The necessity of self-isolation means you won’t be able to eat, drink or shop at our favorite spots for a while longer. Personally, I’m turning to familiar apps like Uber Eats and Grubhub to get all my favorite bites in. But beyond takeout delivery, how can we all access other necessities, like alcohol (wine time) and beauty products (if you’re into self-care)?
Thankfully, there’s more than one way to stay sane. Check out some of the best delivery services and apps for self-quarantine time.
- Drizly
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Drizly works with local supermarkets and distributors to deliver your favorite alcohol to your door. Currently, the app serves around 26 states — and popular cities include Boston, Chicago and Seattle. You can order your favorite beers, wines and liquors at home — and for even more fun, the app offers mixers and garnishes. Drizly takes under an hour to deliver and doesn’t mark up their items.
Throw a self-quarantine movie night with an order from Drizly, or gather your friends for a virtual happy hour.
- Birchbox
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You don’t need an excuse to look — or feel — beautiful! Birchbox’s subscription service delivers beauty and grooming staples to your doorstep. After you fill out a questionnaire, you’ll receive a monthly box made just for you. Products range from blushes to mascaras to hair sprays. You can choose to purchase full-size items after your box arrives.
If you review products after you receive them, you can curate your selection further. Work on your new look and refresh your style while social distancing keeps you indoors.
- goPuff
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When you don’t want to venture out in a mask, goPuff makes your essential shopping simple by putting convenience stores online. They offer more than 3,000 products, from snacks and drinks to household supplies. You can order everything from pet food to mouthwash and deodorant.
This delivery app is super useful whenever you don’t want to run to the store, and you can even add champagne to your cart. They require a $1.95 delivery fee per order. Unlike other apps, you’ll find goPuff around college campuses, so even off-campus students will find it easy to stock up on apartment essentials like ramen noodles and toiletries.
- Amazon
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Sure, Amazon’s two-day delivery isn’t a guarantee right now because workers need safe conditions— but there’s a lot more to their service that’s still accessible and fast, rather than quick shipping and Prime Video. You can order fresh-cut flower arrangements, plus other essentials, from their grocery department. Wondering what gifts you can have delivered for Mother’s Day? Amazon’s lesser-known services could be your answer.
If you buy from Amazon Pantry or AmazonFresh, you can also access groceries and Whole Food products, as well as clothing, games and electronics.
- Boxed
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When you need to buy bulk laundry detergent and ground coffee, try Boxed, a virtual version of Costco that offers hundreds of bulk products for less. It’s an easy way to stock up on items you can’t find elsewhere, or will need for a while. Plus, they offer gluten-free, organic and vegan options. Boxed ships across the country but can’t service Alaska, Hawaii or Puerto Rico.
Want to take care of older family members or neighbors who don’t feel safe going out to the store? Boxed offers you an easy way to show you care and help your loved ones stock up on necessities.
- ThriftBooks
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If you’re a reader, now’s an excellent time to power through a few books the old-fashioned way. Try skipping ebooks and sitting down with a solid novel — it’s the perfect social distancing stress reliever.
ThriftBooks supplies dozens of titles, from bestsellers to rare finds. They offer new and used copies for super low prices. They ship globally, so you don’t need to worry about delivery to your area. Feel free to order from their website or app — either way, you’ll discover some new favorites.
Do you prefer CDs and DVDs? ThriftBooks sells physical entertainment products, too. Find your favorite niche movies and TV shows that aren’t on streaming services.
- Caviar
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When you want to treat yourself, try Caviar on a Friday night. They offer high-end bites from local restaurants. Caviar serves just a few areas across the country, so they may not be available near you. That said, they’re a terrific app to use when you want to order food that’s a little fancier. Plus, they support local businesses — and we know it’s vital to strengthen our economy right now.
If you choose to order from a local restaurant through Caviar, don’t forget to tip your driver.
Whether you want to order takeout, stock up on supplies, or dye your hair at home, it’s good to know everything you need can be delivered contact-free to your door. Try out a few of the best delivery apps next time you have a hankering or a need — who said time inside can’t be enjoyable?