A few weeks ago, I received a coupon in the mail for Blue Apron, the meal delivery service.

Being the pennywise person that I am and the type of person to be totally skeptical of these things — and the type of person to have a $60/week food budget, I threw the colorful flier right into the trash.

Nope. Not for me.

Then, weeks later, I got to thinking. What if it really was a good deal and I — gasp — threw away a perfectly good coupon? I couldn’t resist looking into it and jumped onto my computer to do some research.

What I discovered is that there are more than one of these miracle delivery services. Whoa. (Honestly, it’s like I live in the Stone Age.) After some quick research, here’s a comparison between four:

Blue Apron

  • Recipes per week: 3 (each serves two)
  • Price per serving: $9.99
  • Weekly total: $59.94

or

  • Recipes per week: 2 (each serves four)
  • Price per serving: $8.74
  • Weekly total: $69.92

Hello Fresh

  • Recipes per week: 3 (each serves two)
  • Price per serving: $9.99
  • Weekly total: $59.94 (currently, they’re running a 50% off special for $29.94)

or

  • Recipes per week: 2 (each serves four)
  • Price per serving: $8.74
  • Weekly total: $69.92 (currently, they’re running a 50% off special for $39.92)

Green Chef

  • Recipes per week: 2
  • Price per serving: $12.99 (I selected Carnivore)
  • Weekly total: $89.94

Purple Carrot (vegan only meal kit service)

  • Recipes per week: 2
  • Weekly total: $68

or

  • Recipes per week: 4
  • Weekly total: $74

Okay, at first glance, I’m thinking, “No way, Jose.” I can whip up a 20-minute recipe like this one for pennies on the dollar. Five ingredients. Twenty minutes. No sweat.

Wait…

On my way to closing out of Blue Apron’s website, I paused. Time is money. What about putting a price on the amount of time I spend at the grocery store? Or waiting in line? What about the horribleness of huffing and puffing from the van to the kitchen, dragging 40-pound grocery bags on both arms?

But—wait again!

And yet, I went back to my original thinking. If it boils down to dollars and cents only, the grocery store wins, hands-down. Ultimately, it does not cost $12.99 (Green Chef’s cost per serving) if you purchase the ingredients to make your own meals from scratch. It’s more like $2.99 per serving, plus you have leftovers for days.

Other issues

I also have two more little problems with this idea: two tiny kiddos who demand mac ‘n cheese at every meal.

They would absolutely hate Blue Apron’s menu this week: Cajun chicken sandwiches, paprika-spiced salmon, shiitake and red cabbage fried rice. I’ll give Blue Apron a break—spaghetti and meatballs is also on the menu, which my kids would love, but the other meals would just be a waste of money. I only have two kids, but what if I had six? It’d never be worth it.

On the whole, if you’re interested in healthy meals and don’t really mind the cost, or if you’re interested in trying out a new way to cook, then meal kits could be for you. Otherwise, don’t bother and go back to waiting in line at the grocery store. Your wallet will thank you.