Device To Keep a Running Total While Shopping

RE: Device To Keep a Running Total While Shopping Post by Persnickety Paula (321) | (09/03/2006) Contact Many, many, years ago I had a little hand-held clicker. As you put items into your shopping cart you would click the dollar amount into this little, plastic clicker and it would keep your total. I haven't seen one in twenty years, but I sure would like to find one today! My poor little clicker got clicked to death and wouldn't work anymore! If anyone knows where to find such a thing today I sure would like to know, and if there is an inventor out there you would sure have a market for your product here on the ThrifyFun site!! RE: Device To Keep a Running Total While Shopping Post By Becki in Indiana (Guest Post) (08/11/2005) The device I use is called a "pen". (I'm teasing -- but serious!). As I add an item to my cart, I use the edge or back of my grocery list to write down the price -- rounding up, as suugested by others here. If the item is $1.89, for example, I will write down $2. When I add the next item, I write down the NEW total -- if the second item is 2 for $1 and I buy 4 of them, that's another $2 -- added to the $2 I've already written down, all I would write now is the new total, or $4. The only time I write down the exact price of an item is if it is on sale and I want to be able to check specifically to make sure it rings correctly. By rounding up, you build in wiggle room and have a pretty darn good idea of where you stand, BEFORE you get to the checkout! RE: Device To Keep a Running Total While Shopping Post by Reece71 (13) | (08/10/2005) Contact Unfortunately I don't think they have come up with that idea yet. Maybe you have the next million dollar idea! But anywho when making your shopping list leave a column to put in the prices (don't forget to multiply if you get more than one of the same item) You will still have to do a little adding either in your head as you go or on a calculator. I also round up as the other lady suggested keeps you from going over budget and being embarrased if you have to put something back. Another advantage to writing your prices down you can double check your receipt or as she is ringing them up to make sure you are getting the right price. If you buy similar items everytime you go you will then have a price list that may help you better when bargain hunting. RE: Device To Keep a Running Total While Shopping Post by ThriftyFun (4042) | (08/09/2005) Profile | Blog! | Contact When my kids were young we would add things up as we went around the store. After putting each item in the cart, we would round up to make the adding easier. We quite often had a limited amount of money with which to buy the groceries. We all do this automatically now but it takes a little practice. Good arithmetic practice for the kids. You could also use a little calculator and write the running total on your shopping list. Susan from ThriftyFun RE: Device To Keep a Running Total While Shopping Post By Wanda (Guest Post) (08/09/2005) I shop at our Super Wal-Mart store and have found that if I put my budgeted amount for groceries on a Wal-Mart Shopping Card that helps limit how much I spend. I always charge everything and pay the bills in full at the end of the month - this way I know I can't go over the amount on my shopping card....hope this idea helps you...