I’ll do just about anything to avoid actually going in the store these days. I do go into Winco every month or two for a big grocery haul and I’ll stop by Grocery Outlet when I’m in the neighborhood, but other than that, I order everything from Walmart and Sam’s Club online and pick it up curbside or have it shipped to me. Getting both curbside pick-up and shipping free without adding impulse filler items is key.
Free grocery pick up was one of the wonderful things that came out of the pandemic. Maybe some stores offered it before then, but it definitely wasn’t standard or free. And you often still had to go into the store to pick it up.
The thought that someone else would tackle the chore of grocery shopping for me while I merely had to pull up and pop the trunk sounded very fancy to me. At first I was in disbelief. I remember thinking that there was no way that it was actually really free. People must be ordering from a different, higher-priced website or something. It couldn’t just be free, right?
Once I tried Walmart’s curbside pick-up, I was sold! I got the same prices that I’d get if I walked into the store myself. The same selection was available, meaning I could continue to buy the less expensive store brands. There was nothing too “small” to qualify.
For nearly two decades, I did my shopping with kids in tow, so it’s funny that now I can’t imagine life without curbside pick-up. I do pick-up now out of convenience and efficiency (that’s a nice way to say laziness), not necessity, but I still make sure to get all the deals and keep my spending low.
I know what you’re thinking. “What if I only need one or two things? It’s not worth doing a pick-up order if I just need bread!”
Oh it is!
Let me explain. I’ll start with Walmart, then talk about Sam’s Club.
Secret to not setting foot in Walmart
The big caveat for most people is that you need to have a minimum order of $35 at Walmart to qualify for free curbside pick-up. For some people that’s the deal breaker. What if you just need a gallon of milk? Coming up with a $35 order when all you need is a gallon of milk sounds like ridiculously expensive milk.
And it is if you’re just adding in impulse, filler purchases to get your total up instead of being strategic.
It’s pretty easy to hit $35 when you take into consideration everything that a household needs to run. I try to stay stocked up on these household items so that we’re never suddenly out of toilet paper or laundry detergent. This is a great money-saving strategy in general because I don’t need to run out to get something in a hurry. Instead, I can wait until things are on sale before I restock.
Thankfully, I had years of experience coming up with $35 orders because that’s the minimum for free shipping and it has been for years. Is it dorky that know exactly where I was when I learned that Walmart did free shipping for orders over $35? I do. It was nearly a decade ago, but it was kind of a game-changer for this mom of six running a busy household.
I keep my online Walmart cart stocked with the things that I need to buy, but that don’t have a specific date that I need them by. I can purchase them whenever. They are household things that I make sure never to run out of at home.
Knowing my strategy, my husband will let me know other non-urgent items that he needs too for my next order and my kids will too.
Now, when we just need milk, I can add in a few things from our ongoing list to make it reach $35 and schedule my pick-up at a time when I’m already going to be out and about.
Just the other day, in addition to milk, I picked up spackle and wood filler for my husband, these cute socks for my daughter, and these adorable long-sleeve onesies to go in a baby gift (the lovely fabric nearly made me want more babies). I’m sure the worker thought by combination of items was strange, but for me it worked out perfectly!
Favorite things to add to my cart
Here are some of my go-to items to add to my Walmart cart to get the value up to $35 (I’m using Walmart partner links). I’ll list them according to the budget category that I put them in.
Household Miscellaneous
Toilet Paper– Another thing we learned from the pandemic is that you can’t stock too much toilet paper at home. You never know when there will be a scare that causes people to clear the selves of this essential item.
Dishwasher soap– If I have less that two under my sink, it’s time to restock.
Laundry detergent– This one even has a $4.50 Walmart cash back offer.
Toiletries – whether it’s face wash, toothpaste, or deodorant, stay stocked up on what your family uses.
Copy paper – We constantly use printer paper, so we like to stay stocked up.
Food
I like to keep my pantry stocked with shelf stable basics that we always use. You’ll notice lots of typical pantry staples on my Sam’s Club list at the end of this post, but if you aren’t a Sam’s Club member you could stock up on flour, sugar, etc at Walmart instead.
Great Value Pasta – For many of the kinds you can choose to have a pack of 4 or 6, which makes stocking up even easier. For macaroni, I usually get the 3 pound boxes because it’s a better deal.
Lentils – Unless I want to buy a 25 pound bag at Winco, then I just get the small bags here either individually or in a pack of 8.
Pineapple – The best price point is when you get a 12 pack, but the single cans are also a good price.
Great Value cereal – When I can’t find a good deal on cereal at Grocery Outlet or Sam’s Club, then Great Value is my go-to.
Of course those are just a few examples. Whatever pantry staples you keep stocked can be on your list, not to mention any fridge or freezer items that you need.
Car Maintenance
Another benefit of buying car things online and picking them up is that it’s easier to get the right kind or size from my phone or computer than to stand in the store and wander through the aisles and hope I pick the right now.
Animals
Cat food – We buy big bags, so it doesn’t take much else in an order to reach the $35 minimum.
These are just some ideas to get you thinking. I like to think through all of these areas and decide if there is anything I’m going to need in the next month.
By thinking ahead and adding things that our household needs and uses instead of just impulse purchases, I can get free pick-up or shipping every time without spending any extra. No need to step in the store!
What about Sam’s Club pick up and shipping?
I mentioned that my other go-to spot for shopping (err…. grocery pick-up) is Sam’s Club. Their pick-up and shipping programs are a little bit different. During covid they started with curbside pick up and it was glorious. I had little ones in car seats back then and it was super convenient to have my groceries brought out to my car.
Currently, Sam’s Club pick-up is free for Plus members with no order minimum! Regular members can get free pick-up with a $50 order, otherwise it’s a $4 fee. Plus members also get free shipping with $50 orders. Orders under $50 cost a flat $8 shipping fee. Regular members pay normal shipping rates.
Since Sam’s Club is a 30 minute drive for me, I love that they offer free shipping. In fact, free shipping (back when there was no minimum order) is what made me decide to upgrade to the Plus membership. Even though free shipping has a $50 minimum order now, I use the same strategy I use for Walmart’s curbside pick-up and shipping minimum orders. I just add staples that our family always uses. I add just enough to reach the free shipping threshold.
Here are some of my favorite things to add to a Sam’s Club shipping order. You won’t be surprised that they are foods and products that we always keep stocked. The key with all of the items on this list is that I keep them continually stocked, so I don’t need to receive them in any hurry. These are my Sam’s affiliate links, by the way.
Flour – 25 lb bag
Powdered Sugar – 7 lb bag
Brown Sugar – 7 lb bag
White Sugar – 10 lb bag
Peanut Butter -I always get this kind, unless this is on sale and is cheaper per ounce.
My favorite treats – I have to be careful or I will eat them all myself.
Trash bags – These are currently on sale.
Just like with my Walmart orders, I’ll usually order just enough to get the order over the minimum threshold for shipping, then save the other items for the next time I order.
So what triggers a shipping order for me? Usually it’s something that’s on sale (or “Instant Savings” as they call it). Sometimes that’s cereal (they rotate their sales between different kinds), or Goldfish crackers or bacon crumbles. If I’m not going to be able to make a trip to Sam’s Club before the deal expires, then I can still take advantage of the savings with free shipping.
If you’re not a Sam’s Club member, you can check out their current deals for regular Club Membership and Sam’s Club Plus Membership. They always have really good deals for new members that will give you a year to see if the savings is worth it to you.
How about you?
Do you already do this? For some people, it’s the standard way to react to a shipping or pick-up minimum order. For others, the minimum order scares them away from taking advantage of the free service. Others add unnecessary fluff and filler to qualify for free shipping, using funds that they hadn’t planned on, which frustrates their budget.
Do you love and use curbside pick-up and free shipping as much as I do?
What stores offer these free services where you live?
What are your go-to items that you add to bring your total up to the minimum?
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