Oh, thank you so much. I've often questioned how I might do something like that. My hubby still helps with the groceries, but there might be times when I would really need to do it that way. Thanks for the information.

I live in the city (or at least, the suburbs) and at least two of the major supermarket chains here do online shopping and delivery. There is a charge for the delivery which depends on how much you buy - the more you buy, the less they charge until eventually it's free. The problem is, I'm shopping for one, so don't buy enough to get free delivery.

The other problem is that I won't order fresh fruit and veg that way anymore because the one I go through doesn't send out the best quality stuff when you order online.

Also, I like to go in occasionally to check out changes in stocked items and new products.

Other than that, ordering online is a real life saver, especially on those weeks when I'm really flat.

I probably should also add that shopping is pretty much the only time I get out of the house, so I've been known to push through it just to get a break from being cooped up.

In my town, and across the state...maybe the Country ( I don't know) there is an organization that helps the disabled. HERE, in Jersey it's called "Catholic Charities". They do many services for the public, and the disabled. You do not have to be Catholic to qualify. I am not.

They actually shop for you and then deliver the food to your door, three days later. You call in your order (to a person, so you can explain what you need (brand names, store brand, etc.) and then three days later, they go get what you ordered and drive it to your home, put it in the kitchen. You write a check out to the store they used (it's A&P by me), and they give you your receipt. I guess they have an arrangement with that particular store.

This has been a life saver for me! When my husband I were both housebound at the same time, the social service dept. from our local hospital gave us this information. I used this shopping services for six months!! I still could if I needed to.

They accept a five dollar donation. That's it! They won't take a penny more. They are kind and respectful and deliver, rain or shine. You can call your local Burrough Hall to see if this type of service is available in your area!!

It was good to bring this topic up! A lot of us don't know that these types of services are available! I didn't, until I told someone who was able to help me!! Thank you for posting this! Shopping and standing in line in a grocery store is a huge difficulty for me. This service is a life saver!

We have Catholic Charities here. They have helped me a lot in my ministry to the immigrant population in my town. They have been awesome! I had no idea they did a grocery service. I will keep that in mind, for sure. Thanks, Darla.

I've cut way back on shopping trips lately. It's "season" now and the roads are almost always jammed. My driving is questionable now, so I try to minimize road mileage as much as I can.

I've found that I can order a lot of non-perishable organics online through Walmart. The service is good, and it's delivered right to your door through UPS and Fedex. If you order more that fifty bucks at a time, the shipping on most items is free. I only eat organic foods, so store shopping can involve multiple stops.

I also order things like flour, rice, and macaroni from a place in San Diego called Sun Organic. Their freshess and quality is outstanding. I've tried other suppliers that are closer to me, but the quality has been terrible. I bought some wheat berries aka wheat kernels from a place in Illinois that were so bad I might have to throw them in the compost. I suspect some archaeologist dug them up in Egypt at an ancient burial site.

Sun Organic has been using USPS Priority Mail for me because I'm so far from California. If I order the right amount so it fits into the Priority box, I only pay a dollar a pound for three-day shipping.

Online shopping is growing like a Florida lawn after a thunderstorm, sounds like really good news for people like me. I do love that free shipping. Nobody was doing that on a regular basis a few years ago.

I still buy things in stores like soy milk and margarine, but at least now I don't have to drag myself out of the house so often. I kept running out of things just when I felt really sick. Now my basic supplies just show up on my carport right on schedule...if I remember to order them.

Another tip for the housebound...check your local library for ebooks. You can use your library card in many libraries to borrow ebooks for a couple of weeks. I have thousands to choose from and my little ebook reader I bought for less than a hundred dollars has paid for itself in gas savings. I just go online, choose the books, download them to the desktop, and transfer them to the reader.

These are current books like the Stieg Larsson novels, Kathy Reichs, David Baldacci, and so on. I really like not having to drive to the library to return them when they expire.

We have one of those about 17 miles away, the store in town is too small...but I have used it for the things my store doesn't carry. My mom has delivery in CT where she is, it is good for her but they often give her too large a size or a different brand, so it helps if you are flexible I guess.
Our littler store in town is 5 miles away. They have good parking and ride on carts. I go three times a week when I can to get out and so I only have 2 or 3 bags to bring in. They put the groc in the car for me and take the cart back in and if they see it's a bad day there's almost always a helper available to walk with me and reach for things. I also bring my grabber, not for glass, but for boxes of things....
I hope soon every town has a service to order online but I think still I like to get out when I can....