Chances are, you have a busy schedule. Whether you spend a majority of your day working or taking care of kids, you’re probably always looking for ways to save time. Thankfully, online services exist to make your life easier and even save you money.
Instead of taking a half day to visit a doctor’s office, you can opt to see your doctor online. Instead of spending hours at the grocery store, you can have your goods delivered to your front door. Sounds too good to be true, right? It’s not. This article lists some online services available and how you can take advantage of them:
1. Doctor Appointments
Do you feel a cold coming on? If so, the last thing you probably want to do is leave your comfy bed and visit a doctor’s office. That’s where telehealth services come in handy. Instead of visiting a doctor in person, you can communicate virtually from the convenience of your own home.
Many doctors have started accepting patients virtually. Because of that, it shouldn’t be difficult to find a doctor that will see you online. And contrary to popular belief, virtual appointments aren’t just for those times when you have the sniffles. Telehealth can treat a myriad of issues, including sexual health conditions, chronic care management, and even anxiety. And don’t worry if you need a note to bring to work or school. Online doctor’s notes are available.
Virtual doctor appointments aren’t just convenient, they can also save you money. According to research, the average cost of a telehealth visit for a respiratory infection is almost $80. An in-person visit, on the other hand, can cost close to $150. Depending on your insurance, doctor, and reason for visit, a telemedicine appointment might help you cut costs.
2. Grocery Delivery Services
It’s no secret that shopping for groceries can be time-consuming and maybe even a little inconvenient. If you have a busy schedule, the last thing you probably want to do is carve out time to go to the grocery store. Well, you don’t have to. Thanks to online services, you can order your groceries online and have them delivered to your front door.
Several companies offer this delivery service. Instacart, Amazon Fresh, and Shipt are a few popular options. With each, you simply add the groceries you want to your online cart, check out, and await your delivery. Sounds easy, right?
It’s worth mentioning that there are delivery fees for these types of services. These fees vary and may be waived if you have a membership or spend a certain amount on groceries. Regardless, with the price of gas as high as it is, paying a few extra dollars for delivery might still save you money in the long run. If you don’t want to pay for delivery, you can still order your groceries online and pick them up in person.
3. Clothing Subscriptions
There are several benefits of signing up for an online clothing subscription. For one, it means you don’t have to spend time shopping in a store if that’s not your thing. It also helps you stay up to date on the latest fashion, without having to really try. Win-win.
Clothing subscriptions have gained a great deal of popularity in recent years. And because of that, there are several services you can use. A few popular subscription services are Stitch Fix, ThredUp, and Menlo Club.
While unique in their own way, these services work similarly. With each, you’re able to shop for clothes online and have them delivered. Some services even pair you with a personal stylist who hand-picks your clothes, based on your personal information. This can include your size, clothing preference, or even favorite colors. Another benefit to clothing subscriptions is the price. Many services offer designer clothing at a fraction of the cost.
4. Budgeting & Saving
Gone are the days when you had to create pie charts and excel sheets to help you budget and save money. Now, you can take advantage of online services — more specifically, apps. These days, there are several budgeting apps available to help you stay on track financially. Make sure you’re careful and do your research when choosing one of these online services. Since most are connected to your checking and savings account, you want to ensure the service is credible.
Mint, for example, tracks your expenses and lets you categorize them. For instance, you might have a category called “monthly recurring expenses,” which include costs like your mortgage and insurance. You might decide to have other categories dedicated to your savings, non-essential purchases, or debt. What’s nice about budgeting apps is you can usually personalize them in a way that works for you.
There are also apps designed to help you grow your savings account. Digit is a popular one that automatically analyzes your income and expenses to determine the amount you can safely save. The app will then move that amount from your checking into your savings, without you even having to think twice about it.
There are several benefits of adopting online services. For one, it’s convenient. Instead of having to carve out time for errands, you can go about your day as intended. Another benefit is the cost. Many online services save you money by reducing transportation or add-on purchases. In today’s hectic and expensive world, being able to save time and money is a necessity.
