The Advanced List - Preparation
A good list like a good plan requires focus, planning, testing and revisions. You have years of experience shopping, and you can use that to your advantage. Wal-Mart may have selling experts on staff, but you are a buying expert. Here’s how you can level the playing field.
1. Create individual lists for each store you frequent for replacement items. A replacement item is anything you might buy more than once in a 2-3 period, and of course includes things you buy every day or week too.
Setup a list for your preferred grocery store, your preferred hardware stores, electronics stores, clothing, shoes, etc. You get the idea.
2. Make copies of these lists (either in software or printed on paper).
3. Each time you go to the store, take the list and place a box by each item you intend to buy up front.
4. While there check off those items as you buy them, and
5. Write the price listed on the item on the list. If you don’t have time to get the price at the store, take the receipt from your purchase and add everything purchased to the list with all prices.
Wal-mart has one of the most advanced information (intelligence) gathering systems in the world. You make a purchase and the information from the cash register is ready to be tabulated at corporate Wal-mart in 15-30 minutes. That information is used for months and years to analyze how to sell more to you in the future.
When you take a few minutes to review your own purchases and figure out how to spend a little less, you are taking a very big step towards maximizing your savings when shopping. Wal-mart isn’t expecting this. You have the benefit of better information and surprise.
