I never thought I’d live to see the day when people actually fought over toilet paper, but here we are.
To be fair, we are living in unprecedented times. There’s a worldwide quarantine in place and an invisible enemy has brought even the wealthiest and most powerful countries to their knees. Heck, daily life feels like a Black Mirror episode in some ways, and that’s probably why people are reacting the way they do.
We still have no idea as to when things will normalize somewhat, but in the meantime, we still need to eat. Fortunately, Australia is home to quite a few online groceries to help address that need, among other things (e.g., for toilet paper), so you can still sustain yourself AND minimize the spread of covid-19:
Amazon Australia.
Is there anything you can’t find on Amazon these days? When you sign up for Amazon Prime, you can even get free shipping and returns for a vast majority of the products. Plus, there are various codes and deals out there that could give you incredible savings.
Catch.
Catch isn’t just a great online store for stocking up on essentials, but they also have amazing deals on offer every day. Their Club Catch membership also entails free delivery choices for an annual fee, although you can try it out for 30 days without any charges.
Coles.
Touted as one of Australia’s favorite supermarkets, Coles is stocked with all the essentials from greens to detergent. Best of all, delivery is free for all orders above AU$150.
Dinnerly.
At a loss as to what to make for dinner and what ingredients to shop for? With Dinnerly, you’ll hit two birds with one stone. They’re basically a meal kit delivery service, so each set of ingredients comes with an easy-to-follow recipe.
eBay Australia.
Like Amazon, eBay is a leading online marketplace with just about anything and everything on it. Regular sales and discounts are also available, and it’s generally easy to process returns.
HelloFresh.
HelloFresh is also a meal kit delivery service, except that they’ve got nutritionists and chefs behind the accompanying color-coded recipes. As a bonus, you get 40% off on your first box.
MarleySpoon.
Got dietary restrictions? MarleySpoon can take care of it. Whether you’re vegetarian or are cutting calories, they’ve got just the right recipes and the matching ingredients on hand for you.
Woolworths.
Woolworths isn’t just a grocery. It’s practically an institution. Along with superb savings on all your home needs, they also offer free delivery on your first order.
Whichever online grocery you choose to buy from, do remember to purchase only what you and your family need. Stockpiling perishables that’ll go bad before you actually use them helps no one, and not everyone can afford to buy in bulk. After all, the shops will stay open and provided that we behave reasonably, there should be enough for everyone.
Let’s all keep our wits about us, yeah?
Serena has been working remotely and writing content for the better part of the last decade. To date, she's written for Pepper.ph and Mabuhay Magazine, among others, and has churned out more than a thousand articles on everything from The Basics of Stock Market Investing to How to Make Milk Tea-Flavored Taho at home. Hermits, aspiring hermits, and non-hermits with interesting project propositions may email her at serena.estrella10@gmail.com.
