AMA: Shopping list systems
Getting organized is hard for people for many different reasons. For some people, it’s hard to see what’s possible because they're overwhelmed, exhausted, or just too tired to try and figure something out a solution. Finding inspiration and learning from other people is an excellent way to learn something new. When you make a change and something clicks, you just know things will be better. This is one of the many reasons why I love what I do. I help people see what's possible. As a professional organizer and industry veteran, I enjoy sharing insight on everyday challenges. Sharing new strategies or problem-solving tricky situations is where I thrive. After all, sharing is caring!
Helping my people is a core value of my business, and sometimes people just need a quick fix to what might feel like a chronic problem. So I am starting a new series called #AskMeAnything. You can submit a question or organizing issue and I will answer them either in a blog post or Instagram post.
Sharing real-life solutions sometimes can be inspiring and helpful to everyone. We all have something to learn (even me) and I think it’s important to get the conversation going. A few weeks ago, I got this message from a friend:
RE: help with my shopping lists
Photo credit: Unsplash
"Hi Megan. As you know, our family is getting busier with school and work, and I've absorbed the responsibility of weekly grocery shopping. The paper list is not working, which has resulted in too many trips to the store during the week. I need a shared app or something we all can add things to on the fly. Do you have any recommendations?"
Here’s my reply:
Hi friend! I feel your pain. List management is always tricky. I use a list app called Todoist, but have used ToDo, a Microsoft app. Both allow you to create multiple lists. Perhaps you might want different lists for different stores. You can share each list with anyone that needs access to it. Both apps allow photo attachments (an important element to get the right product, especially in our house), and Todoist allows you to add tags.
What I really love about using a shared app is you can re-add something without having to retype it. You simply look at completed items. Sometimes, to make my shopping list, I simply look at what I’ve bought in the past and repopulate what I need. They both have desktop applications that sync with a mobile device. There are hundreds of options but those are two I really like and have used.
Oh, one more thing. The shared app system is only as good as those who use it. What I really like is that it puts the responsibility of the list-making onto everyone, not just the person doing the shopping. If you want something from the store, add it to the list. Less back and forth. I hope that helps
