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Wednesday, January 20, 2016

This article is for you if you own an iPhone or any iOS device, and you just want a no-frills electronic shopping list without having to carry a paper checklist. 
Go into your Reminders application on your iOS device that you plan on taking to the store with you, even an iPad or an iPod touch will work if you don't own an iPhone.  Once in the reminders application, you need to touch the upper right plus sign that you see in that corner.  Select in the pop-up window "List" to create a new list.  At this point a "New List" should have appeared with the on-screen keyboard, and you can name your list "Shopping List", or anything else that you prefer.  Once you have named your list, you can then touch the word "done".  Your new list has been created.   
As you are making your shopping list, and you want to add an item to your list, then you can press the plus sign that appears to the left edge of the screen.  At this point the on-screen keyboard should appear, and you can press the microphone key on your on-screen keyboard, and say the item you want to buy, or type it in the old fashion way.  
If you speak the item that you want, then press the done button on the bottom of your screen.  Then you will have to press the word "Done" located in the top right of your list. 
If you typed the item that you want, then all you have to do is press the word "Done" located in the top right of your list. 
To keep adding items, then repeat the above process until your list is complete. 
When you want your reminders to return to the normal view, then you can just press the name of your list located at the top of your list.  

Edit Mode. 
 If you don't like the list, for whatever reason, then you can delete the list by going back into the list by pressing the name of your shopping list, then pressing the word "Edit" that you see in the top right corner of your list.  Then press the "delete list" that is located at the bottom of your list.  In edit mode, you can also rename your list by pressing the area immediately after your list's name located at the top, then your on-screen keyboard should pop up allowing you to change the name.  Also, in edit mode, you are able to reorder the sequence of your listed items on your list by pressing and holding the three line symbol that you see all the way to the right of your listed item, and then by moving that item up or down by dragging that symbol to where you want it.  When you are done the editing of your list, then press the word "Done" in the upper right part of your screen. 
If you shop at more than one store on your shopping day, you can even name your lists by the stores that you shop at, and the list will be ready for you when you go to that store.  As you are doing your shopping, as you get the item that you want, you are then pressing the circle to the left of that item.  The circle should then fill in with a color, indicating that item has been marked off. 
When you want to get rid of a few of the checked items, making your list easier to read, then you will have to refresh your list by pressing the name of your list at the top of the list.  This brings the reminders application back into normal view, then re-select the shopping list that you were working on by pressing the list's name again.  In doing so, this should rid your list of the checked items, making it easier to read.
Another Tip.  
Try taking pictures with your iOS device of some of the shopping items that you currently have on hand for future reference.  This is a good idea if you cannot, for example, remember the exact name of a particular product that you have purchased in the past, and you want to refill that item in the future.  Having a list and buying just those items that you have listed will help you keep within your budget.  Happy Shopping!