Shopping lists

[TastyReuben]

[Mod comment: this and several other posts moved to start new topic(TR)]

Oh, and for my “list,” I use the Kroger app, for two reasons:

1. Of all the grocery store apps, it’s the one that makes the most sense to me and is the easiest to use.

2. Kroger is my base store, so to speak, so it’s easy for me to be at ALDI, for example, pull up the Kroger app, see that I need celery, and determine that, “Oh, celery at Kroger is $1.89, but it’s only $1.59 here, so in you go,” or “Half-and-half is $2.25 here, and it’s $2.89 at Kroger, but I have a coupon at Kroger for buy-1-get-1-free, so I’ll get that at Kroger.”

What I can’t do is a three-way comparison, of course, unless I wanted to pull up another store’s app, and I’m in no way inclined to do that. That’s just too tedious for me.

I still have nightmares of my mom religiously going over five different newspaper inserts, looking for the best price on every single item, then having five paper lists, then dragging me to five different grocery stores, just to get flour, sponges, and teabags at this one, sugar, cereal, and egg noodles at that one, bread, butter, and peanuts at a third one, and so forth. Grocery shopping with my mom was an all day, sometimes two-day affair.

I get that we had no money and every penny counted, but thankfully, I’m not in that boat, so I don’t have to worry about a few dollars this way or that way.

 

[JAS_OH1]

Oh, and for my “list,” I use the Kroger app, for two reasons:

1. Of all the grocery store apps, it’s the one that makes the most sense to me and is the easiest to use.

2. Kroger is my base store, so to speak, so it’s easy for me to be at ALDI, for example, pull up the Kroger app, see that I need celery, and determine that, “Oh, celery at Kroger is $1.89, but it’s only $1.59 here, so in you go,” or “Half-and-half is $2.25 here, and it’s $2.89 at Kroger, but I have a coupon at Kroger for buy-1-get-1-free, so I’ll get that at Kroger.”

What I can’t do is a three-way comparison, of course, unless I wanted to pull up another store’s app, and I’m in no way inclined to do that. That’s just too tedious for me.

I still have nightmares of my mom religiously going over five different newspaper inserts, looking for the best price on every single item, then having five paper lists, then dragging me to five different grocery stores, just to get flour, sponges, and teabags at this one, sugar, cereal, and egg noodles at that one, bread, butter, and peanuts at a third one, and so forth. Grocery shopping with my mom was an all day, sometimes two-day affair.

I get that we had no money and every penny counted, but thankfully, I’m not in that boat, so I don’t have to worry about a few dollars this way or that way.

I have a running list in my notes app on my phone with items that we get on a regular basis. I go through my cupboards and refrigerator before I go to Aldi,where everything is nearly always cheaper than at the grocery stores (we don't have Kroger here) and if it's something we need that they carry, I find the item on my notes app list and put an asterisk next to it to make note that I need to buy it. After it's purchased I take the asterisk off. I do also go through the sale ads online as well to see if there are any good sales going on at Giant Eagle, Meijer, or Acme (those are the big grocers in my area) and will make a separate list for those stores if one of them is having a big meat or seafood sale.

Plus I place online orders for Walmart sometimes because it's such a huge store and sells such a variety of products that I might need Mexican Crema and some jalapenos from the grocery area, birdseed from lawn and garden, Pyrex containers from the kitchen goods section, windshield wiper fluid from the automotive department, and pain relievers from the health and beauty section--that could take me an hour to find, choose, obtain and get through the line inside of the store whereas I can order online in minutes and pickup curbside the following day within 30 minutes (the store is 10 minutes from my house).

 

[Timenspace]

put an asterisk next to it to make note that I need to buy it. After it's purchased I take the asterisk off.

What a good system!

 

[JAS_OH1]

What a good system!

Thank you...it took me awhile to figure that out lol.

 

[Timenspace]

Thank you...it took me awhile to figure that out lol.

So there is hope for me too

 

[JAS_OH1]

So there is hope for me too

Well I was stuck in writing out lists for a long time. Old habits!

 

[TastyReuben]

I find the item on my notes app list and put an asterisk next to it to make note that I need to buy it. After it's purchased I take the asterisk off.

Kroger’s shopping list on their app works very similarly to that - you can build your list (and it automatically brings in any digital coupons that apply), then check it off as you buy it. It leaves it on your list, so you don’t have to add it back next time.

Stubborn me, I don’t do that, though. I add and remove and add again, as I need to, because I like seeing the count and estimated amount of my list go from, say 11 items and $98.73 decrease every time I remove something. It’s weirdly satisfying.

It’s been a long time since I’ve used their list the way I’m supposed to, I should go back and check it again, they’ve probably made some changes.

 

[JAS_OH1]

Kroger’s shopping list on their app works very similarly to that - you can build your list (and it automatically brings in any digital coupons that apply), then check it off as you buy it. It leaves it on your list, so you don’t have to add it back next time.

Stubborn me, I don’t do that, though. I add and remove and add again, as I need to, because I like seeing the count and estimated amount of my list go from, say 11 items and $98.73 decrease every time I remove something. It’s weirdly satisfying.

It’s been a long time since I’ve used their list the way I’m supposed to, I should go back and check it again, they’ve probably made some changes.

Yeah, Giant Eagle has the same thing in their app but their groceries are often 2x more expensive than Aldi. I only shop at GE once a month or less so I don't bother using their app for my list. It would be a long one because they include a photo of each item so I'd be scrolling several times to see everything. In my notes app it's 1-2 pages i can view at a glance with 1 flick of my thumb.

 

[msmofet]

ShopRite online shopping app.

 

[JAS_OH1]

ShopRite online shopping app.

Is that for a grocery store in your area or is it a specialized app for people to customize shopping lists?

 

[msmofet]

Is that for a grocery store in your area or is it a specialized app for people to customize shopping lists?

In my area.

With nearly 280 ShopRite supermarkets located throughout New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Delaware and Maryland, ShopRite serves millions of customers each week.

 

[blades]

Ah, I finally understand why I don't use shopping lists. I don't carry a cell phone. I should have known.

 

[JAS_OH1]

Ah, I finally understand why I don't use shopping lists. I don't carry a cell phone. I should have known.

I used paper lists up until about a year ago even though I've been carrying a smartphone for about 8 years (I had a cellphone before that but it didn't have internet capabilities). I use my phone for work so I have to have it with me and I'm often having to take photos and upload them to an app for my jobs. I don't know why it took me so long to quit wasting paper on writing lists.

On a side note, I've been happy to have a cellphone on more than one occasion since I travel so much. I've been stranded on the side of the road a few times over the years with a flat tire or mechanical issues where it's been a godsend to be able to call for help.

 

[Timenspace]

where it's been a godsend to be able to call for help.

Absolutely, life saving.
I'd love to be cellphone-less, but I don't think it is viable for me ...for this emergency issue, but also communication, questions,research, ordering, and many other issues.
Have not found the perfect shoplist app yet.
The local ones are not integrative...if I shop at 4 different stores, normally I just need a generic items' list...carrots, oil, bread...

I used one international, but the name escapes me...it was good, basic...

For the moment I just use post it notes on my phone.
But I do find myself paper jotting, then snapping a pic.

What I lack most is the discipline to go through the fridge, freezer and pantry prior to shopping.

It's been a crazy and strenuous year, when things subside, I hope to have the calm and the time to practise this elevated, better shoplist preparation.

Recently, e.g.I bought soy sauce twice within a week because a) I forgot I had purchased it, b) I didn't look to check stated under a)

 

[JAS_OH1]

Absolutely, life saving.
I'd love to be cellphone-less, but I don't think it is viable for me ...for this emergency issue, but also communication, questions,research, ordering, and many other issues.
Have not found the perfect shoplist app yet.
The local ones are not integrative...if I shop at 4 different stores, normally I just need a generic items' list...carrots, oil, bread...

I used one international, but the name escapes me...it was good, basic...

For the moment I just use post it notes on my phone.
But I do find myself paper jotting, then snapping a pic.

What I lack most is the discipline to go through the fridge, freezer and pantry prior to shopping.

It's been a crazy and strenuous year, when things subside, I hope to have the calm and the time to practise this elevated, better shoplist preparation.

Recently, e.g.I bought soy sauce twice within a week because a) I forgot I had purchased it, b) I didn't look to check stated under a)

Plus, though it may sound sexist to some, as women we are prone to being targeted more then men. That's not to say there aren't women who can defend themselves, but I think that predators tend to see women as weaker, unfortunately.