3. When you have totaled up all of your fees for the delivery option, figure out how much you would actually save by making a list of all of the “fees” you would be paying if you went out and shopped yourself. Factor in items like time, gas, mileage on your car, and all of the extra browsing you might be suckered into at the superstores. If you are having a hard time being disciplined at the grocery store (or always forget your grocery list!), there might be some savings by using their services. Comparing the two numbers will give you better insight into whether or not this is a good deal.

4. Coupon moms would not benefit from a home delivery service like this because coupons can't be factored in. Cherry-picking from various stores could not be done either, but grocery delivery services do offer sale items for shoppers to take advantage.

5. Grocery delivery services are usually only offered with a minimum order. Read the fine print on how much you have to spend. If you are spending money just to get the delivery, it might not be worth the trouble.

6. Some grocery delivery programs offer perks to their loyal customers. The website for our area, for example, offers a $5 credit for every 5 orders (of $50 or more) you place with their site. With 5 orders of $100 or more, you can get a $10 credit.

7. A true advantage to online ordering is the ability to save your grocery lists. If you typically get the same things every single week, your grocery shopping can be done in a matter of minutes!

8. Check on the company’s page if there is membership fees involved and if you have the ability to cancel your membership. Some companies do charge a membership fee for their services so factor this into your cost too. Once you have factored in all the costs, see if the $1.99 milk is still $1.99. Maybe, with the fees, it is $6 after all of the additions.

9. Remember that you need to be home to receive the groceries or be subjected to a hefty fee. While there is flexibility with ordering, there is not flexibility with being home for delivery. Be sure you understand when you need to be home to accept your order to avoid a $30 or more charge to your bill.

10. Make sure to find out about referral programs. Friend referrals are big with companies and they need the business. You can often get a $5 (or more) credit on future orders, if you refer your friends. Name dropping is definitely a good thing when it comes to your grocery budget!

If you decide you want to try online grocery shopping, most sites offer a nice credit to get you started on your first shopping experience with them. These perks for your first visit is meant to hook you in with their service. Try taking advantage of it once and then see if it is worth the money and your experience with it. f it isn't positive or you can't justify the cost, at least you got a smoking deal on your first attempt!