Starting a Price Book

**Lucky Star** · 08-01-2005, 11:47 PM

I'm starting a price book for the first time in my life.

Since I'm doing the grocery challenge this month, my mind is totally tuned into the subject of (what else?) groceries. So, I decided to do what I've been meaning to for a long time - begin a price book. I would love to be able to know which store has the lowest price on a given product, and be able to tell when a sale is a good deal.

I realize that it will take me a while, but as with many things, I think the most important thing is getting started. So, I'll just take baby steps for now, starting with my most recent grocery shopping trip and recording the prices on products that I purchased.

I'm thinking that I will do this in form of an Excel spreadsheet - that way it will be easier to sort and figure out per-unit amounts.

I found this article, and it has a lot of useful information about price books:
http://stretcher.com/stories/05/05mar14c.cfm

What is your strategy when it comes to price books? How do you make it work? I would love to learn some ideas and tips from everyone here!

**Sara Noel** · 08-01-2005, 11:53 PM

When I did one, I used something like this:

http://www.frugalvillage.com/organized/pricebook.shtml

**Lucky Star** · 08-02-2005, 12:16 AM

Thank you, Sara!

I like your idea of putting the sale price and date next to each item - it will make it much easier for me to keep track of when certain products go on sale!

**Hollyhandi** · 08-02-2005, 08:51 AM

OK you guys have inspired me.
I usually have a running price list in my head
I will just write it down a subject note book.
3 pages per store. (not good at spread sheets )
I have about 6 stores ( not all Walmarts are the same price I've found )

I have written down a month worth of meal plans and with the sales this week and coupons I will do fairly well for the first 2 weeks of groceries. about 75 dollars should do most of 2 weeks shopping.

I will check out your articles also.
Thanks

**Kimberlina** · 08-02-2005, 11:06 AM

My layout is similar to Sara's. Mine is all handwritten, though, and I have it in one of those small 3 ring binders- the ones that use half-size paper. I don' have a unit price or sale price column- I just have a size column and a notes column, so I can say if it was on sale, or B1G1, or something like that.

I originally got prices from my receipts, right after I got home (so I could write down the size, etc) and also from the weekly store flyers. I also send DH on scouting expeditions from time to time- if I know he is going to BJ's, I will ask him to get prices/sizes/brands from 4 or 5 items for me. I've also gone into the store with a list and just written prices down. I find it a whole lot easier to do it the other ways, though.

IT does help- DH was convinced milk was cheapest at BJ's- it is a dollar cheaper at Aldi's, and I could show him that on paper.

**Mamaw** · 08-02-2005, 12:02 PM

I really need to do this. Since I started comparing prices and unit price I find that what I "thought" was a great sale, often really wasn't! I think I will develop my own excel sheet forms and hand write the data in it. Need to have space for the product column, date on sale, size, price and if I had coupons for the purchase. You guys inspire me!

**tightwadmommy** · 08-02-2005, 01:59 PM

Ok,so now i'm inspired to make my own price book too!

I printed out one of the pages Sara posted (THANKS!). I'll have DH run copies at work.(free)..
I'm going to put each page in one of those clear page protectors so they won't tear after many years of use. I'll also write on them lightly in pencil incase I have to adjust prices in the future.

**Lucky Star** · 08-03-2005, 02:45 PM

I love everyone's suggestions!

I started my price book in Excel by putting in everything that I bought on my most recent shopping trip. I wanted to go through older receipts, but it was harder since the receipts don't have sizes/quantities of products on them.

Next, I will go through this week's grocery circulars and jot down prices for some of the products that are on sale this week - this will help me start a running calendar of when certain things go on sale.

Since I've been trying to switch to organic, I made sure to note in my price book which products were organic, so that will also help me see where the best deals are on that.

**momof42003** · 08-03-2005, 05:19 PM

Question about the price book.. How or when do you put in the prices of everything? Kimberlina said that she use to use her receipts, and now does it differently... Do you all take your books into stores with you and start writing, or wait until home? If you do it at the store, won't this take a bit more time to get the shopping done?? I have always thought that having a price book would be a good idea, I just am not sure if I can be organized enough to get the receipts home and actually write down everything.... Just curious on how you do it.

**Kimberlina** · 08-04-2005, 11:45 AM

Bonnie, for things I still don't have in my price book but want to buy ASAP anyway, I do still use the recepits. One time I actually took a list and wrote everything down, but that info never made it into my book, so it was a big waste of time.

Now, I mostly have DH get the prices of 3 or 4 things I want to compare each time he is at the store. I send him an e-mail at work, he prints it up, and writes all the prices on it when he is at the store.