Through the pandemic, I leaned heavily on one app for most of my household needs. Grab brought us groceries, sent off documents that could not wait, and satisfied our food cravings. On treat days, we would even order from different restaurants and serve the dishes up buffet style for our own “safe circle” party.

Now that the world has opened up again, I started to see how my Grab dependency has not been so healthy for my wallet. A friend pointed out that some items cost more than in the physical stores or restaurants, plus there are also service fees. If you are also a heavy user of Grab, consider these tips that can help you realize some savings. I’m not saying you should stop using Grab, because I won’t, but knowing you have options, especially cheaper ones, is always welcome.

#1 For package deliveries, compare fees of other apps

Because we send off deliveries almost daily for work and even for personal needs, I've made it a habit to always check the rates with Grab and one other APP. Sometimes Grab is cheaper, and sometimes it is not. Other delivery services you can consider are Lalamove, Borzo, MrSpeedy, toktok and many more. These smaller players have fewer riders on the road, so it could be a longer wait, but if you don't mind, your patience may be rewarded with more savings.

#2 Craving for food? Try restaurants apps for fixed delivery fee

Many restaurants and fast food chains now offer online delivery or have launched their own mobile apps. Unlike Grab where the delivery fee changes according to their own peak times, the fees with these restaurants and fast food chains are fixed. I also do not have to worry about paying another fee for small orders which Grab has charged me in the past. However, they do have a minimum order size, and if you don’t meet it, you may not be able to check out (but at least you won’t be surprised with an extra fee).

But if your restaurant has no online store or app, check out Picaroo, Foodpanda and many more for comparative prices and offers.

#3 Did you know the same food order can cost you more?

While this is not the case for all Grab-featured restaurants, it was the case for some. I discovered this years ago and actually called Grab’s attention. If you are making small orders, maybe you can write it off for convenience, but when you usually orders meals for 4, the price difference can hurt. You can easily check if the restaurant’s menu is online and then decide if you will press Place Order with Grab, or unlock savings elsewhere.

#4 Avoid paying extra fees on groceries

On lazy days, I order via Grab with Korean marts in our neighborhood and had to pay for a delivery fee and a service fee. To avoid these, I would schedule the deliveries on the days when Grab has promotions. The friendly store clerks also clued me in: I can book via Grab and do self pick-up, and pay less with discounts. Of course, the best way to avoid the fees is for me to walk over to these neighborhood marts and get some exercise while I am at it.

#5 Plan your grocery shopping and order online or via other apps

Grab has an extensive partner list for its Mart section, but if you plan your grocery shopping better, you can get it from the source (meaning the supermarket) through online orders and pay zero delivery fees and zero concierge fees. Check out Waltermart, SM Markets, Robinsons Supermarket, and many more. Another convenient thing to do is place your order online and then schedule a pickup. You save on time especially if you are ordering the same things regularly and of course zero delivery fees.

* * *

When it comes to Rides, Grab is the only player since Uber exited the Philippines. There are always taxis but I prefer the safety of being able to share my ride details with family and friends, so they can track me if needed. And as someone who does not like driving, I am grateful for the alternative that Grab offers.

One more thing that has kept me using the app is its promotions. I cannot resist discounts, and neither should you. Even with the premium on food and grocery prices via Grab, sometimes the promotions are so good that you come out ahead. Of course, this is only true if you were really planning to buy the items or order food. If you will spend for the discount, that’s not really saving.

As with all expenses, it is always good to compare and shop prices. Do not click buy unless you have at least checked one other option, or two, or more if time allows. And every time you find a better deal, on Grab or elsewhere, that’s a win for your wallet.

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