Convenience has become a product of its own. People are increasingly paying to save time, avoid hassle, or simply make everyday life easier.
1. Meal Preparation
Prepared meals and meal-delivery services are growing as time pressures increase.
A 2026 Statista consumer survey found that 41% of U.S. adults had used a meal kit or prepared meal service in the past year, with usage highest among households earning over $75,000.
The appeal is especially strong when households are short on time and willing to pay for convenience.
2. House Cleaning
Cleaning services are no longer limited to wealthy households or occasional deep cleans.
The American Cleaning Institute reports that 33% of U.S. households now use some form of professional cleaning service at least once a year, with demand rising fastest among dual-income families.
3. Grocery Delivery
Instead of spending an hour walking through a supermarket, shoppers can have groceries brought directly to their homes.
Canada’s Retail Council found that 26% of Canadian shoppers use grocery delivery services depending on the trip and their needs, while McKinsey estimates online grocery penetration in North America has doubled since 2020.
4. Home Maintenance
People increasingly hire professionals for jobs such as lawn care, snow removal, furniture assembly, and minor repairs.
Angi (formerly Angie’s List) reports that over 50% of homeowners now outsource at least one routine maintenance task annually, with time savings cited as the top reason.
5. Personal Transportation
Ride-hailing and other transportation services allow people to pay for a trip without owning or driving a vehicle themselves.
Uber has reported that users in major North American cities take an average of 4–6 rides per month, with occasional users increasingly relying on apps instead of car ownership for short trips.
6. Personal Administration
People are also paying to outsource tasks that once consumed hours of personal time, from tax preparation to appointment services and travel planning.
The IRS estimates that taxpayers spend an average of 13 hours per return, which has helped fuel growth in paid tax software and professional filing services.
The broader shift is toward buying back time. As consumers become more deliberate about spending, convenience remains valuable when it solves a measurable time or effort cost.