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Having a shopping list is not only a time saver in the store but it is a money saver as well. It is important to have an organized plan before you go shopping to cut down on impulse buys and so that you remember what to get and what coupons to use. We have decided to share our own shopping list with you so you can print it and use it when preparing for your next shopping trip. Here is a screen shot of the list. You will notice the columns for a manufacturer coupon and another for store coupons. This is especially helpful when shopping at stores that allow coupon stacking such as Fred Meyer and Target but works for all stores.
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A pricebook can be your best friend when saving money while shopping. What's a pricebook? Basically it is a record of the products you use on a regular basis and what you've paid for them, where and when. The purpose of a pricebook is to learn who has the best price for your items and when. When you shop with a pricebook, you will be able to instantly check a product's price to see if it is a good deal or not. Remember, sales are not always good deals, you will learn that first hand when you start using your own pricebook.
The pricebook can also assist you when building and maintaining your family's stockpile. You will know when something is priced low enough to stock up and when not to. Over time this can save you a lot of money.
There are many ways to create a pricebook. Here are a few:
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We've discussed what a price is, the different ways to create and maintain one, as well as the different methods and tools used to do so. Now let's actually take a look at some of them.
Creating Your Own Pricebook
As we mentioned in the previous article you can do this using lined notebook paper and a 3 ring binder or a spiral notebook. You can also use a printable form made in Word.
You will want to have the following categories in your pricebook:
- Date
- Store
- Item
- Weight/Unit (1lb, 24oz, etc.)
- Quantity/Unit (24, bottles/cans/pouches,etc)
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Free Pricebook Spreadsheets
As we discussed previously, spreadsheets are very helpful tools for creating and maintaining a pricebook. One of the many helpful (and time saving) features is that they calculate the price per unit automatically. They don't have to be difficult or confusing and if you are an excel novice, don't shy away from trying one out. This first one is especially easy to use!
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iPhone Pricebook Apps
There are two pricebook apps as of the time of this writing and they are as follows:
 Price Book Comparison Shopper - Aerende, Inc.. - Here is the basic description from their website:
The Price Book & Comparison Shopper helps you keep track of price, date, quantity, vendor, and item information.
Price: $1.99.
For more information and screenshots, click here.
 PriceBook - RedBog Software - Here is the basic description from their website:
Description
Easy price comparisons for serious shoppers
Track historical store prices for optimal comparison shopping. Never be caught not knowing the lowest price in the area.
Target has 180 count Bounce dryer sheets on clearance for $5.73. You have a coupon for $0.25 off Bounce. Is this a good deal? Do you snatch up all the boxes?
PriceBook told me I needed at least a $0.44 coupon to beat Costco, so I passed.
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