Meet Jaynee Lockwood, a resourceful mom who will perform with Instacart as a homeschool mom and start her next career with what she learned! In this post, she explores how she can go from home educator to the highest Instacart shopper, strategies to help her stand out, and tips for anyone looking to make the most of Instacart income.
In January 2020, just before the world closed, I signed up to be an Instacart shopper. It was actually my eldest son, Timothy, who encouraged me. He said, “Mom, you’ll be great.” He was not wrong – with 12 kids (9 of them!), I’ve worked more grocery stores in my life than most people think.
At the time, I was a homeschool mom and didn’t work much outside of the home – although I taught piano and clean the house here and there. I signed up and didn’t really know what would happen. Then hit. Instacart exploded overnight and I found myself in the middle of something I really like and was good at it.
I love shopping for Instacart stuff
Flexibility is unparalleled. I can open the app and batch it anytime, anywhere. Sometimes I only make one order. On other days, I worked for 10-12 hours. I usually average 26-32 active hours per week.
This is also very profitable. I regularly earn between $45-48 per hour – that doesn’t include the perks we get due to prop 22, which guarantees $18 per hour plus reimbursement for mileage (above the tip).
These tips are amazing. Providing great service always pays off – customers often add prompts after the order is completed. Plus, they can leave compliments on the app, which makes me feel appreciated and connected.
Exercise and exercise are a reward. I also tried Doordash but found it frustrating to sit in the car all day. With Instacart, I’m walking, moving, taking steps, and staying active while making money.
It tapped my natural power. I really love shopping – from planning the best route through the store to finding the right alternative. I even like Tetris-like challenges that carefully and effectively bag items.
I also love interacting with store staff and customers. Over time, I met employees in stores I shop regularly and this gave me a sense of community, even when working independently.
Reality to remember
While Instacart has always been a huge blessing, there are practical things to consider:
- Car wear:You will be putting a lot of miles on the car, so having a reliable, gas-efficient vehicle is key.
- self employed:As a 1099 contractor, you are responsible for your taxes. Have to forget the money side.
- Mileage tracking:This is your biggest tax cut. Use a notebook or mileage tracking application to record everything accurately.
- Speech is important:I invested in a low cost car wash membership and kept the car clean. I don’t want to deliver groceries in a messy car – that just doesn’t sit next to me.
- Efficiency equals income:Understanding the store layout and mentally planning your route will increase your speed, which means higher hourly income.
Where am I now
I’ve completed 3,045 Instacart orders so far – everyone helps during the season our family needs.
Over the past few years, I have been shopping less frequently as I started working with my husband. He used to be the general manager of ServPro in our town, but recently, we started our own disaster repair business – it was a fun, it was a fun.
Now, my days look different. Our four sons (still living at home) worked with us and I was still homeschooling – only one junior and senior graduate. This is a fulfilling life, and I am grateful for it.
Continuous flexibility
The beauty of Instacart is-I can still shop anytime. If I need extra money to travel, bless my friends or help pay my bills, I can jump into the app at any time. Within two hours of completing the order, I can cash out my income (at a $0.50 fee) or just wait for a weekly direct deposit. This flexibility is rare, and I still value it.
The final thought
Instacart is more than just a side hustle to me – that’s a stepping stone. It fills the financial gap when I need it, gives me confidence after years at home and reminds me that the skills I use as a mom every day are also valuable in the real world.
Whether you are a full-time mom looking for income, a home student who needs flexibility, or someone who just loves shopping and serving others, it’s worth studying.
Jaynee Lockwood is the wife of Daniel and Mama, reaching 12 (nine sons and three daughters), ranging in age from 28 to 16. She lives in Daniel with her husband, and I live in Redding, California, where they own and run the family business, Rush Relief Restoration Services. She has been homeschooling for 25 years, with only two years left of little boys, who are now a junior and high school student. She is also the proud tits of her two grandchildren, and there is another one this fall.
Related links:
- 7 jobs at home and home that you may not have considered yet
- Become an Amazon influencer and earn $500 a month!
- 5 unique ways to clean up a house
- 12 ways moms can make money at home
- Free money-making cheat map: Earn $1000+ easily with 12 apps on your phone every year!
- Ideas to earn income at home
- More than 25 ways to make money quickly
Have you returned to the workforce after working from home for years? We would love to hear your story in the comments!
