new (such as getting to grips with a new knitting pattern, garden product, or home appliance), time spent reading the instructions makes for hours of ease down the track. With online grocery shopping, it’s even simpler because your supermarket website will talk you through the system, one step at a time. So, make a date with your device (whether it’s your smartphone, laptop, or tablet), and give yourself a leisurely hour to suss out the tips and tricks. You’ll soon find you can shop for your favourite products, store them onto a ‘favourites’ list to save time when you put in your next order, and even add and subtract items from your list as you go.

Use the skills you already have!

The canny saving skills you’ve accumulated over the years don’t disappear, just because you’re shopping online. In fact, you’ll benefit even more by using them! That’s because online supermarket shopping sites have a list of weekly specials (it’s just you won’t have to hunt through your recycling or pile of ‘junk mail’ to find them!). The sites make it super-easy to compare prices for all similar items.

Fees that please

When it comes to fees, such as ‘service,’ (that’s the small fee you’re charged to have a supermarket staff member put your order together for you), and ‘delivery’ (the fee you pay if you want your order delivered to your door, rather than calling for it yourself or asking another to do this for you), don’t be put off. Even with these charges, you’re very likely to find you are still winning out when it comes to savings. That’s because, when we head to the supermarket, we invariably purchase items we see on the shelves, but don’t really want or need. Then there’s the cost of running your car to the shopping centre, or paying for a taxi to take you there, and home again. There are savings in time, too (think driving your way through traffic, or getting caught up in conversation when you’re in a rush).

No barriers

Physical challenges to supermarket shopping also become a thing of the past when you shop online. No more strained shoulders as you reach for items on the top shelf, no more having to traipse round the aisles looking for someone to restock an item that has run out, and no more struggling to hear checkout assistants over background din. As for twisting your neck as you attempt to back out of parking spaces – that will be gone, too!

Getting started

Is it difficult to register for online shopping? Not at all! Simply start by looking on the internet for your favourite supermarket. Check you’re registering with your local branch (and not one at the other end of the country), and away you go, following the prompts one at a time. You can see some how-to videos of New World’s online shopping below.

In the comfort of your own home, with all the time in the world, and without the hassle of someone looking over your shoulder, you’ll be as cool as a cucumber, and able to set up your personal account in no time at all. (And if you do want help, just ask a friend or family member you trust to help you navigate the system.)

If you want more time to do the things you enjoy, make an opportunity to teach yourself how to shop online for groceries. Once you’re supermarket shopping online, you may well wonder why you didn’t start sooner!

Click here to get started with New World.