No smart phone? Don’t care? Please scroll down for a poll where you can let me know with a single click.
I use a LOT of apps on my phone. It has largely replaced my computer in my daily life, making it faster and easier to check email and facebook, moderate blog comments, do quick internet searches, and much more.
It has also replaced other items in my daily life: my Bible, the alarm clock, the phone/address book, the paper grocery list.
Of all the apps on my phone, I think the one I use the most times during the day may be Our Groceries. Here’s what I wrote about it back in April (slightly edited and updated):
Our Groceries – I tried nearly every grocery app on the market, and this is the best as far as I’m concerned. It combines all the features that other programs charge for and it’s free. I use this several times each day to keep a running grocery list for each place I shop.
I can…
- create and maintain as many individual lists as I want (even to-do lists!)
- share them instantly with hubby or anyone else with a smart phone or iPod, even editing the list while he’s in the store (and he’ll never know!)
- access and edit my lists from a computer as well as my phone
- easily move items from one list to another
- drag and drop to organize items on the list
- create categories to make it easier to organize my list
- delete with a single touch as I shop
- add items by speaking, typing or choosing from a list of items I’ve bought in the past.
The interface is clean, and the program is free unless the unobtrusive ads bother you. The ad-free version is $5. I’m tempted to buy just to support the developer because I like it and use it so much.
I still love it just as much, and I now have the ad free version. I love how many options it has to let me tweak things to work just the way I want, but I also love how easy and intuitive it was right out of the box.
Any time I need to add something to my list, I do it in just a few clicks. It’s so easy that even I don’t procrastinate, so I actually remember to put stuff on my list!
Another plus: because my list is on my phone, I always have it with me both for additions and for actual shopping. Now I never arrive at the store and realize I forgot my list. Even if the trip was unplanned, I always have my list with me.
The only feature that’s missing is barcode scanning, but I don’t consider that a problem. I tried some programs that allow the user to create a list by scanning barcodes and while it was very cool as a concept, the simple truth is that it was much slower than just speaking or typing.
It also has a whole host of recipe functions that I’ve barely begun to explore. This allows you to save recipes or “meal ideas,” integrating them with your shopping list so you can add ingredients with a single touch. I may start using this to plan a weekly menu.
The free version of this app has all the same features as the paid one, but with a small strip for ads. At $4.99, the paid version of this app may be a little on the high side, but whether it’s free or $5, this frugal momma believes it is completely worth the money.
disclosure: The opinions expressed herein are completely my own, unswayed by any filthy lucre. I requested and received compensation for this review, then decided to refund the compensation so I could support the developers of such a great application. See? I really do love Our Groceries!
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I am curious how this compares to Grocery IQ. Have you tried Grocery IQ? I have used it for the past few months and LOVE it. It allows me to create specific stores and lists to shop in those stores (so I can see a list of everything I need to buy OR just the list for a specific store) as well as add items and select what isle they would be found in. I can also save my most shopped for items so they are easier to access and add to my shopping list. As I am shopping, I can “check out” with what groceries I have checked of my list, but it still keeps items I still have to buy on the list. And it has coupons (I think the app was created by coupons.com?). Curious if you have tried the Grocery IQ app and how it compares. THANKS! And I would LOVE to know what other apps you are using/loving. (Home Routines is one of my fav)
Also, with Grocery IQ, there is a “badge” that lets me know how many items I currently have on my list. SO if I have 32 items on my list, it says 32 in a badge button on the screen. But if I go shopping and buy all but 8 items, the badge number changes to 8, so I know I still have shopping to do. I downloaded Our Groceries and will be trying them out, but am curious to your thoughts. Thanks again!
Paula, OurGroceries has all the features you mentioned.
For dedicated couponers, it has some very useful features. For me, it was bloated and slowed down by features I wouldn’t use. I also found it less intuitive and therefore harder to get started.
I’d love to hear what you think after trying both.
I thought you and your family might also like the cozi calendar app. It is awesome for keeping everyones schedule and free to boot! Check it out, I bet you will love it.
I have Grocery IQ and have loved it. It was a slow start but once you have the things in it gets easier and clicking fast.
Another app I could not live with out is Accountablilty! LOVE IT!
I was shocked by how many folks said they don’t have a smart phone and don’t want one. Have y’all got it figured out yet how to use it as your one and only internet provider, or are you still paying for that in addition to your phone plan?
No, with our phones we now have free (already paid for) unlimited internet access. Our smart phones aren’t costing us any more than we were paying for regular phones and internet before. In fact, we’re saving money!
I don’t have a smart phone — don’t want one becausae I don’t want to get addicted to something else with a monthly charge on our current budget (and I would). But I do have an ipod Touch so the app articles are fascinating!
I have run into a bit of a problem when keeping my shopping list on my ipod… When I send my husband to do the shopping for me, I have to write it all out to hand to him!
MBR, if your husband has an iPod Our Groceries would let you both have the same list(s) and it would automatically sync whenever you have internet access.
Also, as I mentioned to Jenny, our phones have actually decreased our monthly expenses because we can tether our phones to our computers for internet. That may not be the case for everyone, but it might be worth exploring if cost is the only reason you don’t want a smart phone.
(Oh and I can’t/don’t want to hand the list to my almost-4 year old to “help” so I also have to write it out so he can cross the items off as we shop)
I have Mealboard for my groceries. Love love love it.
I don’t have a smart phone…if I did, I don’t think I’d be smart enough to use it!
I love the things you can do with yours, but I have a hard time learning how to use new phones…I think it would be too frustrating for me to figure out. My husband’s blackberry is too complicated for me.
I can’t spend very much looking at screens, it gives me a headache…plus I hate texting
Irene, I tend to be that way with new technology too, but this time I resolved to spend a lot of time while it was still new and exciting so I could learn to make full use of my new gadget. This phone was something I never really wanted but suspected I would easily learn to love. I was right.
I dont want internet on my phpne because I already spend way to much time on the internet and if I had it I know I would very spend too much time on it away from home.
I don’t have a smart phone and probably won’t be able to afford one any time soon.
Reading your blogs about them are a good discipline because just because we can’t afford one now, doesn’t mean we should be ignorant of them and the lingo and the technology. That would be foolish and a disservice (sp?) to my children for sure.
Blog away!!! I’m learning.
I’m curious about all these apps everyone is posting about. I currently have an iPod Touch (I plan to get an iPhone when I renew my contract at the end of the year). Do all these apps (Our Groceries, Cozi Calendar, etc.) require internet access to work? Like, if I was in the grocery store and wanted to access or change my grocery list, would I need internet access? Or if I wanted to add a doctor’s appointment to my calendar, would I need internet access?
Off to check everything out on iTunes!
Beth,
I think most of these apps will let you make changes locally (i.e. on your own phone) without internet access, then they will update/sync with other devices when you connect.
I voted “other” because I do have an iPod touch and love it. However, since I may not have access to Wi-Fi, I can be limited with some apps.
That being said, I’m always interested in finding out what apps other folks like and why—sometimes I try them out myself and sometimes I know from the review that they’re not for me. Either way, I like to hear your opinion.
Jenny – I’m one of those, ‘Don’t have/want a smart phone’. We have really rotten cell coverage at our house. Literally…there’s one square on the sidewalk (that leads to our dirt road) that gets spotty reception, or we have to go to the top of the hill across the road. I’m not interested in internet access I can’t use at home. So yes, we still pay for cell service, a landline, and satellite internet.
I downloaded it, even though I won’t be doing much of the shopping until the baby is a month or so old (due 6/13).
OK, so how do I change my vote since I went out yesterday evening and bought an Android. (!) Hadn’t really planned to, long story short, I went to replace my broken phone and turns out that the Android cost less than what I had. Was on special, so it was an easy choice after all. Now it’s time to plunge myself into the instruction booklet. Keep the app advice coming!
Does it have the ability to put items on more than one list? I can’t figure that part out! For example, can apples be on my grocery and whole foods lists?
Yes, you can add apples to any or all of your lists. You’ll just have to add it to each list separately. It sounds like you’re moving it back and forth between lists rather than adding it each list.
I love being able to move an item from one list to another quickly and easily, so if I can’t find it at one store (or decide that I can get a better buy elsewhere) I can move it with a few quick clicks rather than deleting from one list and adding to another.
Well, I originally chose the “possibly getting a smart phone in the future” option, but … I just got an iphone today!
My husband had to replace his old one for work, and it turned out we were both eligible for great discounts! : )
So yes, I would *love* to hear of any helpful apps you’ve found! Anything to make our little household with three little guys under 2 1/2 run more smoothly!
I smiled when I saw the poll. A couple weeks ago I would have voted: “I don’t have a smart phone, don’t want one, and couldn’t care less about the apps. ” But I was given an iPhone and now I am really enjoying finding cool apps to help organize everything.
I am trying Our Groceries. Thanks!