We Asked Americans What Their Time Is Worth. Here Are the 7 Things They'll Happily Overpay to Skip

Like many people, you probably highly value the free time you get in your busy life. According to a recent survey by FinanceBuzz in partnership with Bank of America, when asked to put a dollar value on one hour of their free time, the median American said $40. Nearly half (49%) said their free time is even worth more than what they earn per hour at work, and that portion rose to 57% when non-workers were excluded.

This all helps explain why many people are willing to splurge on conveniences like restaurant takeout and grocery delivery. With only 5% of those who order takeout or delivery thinking it saves them money, it's clear that very few believe they're getting a deal. Instead, they're buying something else, and it's much more than the food.

Find out what Americans are happy to spend delivery fees and tips on to skip and whether the time or hassle saved is worth it.

7 things Americans will pay to skip

For some Americans who spend on delivery, takeout, or pickup services, the motivator is avoiding something they dislike, whether that's the shopping itself, required effort, or social demands. But it's not always just about convenience; others turn to these services due to logistical issues or concerns about their spending.

1. Cooking dinner

Not feeling like cooking is the top reason people order delivery or takeout, cited by 63% of those who order. Surprisingly, only 38% choose this convenient option since they don't have the time to cook.

You might suspect that many of these people have a skills gap, but only 8% say they lack cooking skills. More than half (53%) consider themselves to be intermediate cooks while 33% identify as advanced cooks. Another 12% are beginners who can handle simple meals. So, even if you're a decent cook, you might feel it's worth the cost to skip the effort and cleanup.

For others, the desire to order out is more about available resources than cooking itself. Nearly one-third of people who order out (31%) say there's nothing in the house to make. While stocking up on extra kitchen staples or easy frozen meals could help reduce last-minute restaurant orders, many are willing to pay a premium for convenient cooked food.

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2. Dealing with their own impulse control

Nearly a quarter (24%) of online grocery shoppers say they buy more impulsively when they're shopping in a store. Without physical aisles full of temptations, many shoppers find it easier to stick to what's on their lists online. These savings on impulse purchases might help offset potential delivery fees, item markups, and tips for some.

Since convenience spending is recurring and predictable, paying with a flexible rewards credit card is a smart idea. For example, with the Bank of America^® Customized Cash Rewards credit card, you can select your bonus rewards category (such as online shopping, gas, drugstores, or dining) once per calendar month via the online portal or mobile app. That way, the card adapts to your spending so you can maximize your cash back.

And you earn 6% cash back for the first year in the category of your choice (3% after that). You'll also automatically earn 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs. Those reward rates apply to the first $2,500 in combined purchases each quarter in the choice category and at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, then unlimited 1% thereafter.

3. No energy left at the end of a workday

A lack of energy after work is why 35% of takeout and delivery customers say they order. This reason is least common among Boomers (14%) compared to Gen X (33%), Millennials (38%), and Gen Z (39%).

After a long workday, the last thing you might want to think about is preparing and cooking meals and doing the dishes afterward. The $9.49 average food delivery fee Americans are willing to pay can also seem like a reasonable tradeoff when it buys you back under half an hour of free time at the $40 median hourly value.

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Similarly, 31% of people who order groceries online say they don't have the energy after work to shop in the store. The appeal may be stronger for big hauls, which 37% report as their typical grocery delivery order. As for the premium, shoppers said they'd accept a maximum upcharge of 11.4% to have someone else shop if they pick up the order, and 15.9% to have the order delivered, or roughly $11.40 and $15.90.

4. The drive for food a mile away

While you might think that someone would choose food delivery to avoid a long drive and save on gas, 57% have ordered delivery from a restaurant within a mile of their homes. And 38% of those who order say they choose delivery because they don't feel like going out, further suggesting that distance isn't always the issue.

The premium people are willing to pay to skip even a short drive is surprising. The median max food delivery fee is $7, compared to the most common cited amount of $5. Then there's the food delivery tip, which averages $8.26 but often depends on factors such as the order amount and delivery difficulty.

These costs can quickly add up with multiple delivery orders per month. However, the value of the saved time might be worth it, especially if you're a busy parent, facing health challenges, or experiencing bad weather. The key is doing the math and being intentional with how you use food delivery.

5. Carrying the bags

Sometimes, it's about a need rather than a preference for convenience: 15% of Americans who order groceries for pickup or delivery say it's because it's hard to carry items. While some lack access to vehicles, others have mobility issues. Boomers (29%) are most likely to cite this reason, compared to 17% of Gen X, 12% of Millennials, and 15% of Gen Z.

Just needing to move your groceries from your doorstep to your kitchen may be enough to resolve logistical issues that make it hard to get the basics. Some services, such as Walmart InHome, go even further by bringing the groceries into your kitchen or stocking your fridge.

In this situation, you might reduce your grocery delivery costs by placing a large order with all you'll need for a few weeks rather than multiple small orders throughout the month. Comparing grocery prices, order fees, and membership options may also help identify the cheapest service.

6. The store itself

Among people who order groceries for pickup or delivery, 56% say avoiding the store itself is the motivator. Skipping the crowds, lines, and parking hassles edges out not having time to go to the store (55%).

But this doesn't mean most people would rather have strangers buy their groceries. In reality, 77% prefer shopping for themselves in-store, and the average person made 5.6 in-person shopping trips last month. Plus, 43% of those who order this way believe it costs them more overall.

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Earning rewards may help offset the premium for online grocery purchases. The Bank of America^® Customized Cash Rewards credit card includes online shopping as one of its bonus categories, which earns 6% cash back for the first year in the category of your choice (3% after that). Plus, you'll automatically earn 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs. Those reward rates apply to the first $2,500 in combined purchases each quarter in the choice category and at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, then unlimited 1% thereafter.

7. The small talk

24% of Americans have pretended not to hear the doorbell or avoided answering it to skip talking to the driver. This small talk avoidance trend is most common among younger people. While 40% of Gen Z admit to doing this, only 28% of Millennials, 12% of Gen X, and 6% of Boomers have.

Whether you have social anxiety, hate forced conversations, or are too busy to chat, paying extra for food delivery may seem like a good compromise. Having the food left at your door with a simple app notification involves less social pressure than picking it up at the restaurant and interacting with employees.

And if you do need to speak to a driver, you can often leave a note with your order or text them through the delivery app. Having this choice of whether or not to talk to them and how you communicate might make paying for delivery even more appealing for some, despite potentially high added costs.

Bottom line

Looking back at the $40-per-hour price tag the median American puts on their time affects how to view these convenience purchases. Ultimately, you should ask yourself what you're gaining from the added costs and how you'd otherwise use the time saved.

Opting for delivery or pickup may be a bargain if it saves money on impulse purchases and helps you get food when logistical issues, illness, or other roadblocks make cooking at home or shopping in a store impractical. But if you're paying fees and tips to simply avoid a moment you don't enjoy or won't effectively use the saved time, it may be a bad trade at any price.

For spending that's already happening, a card like the Bank of America^® Customized Cash Rewards credit card can be a helpful way to get some money back and make the most of your spending, especially since it's flexible. You can change your elevated rewards category as often as once per month to match your spending patterns.

Learn more about the Bank of America^® Customized Cash Rewards credit card.