From Amazon’s free overnight delivery to food and groceries via Uber Eats or Instacart, today’s college kids are used to having more than just pizza arrive at their door. And why not? When you’re busy with a full load of classes plus work plus social engagements, who has the time for traditional shopping? Here are a few of our favorite college delivery options you may not be aware of.
Food
Pizza, Thai, Wings, Burgers, Tacos, if someone in your area is cooking and selling it, you can probably get it delivered to your door. Of course, the ubiquitous pizza delivery guy has been around a long time. But today, there are a ton of companies who do nothing but go to your favorite restaurants to pick up to-go orders and then bring them to you. If you don’t already have a favorite service, try out a few of these:
- DoorDash
- UberEats
- Grubhub
- Postmates
- Caviar (relax, they deliver dorm food too)
Groceries
For those students who have moved out of the dorm into a home with an actual kitchen, or those who are happy to whip up dinner creatively with a hotplate and a waffle iron, grocery shopping can be as easy as click and ship. Just like those companies who are happy to pick up your favorite meals, Instacart and Shipt will head to the grocery store, do your shopping, and then bring it all right to your door. And the stores themselves are getting in on the delivery action too. Walmart, Kroger, Albertson’s, and a host of others will happily deliver your groceries for a small fee. Check with your local supermarket to see if they offer a delivery service and you might be pleasantly surprised!
Meal Kits
So you want to eat healthily and cook at home, but you don’t have a clue where to start now that Mom’s not around to provide the meals? Why not check out one of the dozen or more meal kit delivery services available across the internet? Home Chef, HelloFresh, Freshly, Blue Apron, and Gobble are just a few of the options out there. Need a specialty diet? There are options for Paleo, Keto, Gluten Free, Vegan, and all sorts of other restricted diets available. All you have to do is choose your meals and then follow the included instructions when the ingredients arrive.
Prime Student
Amazon Prime is amazing. But it can be pricey for a student on a budget. Fortunately, Amazon has Prime Student, a half-price version just for those currently enrolled in college or university! In addition to delivering all sorts of products from Amazon’s warehouses, they also include freebies like music and video streaming, and Prime-exclusive deals on all sorts of things from computers to yoga pants.
Subscription Boxes
Subscription box services are a great way to get those items you’re going to buy regularly without having to lift a finger. From options like Dollar Shave Club or Lola that save you a bundle on toiletries to wardrobe styling services like StitchFix or Menlo Club, you can find just about anything and everything available by subscription.
Healthcare
Delivery is for more than just food and shopping though. Today there are a wide variety of services that will also come to you. From mobile mechanics to roving dog groomers, it seems like you can get just about anything taken care of on your terms. And urgent healthcare delivery for college students is no different.
When you’re sick or injured, the last thing you want to do is go spend time sitting around in the local emergency room or campus clinic. Instead, DispatchHealth sends ER-trained medical teams to apartments, dorm rooms, and just about anywhere else they’re needed. They treat students for the flu, help with that bout of food poisoning from questionable sushi, stitch up nasty cuts, and even treat sprains, strains and migraines.
Be sure to download the DispatchHealth app now, before you need it. You can find it in the
Apple App Store or the
Google Play Store and it’s free to download (of course). Then, next time you’re unsure if you should head to the emergency room, stay put and request care with the tap of a button! DispatchHealth is in-network with most insurance companies, so you won’t have to worry about hefty bills. On average, most patients pay anywhere from $5 - $50 after insurance. The percentage of the total bill you’re responsible for is determined by your insurance plan. Note that if you have a high deductible plan, you will need to meet your deductible before your insurance will cover the cost.
