Is Freshly Cheaper Than Grocery Shopping?

Last Updated on May 24th, 2023

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In this day and age, many people have to work really hard every day and often find themselves not having enough time to create home-cooked meals.

There’s so much that goes into this, from growing up in the grocery store and getting the goods to chopping everything up, and the actual preparation can take so much time that many people opt to go for other food options.

In order to make some budget and allow for being able to partake in healthy and home-cooked meals, many people have begun turning towards meal kits like Freshly. But are the people opting for this choice really saving time and money?

The truth is it depends on which one you are choosing and on the cost per serving. But when looked at, the answer is actually they often wind up being more expensive than grocery shopping.

One advantage of investing in a meal kit service like Freshly is the convenience and time saved. But before you spend your hard-earned money on Freshly, let’s look at some need-to-know info so you can make the wisest decision possible.

Woman wearing mask in a grocery store - Is Freshly Cheaper Than Grocery Shopping?

Are Meal Plans Cheaper?

If you are just looking at the cost per serving, the answer is no! Typically the cost per serving for a meal plan can range anywhere from $4.69 to $8.90.

Freshly itself ranges in cost per meal from $10.37 to $11.33. Comparing these prices to what you would spend on a trip to the grocery store, it is clear that they are not financially cheaper.

That being said, these meal kits do save you in many other ways. These are the three main ways to save money:

 

  • Fuel–fuel prices are quite high, and no matter how close you live to the store, taking a trip there will cost you a few cents. By not having to drive there, you will save some
  • Waste – A lot of money is wasted by buying too much and having things go bad. Freshly offers you pre-measured ingredients for a set amount of people, so there will be less food waste.
  • Time – Time is money, after all, right? Opting to go with Freshly or any other meal kit service will save you the time needed to roam the aisles of the grocery store.

 

Is Paying for Meal Prep Worth It?

Ultimately, whether paying for meal prep is worth it is about the individual. Though it does not save you money per se in regard to the actual purchase of food, it does save you money in other ways.

So if you’re worried about food waste or don’t have time to head to the grocery store, then a meal kit service like Freshly is worth it.

With the meal kit prep, you get quality food portioned out for exactly your needs. So that’s always a good thing.

However, if you are someone who is mindful of budget, in particular, it is less expensive to just head to the grocery store and purchase the things you need for the meals you’re planning on prepping.

 

Is Freshly Hard to Cancel?

Some meal kit services make it incredibly difficult to cancel if you’ve decided you want to opt out. But with Freshly, they actually make it very simple.

If you try it and you decide you don’t like it, all you have to do is go to your subscription options and hit “hit. There will be no phone calls or emails to follow up on the service.

This is a great option because it allows people to try things out and not feel trapped in a subscription service that they can’t get out of.

So if you’re thinking about trying Freshly, then maybe do a little trial period and know that you don’t have to worry about a hassle if you decide you don’t want it anymore.

 

Is Freshly Always Cheaper Than Grocery Shopping?

As we said above, Freshly ranges from about $10 to almost $12 per meal, depending on your subscription plan. It also has to do with the type of meals you’re ordering.

If you look solely at the cost per meal in comparison to the cost per meal when you head to the grocery store, Freshly is not cheaper than grocery shopping.

As we said above, there are other ways you save money: fuel, waste, and time. So, in this case, grocery shopping saves you time and a little bit of cash.

 

What are the Pros of Grocery Shopping?

When you’re trying to decide between going with something like Freshly and grocery shopping, you have to understand the pros of each.

It’s very easy to see the pros of Freshly as it is delivered straight to your home, everything is already pre-cut and measured, and it comes with very clearly written recipes for you to follow.

Together but maybe it’s not as clear when you’re looking at grocery shopping the benefits period, so here’s a list of the pros of choosing to go with grocery shopping over freshly:

 

  • When you purchase a meal kit, it gets packaged in a bunch of bags. So grocery shopping will help reduce that extra waste.
  • Grocery stores often offer special sales and discounts, which could, in the long run, make this even more of a financial and then next win.
  • Grocery shopping, in the end, is more cost-effective and kinder on your wallet.

 

Final Thoughts on Is Freshly Cheaper Than Grocery Shopping

Freshly is a meal prep kit that can be very beneficial for certain individuals. It is not cheaper than grocery shopping, but it does afford you some time saving and other cost-saving measures that could potentially be perfect for you.

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