Making a Pricebook

**mcphlips** · 03-04-2007, 01:31 PM

I think I need to start a price book for grocery shopping, and I was wondering if anyone out there does this? If so, how do you set yours up?

Do you do it by grocery store layout, item or some other way?
I usually shop at one grocery store that does tend to have the best prices overall. But sometimes I'll find that a few other stores have what I think are good sales, and unless I run into my regular store and check prices, I'm not sure.
Any suggestions would be appreciated!

Think spring!

**Sara Noel** · 03-04-2007, 01:47 PM

Item:___________________

Store Name

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Brand

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Size

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Unit Price

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Sale Price

</td> <td class="Normal" width="121">

Date of Sale

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**monkeywrangler71** · 03-04-2007, 01:53 PM

Sara, do you have a separate page for each item?
I don't want to go to the store with a giant binder. How big is your book?

**lullaby80** · 03-04-2007, 03:08 PM

I have a Mead brand ruled index cards booklet (3x5 in) w/ 50 cards in it, cost about $2.50. I only put up items I buy often, like this:

Milk (organic)

Costco $2.80
Giant $--
Food Lion $--
Whole Foods $---
Trader Joe's $---
Bloom $---

**Sara Noel** · 03-04-2007, 03:10 PM

Initially, you need to compare stores and prices. Instead of bringing the binder, just bring index cards or tiny spiral bound notebook. (think address book size) Or, you can start with just your receipts and fill in the name, store, and prices first and fill in the units later if you want to.

You can use sales fliers for sale prices and see if there's a cycle to when things go on sale too. Most are available online.

This can take months to get a good price book created.

I don't use a pricebook anymore. I don't really need to. My grocery list is pretty streamlined and rarely changes unless I choose to add something new. I've been doing my own system long enough that I know which stores are cheaper for the items I use with the exception of sales and if there is a sale, I stock up.

So, you get your information and can transfer it to your pricebook if you don't feel comfortable carrying anything full sized.

If you only have 4 stores in your area to choose from, then you can put more items per printable page or create and use a sheet or spreadsheet without as many rows.

**IntlMom** · 03-04-2007, 05:00 PM

My price book is pretty "old-fashioned" in the way that I do it, but it works just great fo me. I have a small sprial notebook (the pocket size). Every page has a letter on top of it, and I wirte the items that start with the price on that page. I have several P pages, b/c I seprated my produce by type (fruits. veggies) and M pages (different kinds of meat - chicken has a page, as does meatl, produce and various). Anyway, I just write everything in pencil and then if a lower price shows up, just erase and put the new info in. My colums look like this:

Item Unit size Price Date Store

I have to write very small, and I realize that this is a very old fashioned way to do this, but it serves its purpose quite nicely for me!

**kaykwilts** · 03-04-2007, 05:11 PM

I tried to start one years ago but gave it up. I rely a lot on my memory but would probably do better if I attempted to do the price book again.

**jinx** · 03-05-2007, 09:39 AM

I dont really have a price book. I shop at a market basket supermarket that just about beats all the others in prices. For the most part my list doesnt change that much. especially for basics, so I know the prices from memory.
What I write the prices for are the sale items that I would like from each of the 3 supermarkets near me. I am not beyond returning something to a supermarket, if I find it cheaper at another. I took back (2) 8 count bounty papertowels that dh bought2 for 10.00 I found a twelve count scott for 2.00 less (2 for 8.00)

**cara-lynne** · 03-05-2007, 09:39 PM

i tried to do one years ago also. but it did not work out very well! with these ideas, i think i will try again...

**mcphlips** · 03-06-2007, 08:33 AM

Thank you to all for the info.
I am also pretty streamlined about what I buy, but recently I have noticed that our Price Chopper has had a few items on sale that I would normally buy at Wegmans, and they are cheaper. I may just need to start monitoring Price Choppers sales flyer a little better.
I think I'm going to use the Price book to write down the sales items and see where I can get a better deal and stock up on some items.

**monkeywrangler71** · 03-06-2007, 09:25 AM

I'm going to start one as well, but I don't want to use all that paper. I have a database on my palm pilot, but there is no desktop version for the mac, so if I did it in there I would have to type the whole thing up in the handheld. I was keeping track in a little date book, but it's too mixed up to refer back to. I'm going to have to do some more thinking.

I was going from memory, but lately I've noticed prices seem to be up and down and all over the place, and I can't keep track anymore.

**mcphlips** · 03-11-2007, 09:20 AM

Well I'm disappointed.

I was going to start this, because the Price Chopper ad looked like it had a few good deals in it, and I had coupons.
When I got into the store, I discovered that the prices were higher anyway than where I was shopping before.
They were trying to sell Ken's Salad dressing, which my family loves at 10 for $10... so I'm thinking great!! stock up! But when I got there, they were only the 8oz bottles and I can get a 16oz bottle at Wegmans for $1.59.
AARRGGH I hate that I wasted that time.
Maybe I'll try to set something up to compare Walmart and Wegmans.

**Hollyhandi** · 03-12-2007, 09:44 AM

My price book is in my head.. And I know when something has gone up without looking. 37 years of experience ( I'm weird that way )

**shelsmiles** · 03-23-2007, 05:06 PM

I made my price book on my computer in Excel and update it regularly. I have spaces that I can write in changes and after a while I update the computer version and reprint. It prints out on a few sheets of paper and I keep a copy folded in my coupon sorter or wallet. When I set it up, I didn't go to the store with a notebook. I just took my receipts out when I got home and filled it out that way.