If you’re a frequent user of DoorDash, DashPass might be worth your while too.
Important points
- DoorDash’s subscription service is called DashPass and it will cost you $9.99 per month (or $96 per year).
- I got the right DashPass Challenge at the right time and was able to support my houseguest and myself while I couldn’t cook.
- I also got a coupon for cat food, which saved me from shopping when I was sick.
I’m a natural planner. And yet, despite all my best efforts, I’ve recently had a very difficult week adjusting at the moment – and I’ve been grateful for my subscription to DoorDash. DoorDash’s subscription service is called DashPass and it will cost you $9.99 a month or $96 upfront if you sign up for a full year. Receive $0 delivery fees and reduced service fees on orders of $12 or more at eligible restaurants and on eligible grocery orders of $25 or more.
DoorDash estimates users save an average of $4 to $5 per order, which means your DashPass will pay for itself if you place at least two orders a month. DoorDash isn’t perfect, but I’ve been very grateful for the service recently.
I received a matching DashPass challenge
I regularly receive emails from DoorDash offering me “DashPass Challenges”. These are additional small ways to save money by making specific types of orders within a specific time frame. In this case, I had the opportunity to get 40% off two orders if I placed three orders of $12 or more within two weeks. I usually only average one DoorDash order per week (or sometimes none at all), but I ended up exceeding my usual quota for that week. Why?
- I had a houseguest from the UK and as this was his first visit to the United States I wanted to ensure he had a chance to sample our many and varied cuisines.
- Unfortunately I caught COVID-19 midway through his visit and was not able to cook as much as I had planned.
I ended up placing the required three orders in just six days, which gave me a 40% discount on the next two orders. At that point my houseguest was leaving and I saved a nice chunk of money on dinner for two nights at the end of the week. That was wonderful because I still felt terrible and was not up to the cooking.
I received a useful coupon from DoorDash
In addition to the DashPass Challenges, I’m also aware of other DoorDash special offers and coupons. You can use DoorDash for grocery orders, as well as takeout and delivery meals. One of the categories in the app is Pets, and DoorDash has a partnership with PetSmart. At the end of my difficult week, while I was still very ill, I received a 40% discount coupon for a PetSmart order. I was almost out of food for my three cats so I happily placed an order and it got to me within an hour.
Thanks to the saving of that 40%, despite the tip and (reduced) service charge, I paid the same amount for food delivery that I would have paid if I had left my house and bought it myself.
What can you learn from my experience?
Over the course of the week, there are a few lessons to be learned from my experience with DashPass.
It may be worth paying for a subscription service that you use frequently
I signed up for DashPass last summer after checking the numbers and realizing that the $0 delivery fees and reduced order fees would save me money based on my budget and ordering habits. However, DashPass (or any other subscription with a delivery app) may not save you money if you don’t use it often. Decide based on your own finances and habits.
Sometimes it’s worth paying more to make your life easier
I prepaid for a full year membership to DashPass which took a bunch of money out of my checking account. But it makes my life easier every week, and especially that week. Note that it is not advisable to sign up for such paid services if you are struggling with your bills or other expenses.
Using coupons can be a great way to save money
This really is Personal Finance 101: Use Coupons! However, if you use a coupon to buy something you don’t actually need, you’ll lose money as a result. I sometimes have trouble buying something just because it’s on sale, but I’m getting better. In this case, using a cat food coupon was a smart cash move since I absolutely had to make the purchase (and the cats would wholeheartedly approve).
Fortunately, as I write this, I’m on the mend and eagerly awaiting the next DoorDash coupon or DashPass challenge email. These don’t always fit my life or ordering habits, but when they do, they can clearly be a life saver!
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