Grocery and food shopping is by far one of the most important and time-consuming jobs for a working family.

So we have come up with a number of options that you might like to consider to help make grocery shopping easier for your family .

You may already be using some of these services. If you have tried or heard about any other time saving services that then let us know by email.

Internet Shopping

There are now a number of companies that have introduced grocery shopping via the Internet. The benefits of these services are that they allow you to shop in your own time and from the privacy of your own home.

Here are a few things that we thought you might like to consider when choosing an Internet shopping provider:

• Cost of items compared to shopping at a regular store
• Access to store specials - Some sites automatically give you access or tell you about specials.
• Range & Brands of items - Do they stock the brands and range of products that suit you?
• What happens if the provider cannot provide you with an item? This appears to be a common problem and quite often you don't find out that something is missing until your delivery arrives.
• What happens if you have a problem with quality or service? Check out how the provider can service you if there are any problems.
• What is the cost of delivery? Some charge a flat fee; others charge more depending upon how much you buy.
• Do they deliver at times and days that suit you? Do they offer same day delivery?
• Does you order need to be in by a certain time?
• How are the items packed, stored and delivered?
• Your geographical location - Will they deliver to your home or work?
• How long will it take to place or change an order?
• Ease of access to the site - Can you register, access and navigate the site easily?
• Method of payment - Do they offer payment methods that suit you? Some allow you to pay cash, cheque, some credit card and EFTPOS at your door.

To date the 3 main general grocery shopping sites include:

• Woolworths - www.woolworths.com.au
• Coles - www.colesonline.com.au
• Shop Fast (Call 1800 888 895) - www.shopfast.com.au

These sites are constantly changing. There may be more sites out there that you find useful for helping you to get your grocery shopping done. If you know of a good provider let us know.