This is an archived article and the information in the story may be outdated. Please check the time stamp on the story to see when it was updated last.
Shopping at the grocery store right now can be stressful–especially if you don’t have a plan in place. It’s important to make a list beforehand and plan your trip during off-peak times, but it’s also a good idea for having a plan in place when it comes to paying.
Specifically, figuring out a way to remain contactless at the cash register is important. With that in mind, keep reading for the one mistake you should avoid when it comes to paying for groceries!
Using Cash
Ben Chapman, a food safety specialist and professor at North Carolina State University, and June McKoy, M.D., associate professor of medicine at Northwestern Medicine, told AARP that customers should try not to pay with cash if possible.
According to these experts, it's a good idea to stick to credit and debit cards right now since they can be easily disinfected after use (unlike cash). Plus, you will most likely be able to use the card machine yourself rather than handing off cash to the cashier.
An even better idea is using contactless pay. Some credit cards and apps are designed so that you do not need to touch anything at the cash register. Using programs like Samsung Pay, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Fitbit Pay, and some mobile bank apps make it easier to pay without contact.
Many smaller, independent grocery stores are also allowing customers to pay over the phone or online, which can be another easy way to keep person-to-person contact to a minimum while still getting your essentials.
With that in mind, making sure to bring a credit or debit card on your next trip to the store is a good idea. Plus, looking into touchless pay options can also help you and the grocery store employees stay safe.
