Amanda Baroso, Naldoulett
This is how things normally work in my home. I plan a meal every week and my husband cooks. Shopping materials is left to the person with the most time and energy. I had a grocery list on my notepad. But if my husband went to the store or forgot the list at home, it’s no use. Needless to say, I felt that the burden of making a list had fallen on me alone.
Why was the grocery list app a game changer?
To solve the problem, I decided to try the grocery list app, but it was a complete upgrade. You can create and share multiple lists and add items. It didn’t matter who stuck to the weekly grocery store, as it was all on our smartphones. We always had a list.
Bring! Grocery list apps such as Anylist, Out of Milk, and Ourgroceries have free versions for iOS and Android users. They sync in real time and can be easily shared with other household members, friends or roommates.
Most will either remove the ads if there is a problem, or offer a premium version that will put them in the front of the customer service line. However, the free version is pretty good and offers plenty of features.
AnyList seemed free and easy to use, so I settled on AnyList. I wasn’t necessarily surprised by the functionality of this grocery list app. But what caught me off guard as the app became more integrated into our meal plans and grocery shopping routines was how it started to make other aspects of my marriage even better.
“Apps can be a powerful tool to build trust, balance workloads and promote the development of financial well-being,” said Maureen Kelly, a certified financial therapist based in Denver, Colorado.
It kept us sorting
The ability to create and save multiple lists in one place is really useful. Currently there is a grocery list for Aldi and Costco, as well as another list of what you need for your upcoming family vacation.
Most grocery list apps use “smart classification” to group similar items together. Shops in the store are really convenient by keeping produce, dairy, meat, frozen foods and pantry staples together. You no longer zigzag the entire store when you work down the paper list. You can also see which items you want to buy, or find duplicate materials.
Another advantage? If the categories generated by the app don’t fit your needs perfectly, you can create your own categories. For example, our vacation list has the “beach” category, which includes sunscreen and beach toys.
Let us share the job of keeping our family in our own way
One of the first things I noticed after switching to the grocery list app was to spread the responsibility for creating a list. If my husband ran out of the last milk, he could easily add it to the list. The mental load of remembering what we had and what we needed no longer fell on me.
Kelly defines mental load as “an invisible burden of organizing, planning and memory for home tasks.” She said grocery shopping is the perfect example.
“It’s more than just buying food. It’s about planning your meals, budgeting, remembering your preferences, predicting your needs,” Kelly said. “As time goes by, this mental burden can make the primary planner feel underestimated or overwhelmed, while other partners may feel left out or uncertain about how to contribute.”
Some of the minor nuisances are gone too. I hadn’t received multiple calls from my husband because he had a list and helped me create it.
Helped me save money at the grocery store
All pennies were counted in our marriage and going to the grocery store was a stressful event. I still feel that way. There is an increase in costs that cut down on the extra money we may have on our budget.
“With grocery prices have skyrocketed over the past few years, grocery apps can help you avoid one of the sleazy budget killers in family life. This is a waste of money from duplicate purchases.”
Out of Milk provides pantry inventory functionality. You can scan the barcodes of items in the pantry and mark them if the items are low. This kind of functionality “helps avoiding costly and accidental excess stock of eggs, meat and other expensive ingredients,” says Moore.
It’s much easier to stock a pantry when someone else can help out. As I’m creating a list every week, my husband calls out the items he needs in the recipe, checking the pantry to see if there are items. Collaborative efforts will ensure that inventory is not bored.
I also switched my brand to stores whenever possible to save on grocery money. This app allows you to describe details such as the brand, size, quantity and more you want. Some apps, including Groceries, also allow you to take a photo of the items you need.
More than just a grocery list
I didn’t think switching to the grocery list app would have any effect on my marriage. I was focused solely on convenience. However, there was an additional benefit that these apps didn’t advertise: happy moments. I don’t resent much of having to make all my lists myself and he is always given the power to add to my list. You are more likely to share the work of maintaining your budget and maintaining pantry and fridge inventory.
The meal planning and preparation process is also more collaborative.
“By turning grocery shopping into shared responsibility with clear communication and thoughtful planning, couples can reduce stress, improve collaboration and align food spending with long-term financial goals,” Kelly said.
Amanda Baroso writes for Nald Wallet. Email: abarroso@nerdwallet.com.
An article about how the grocery list app helped my marriage originally appeared on Nerdwallet.
Original issue: March 31, 2025, 2:44pm EDT
