
“This year, I’m going to start cooking more and eating healthier.” Sound like a familiar resolution? While it’s easy enough to say, it’s actually pretty hard to go from dining out almost everyday to being a master at preparing your own food.
1. Plated ($10-$15 per meal): Plated addresses a problem a lot of us have. Sometimes we need certain ingredients, but grocery stores only sell it in certain amounts, resulting in wasted money and spoiled food. After all that, we still have to prep all the food! This is where Plated comes in. You choose a meal online, they send you pre-measured amounts of each ingredient, and a step by step recipe guide with chef tips to help you create the meal. This is perfect for those who want to start off with cooking a few meals a week, without the waste.
2. Pop Up Pantry ($17 per person): Pop Up Pantry is similar to Plated, except they focus on helping you create a 3 course, gourmet meal. Login to create a taste profile, and they’ll give you meals to choose from accordingly. After you pick your meal, they send you the ingredients, step by step instructions, printed menus, and also wine pairing tips. Meals like wild boar ragu with truffled polenta or portobello wellington are perfect for when you’re trying to impress your date on Valentine’s Day ;).
3. Luke’s Local (varies): Want some groceries, and also some pre-made food? Then Luke’s Local is perfect for you. You can tell from the name that Luke’s Local focuses on sourcing fresh, local ingredients. What’s unique about Luke’s Local is that not only do they provide groceries with each Meal Box, like a CSA, but they also include some pre-made meals and snacks. They also have different meals for different diets — including omnivores, vegetarians, and gluten sensitive diets.
4. Blue Apron ($10 per person, per meal): Blue Apron is another subscription meal service, but instead buying one meal a la carte, you buy by the week. Each weekly subscription includes 3 perfectly proportioned meals delivered for free. Like the other delivery services mentioned above, the ingredients are provided, but cooking is up to you! Fortunately, you’ll never need any fancy cookware besides the basics.
5. Full Circle (starts at $21 a week): Looking for fresh, organic produce every week? Full Circle is a CSA that delivers locally sourced, organic foods weekly. You can skip weeks without any charge, and we like how they have multiple different sized boxes. Usually CSA boxes come in one size, but you can order a sprout size box (serves 1-2 people) or the full harvest box (serves 3-5) people.
6. Peapod (varies): Looking to buy groceries while you’re waiting during your commute? Peapod helps you do that! Peapod was the first company to pioneer virtual, interactive grocery stores on train platforms, so that you can ensure even your commute time isn’t wasted! What’s great about Peapod is that not only do they have these virtual grocery stores, you can also shop online or with using your phone with their app. Or, if you’re in the mood to actually go to the store, you can order online and pick it up in person. Peapod really does it all.
7. FreshDirect (varies): FreshDirect, one of the originals. Started back in 2002, FreshDirect is grocery delivery, plain and simple. What’s great about the company is that it has a huge assortment of groceries, and they focus on fresh and sustainable foods. We especially like how the website tells you how long your foodstuffs will last, and when the best season for the item is.
8. Amazon Fresh (varies): It’s Amazon for groceries. Need we say more?
9. PostMates (starting at $7): Need groceries in a jiffy? Postmates is a mobile app that has someone buy and deliver your groceries, all under an hour. If you want more than just groceries, your Postmate can also pick up food from restaurants in the area. What’s even better is that you can actually get to know your Postmate. A photo, experience level, and number of jobs is all listed for your Postmate.
10. Instacart (starting at $4): If you don’t mind waiting a few more hours (3) and would rather pay a little less for delivery than PostMates, then check out Instacart. Like PostMates, it’s a mobile app grocery delivery service. If you’re a loyal Trader Joe’s fan, then Instacart is the mobile app for you as they mainly shop with Trader Joe’s and Safeway.
With all these services, even we’re convinced to go fully digital with our grocery shopping. What service piques your interest the most? Let us know in the comments or on Facebook or Twitter.
Your relationship with your finances is one of the most important relationships you'll ever have, and you can't avoid it. That said, for many of us, the pandemic only added to our financial stress. If you find yourself feeling frazzled, just remember that financial insecurity isn't a net-worth issue — it's a mindset issue. And, we happen to have plenty of advice on how to turn your money mindset around so you can take charge of your funds once and for all.
To start, feeling secure begins with a strong foundation, and there's no better time than now to get started stacking the bricks. It's easy to get swept up in the January "new year, new me" mentality, but really? Any time is the right time to get yourself in order. You don't need to wait for a new year, a new moon, the right moment, or a sign from above. You don't even have to start on the first day of the month — you just need to start.
Introducing NerdWallet: A Safe and Reliable Money App
To help with that, we've put together a list of the just-right-for-you ways that NerdWallet can help you monitor your financial outlook. Haven't heard of them yet? NerdWallet is a personal finance company that helps consumers make smarter financial decisions. Their website and app let you compare different financial products, find articles and tools to make financial decisions with confidence, and keep tabs on your finances (hey there, credit score, I see you!) all in one place. Plus, NerdWallet has over 75,000 glowing reviews in the App Store (and a 4.8 star rating) if you want to read up on any more testimonials.
Tim Chen, NerdWallet's CEO and co-founder, started this financial journey in 2009 after his sister needed help finding a credit card. Even with an economics degree and a Wall Street background, it took awhile for Tim to find the right recommendation (so don't feel too bad when it takes you a while, too). Their mission is to bring clarity to all of life's financial decisions.
So it's safe to say that NerdWallet is a pretty good sherpa for your journey, too.
Get the most from your money
Did you know that the money you park in a savings account can lose value? Harsh, but true. If your money isn't earning interest that's on pace with inflation it will actually be worth less to you in the future. And if the bank charges fees? Forget about it. Make sure you're earning the interest you deserve and come out on top. NerdWallet has researched dozens of financial institutions to help consumers find the best options. The hard work has already been done for you, so you can just select the account that works best for you and your nest egg.
Keep an eye on everything, securely
Once everything is set up, tracking and managing your finances is what will keep the money machine running smoothly. You can create an account either through the site or the app and link your bank accounts, then keep tabs on all your finances in one place. Get a clear picture of your saving and spending, get insights into how to master your money, and even build your credit score all in one place.
Get extra credit points
Do you have the best credit card for your lifestyle? Some cards give cash back on every purchase, ones with travel perks, and ones that charge way less interest than you're paying now. NerdWallet takes the guesswork out of choosing the right credit card with simple side-by-side comparisons of different credit cards so that you feel confident choosing the right one. Whatever you want to do, NerdWallet can help you find the best credit card to get it done.
Know your options for settling down
Mortgage rates are pretty low and it looks like they're going to stay that way for awhile, so buying a home might be the move sooner than you think. But there's so much more to a mortgage than just the interest rate! To help you choose a mortgage lender, NerdWallet has in-depth reviews on multiple lenders in a mixture of categories so you get the home loan with the mortgage rate, term, and fees that's right for you.
Settle an old score
NerdWallet helps you monitor your credit score for free and helps you see how little things (like raising the limit on your credit card or paying your bills on time) can increase your score. NerdWallet partners with TransUnion® to provide your VantageScore® 3.0, based on information in your TransUnion® credit report. Your score and credit report information are updated weekly. But that's not even close to all:
- They provide you with tips from experts on how you could build or optimize your credit score
- You'll get a detailed look at your credit score and all the factors that go into it—your payment history, credit utilization, the age and type of accounts, balances, and any recent inquiries
- The credit simulator tool gives you an idea of how your credit score would change if you applied for a new credit card, closed your oldest credit card, or got a new auto loan
- You also get free, unlimited access to your credit report
When it comes to managing your money, safe and reliable is where it's at. Establishing a healthy relationship with your finances begins when you take control and practice habits that build wealth. Signing up just takes a few minutes. Set your intentions to build a solid financial foundation, it will only strengthen your relationship with your finances. And don't be afraid to get a little nerdy while you're at it.
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