Add shower gel to my shopping list

Grocery shopping can be a tedious chore. Between navigating crowded aisles, dealing with long checkout lines, and remembering everything you need to buy, it’s easy to forget something important. However, using a voice assistant like Alexa, Siri or Google to create your shopping list can help streamline the process. With just a simple voice command, you can easily add items to your list no matter where you are. Here are some of the major benefits of using a voice assistant for your shopping list needs:

Enable Shopping List Skills

The first step is to enable the shopping list skills on your voice assistant device or app. This allows you to begin creating and managing lists using just your voice. For example, Alexa has a native shopping list feature you can enable in the Alexa app or by saying “Alexa, add shopping list.” Google Assistant also has a built-in shopping list function. Enabling these skills allows you to start building your grocery list.

Add Items Through Voice Commands

Once you’ve enabled shopping list capabilities, adding items is as easy as saying a voice command. For instance, you can say “Alexa, add eggs to my shopping list” or “Hey Google, add shower gel to my shopping list.” The voice assistant will instantly add whatever item you say to the appropriate list. You don’t have to stop what you’re doing to manually write it down.

So if you’re cooking dinner and realize you’re almost out of olive oil, just say “Hey Siri, add olive oil to my shopping list.” Siri will add it without you having to stop stirring the pasta sauce. This makes it easy to populate your list through verbal commands anytime.

Review List on Smart Speaker or Mobile Device

After adding items by voice, you can review the updated list on your smart speaker by asking to read the list aloud. For example, “Alexa, what’s on my shopping list?” Alternatively, you can open the Alexa app or Google Home app on your mobile device to view the list.

This allows you to confirm the voice assistant captured your items correctly. You can also manually edit the list in the app if needed.

Seamlessly Add Items Anytime, Anywhere

The convenience of voice assistant shopping lists is that you can add items no matter where you are. For instance, if you’re out of the house and realize you’re low on dog food, just use your phone to say “Hey Siri, add dog food to my shopping list.”

You don’t have to wait until you’re back home to update your list. The voice assistant allows you to seamlessly add items whether you’re at work, in the car, or anywhere else. This helps you capture purchases as you think of them.

Share Lists with Family or Roommates

Another useful feature of voice assistant shopping lists is the ability to share your list with others. This makes it easy for families or roommates to collaborate on a single grocery list.

For example, with Alexa you can share your list with another person through the Alexa app. Then that person can also add or remove items using their own Alexa device or app.

Google Assistant also lets you share lists with household members. This way everyone can update the real-time list from anywhere. It’s a seamless way to co-manage groceries.

Set Reminders to Buy Items

Some voice assistants let you set reminders to buy certain items on your list. With Alexa, you can say “Alexa, remind me to buy eggs when I get to the store.” Amazon’s assistant will then send you a notification on your phone when you arrive at the grocery store as a reminder.

Google Assistant has a similar capability to set location-based reminders. Having reminders for key items can help ensure you don’t forget them while shopping.

Works Seamlessly with Mobile Apps

Major voice assistants integrate directly with popular grocery shopping apps. For example, Alexa seamlessly syncs your shopping list with the AnyList app.

So items you add via Alexa automatically populate in AnyList, where you can organize the list and access it easily on your phone when shopping. This continuity between voice and mobile apps enhances the experience.

Simplify Regular Purchases

If there are items you buy frequently, like shower gel, you can simplify your lists by adding these as recurring items. With Alexa, you can say “Alexa, add shower gel to my shopping list every 2 weeks.”

This automates adding essentials to your list so you don’t have to manually repeat them. Just customize the frequency for regular purchases.

Voice Control for Checkout Ease

Some grocery stores even allow you to check out using just your voice assistant, without having to unload items onto the conveyor belt.

Walmart now lets you check out by syncing your Walmart Grocery account with Google Assistant. Then when you finish shopping, you can say “Hey Google, it’s time to check out” to complete the purchase, no checkout line needed.

Prioritize Categories and Stores

When making your list, think about organizing it into categories for different stores or sections of the grocery store. For example, have groupings for produce, dairy, frozen foods, pantry items, drugstore essentials, etc.

You can even separate your list out by the stores you plan to visit – for instance, Costco vs. Whole Foods vs. Target. This makes your list more efficient when shopping.

List Fresh Items Separately

Be sure to call out refrigerated and perishable items like produce, meats, and dairy in a separate section of your list. Since these items need to be shopped last, listing them separately serves as a helpful reminder.

You can ask your voice assistant to add these perishables to a specific “fridge items” shopping list for easy differentiation.

Build Lists Around Weekly Meals

Planning weekly meals can make it easier to create comprehensive shopping lists that include all needed ingredients. Think through recipes for the week and add items as you go.

Say “Alexa, add pasta, ground beef and tomato sauce to my shopping list” as you plan spaghetti night. Doing this for multiple meals will build a thorough list.

Note Brand Preferences

Don’t forget to include preferred brands or specifics on your items when using a voice command. For example, say “Add Tide Free and Gentle detergent to my shopping list” rather than just detergent.

This avoids confusion and ensures you remember specific product details.

Check Your Pantry Before Creating Lists

Do a quick check of your pantry, fridge and freezer before making a list. This allows you to take stock of what you already have and what is running low or out.

No need to add items you already have plenty of. Doing an inventory check helps you create targeted lists.

Leave Room for Inspiration Purchases

Even with a detailed list, you may encounter inspiration purchases at the store like seasonal items or sales. Leave some blank space on your list to manually jot down these surprise adds while you shop.

Your voice assistant list provides structure while still leaving flexibility for those irresistible finds.

Use Apps to Manage Lists Long-Term

The grocery lists you create with voice assistants can be accessed in companion apps for extended utility. Apps like AnyList and Bring! allow you to save lists over time and pull from them to build future lists.

This creates a searchable database of items you frequently buy, streamlining list creation.

Enable Reorder Notifications

Grocery apps like AnyList have reorder notifications to alert you when items you buy regularly are likely running low.

Connecting these apps to your voice assistant shopping list provides another level of automation to manage standard purchases.

Compare Prices Using Apps

In addition to organizing lists, grocery apps allow you to compare item prices across different stores. This allows you to find the best deals and split your list across multiple budget-friendly shops.

Syncing your voice assistant lists to these apps makes price comparisons seamless.

FAQs

How do I add an item by voice?

Simply say a command like “Alexa, add milk to my shopping list” or “Hey Google, add bread to my grocery list.” The voice assistant will instantly add the item you requested.

Can I share my voice assistant shopping list?

Yes, Alexa and Google Assistant allow you to share your shopping lists with others, so families or roommates can collaborate. Just set up sharing in the app.

Is there a way to get notifications for items to buy?

Yes, you can set reminders with Alexa or Google Assistant to get notifications when you arrive at the store, reminding you to buy key items on your list. You can also enable reorder notifications in grocery apps.

How do I organize my list into categories?

When creating your list with voice commands, simply specify the category or store for each item. For example, say “Alexa, add avocados to my Whole Foods produce list” or “Add shampoo to my Target drugstore list.”

Can I access old shopping lists to reference?

Yes, voice assistant apps and third-party grocery apps allow you to save and access past lists. This makes it easy to pull from previous lists when making new ones.

What if I forget my phone and only have my voice assistant device?

No problem – you can still access your shopping list on voice-only devices like Amazon Echo. Just ask your voice assistant to read your list aloud.

How do I ensure I get the right brands and specifics?

Make sure to include all relevant details when adding an item by voice. Instead of just saying “add yogurt,” say “add Chobani strawberry yogurt.” The more details the better.

What if my voice assistant mishears me and adds the wrong item?

Not to worry! Just open up the companion app on your phone and manually delete or modify the item that was captured incorrectly before shopping.

Can I edit the list by voice too?

Absolutely. You can say commands like “Alexa, remove toothpaste from my shopping list” or “Hey Google, change eggs to 1 dozen eggs on my grocery list.”

What if I think of more items after I finish my list?

No problem – just add the new items by voice whenever they come to mind. The benefit of voice assistants is you can continuously update your list over time right up until you head to the store.

Can I manage multiple shopping lists?

Yes, you can create separate lists like “grocery store list,” “drug store list,” “shopping mall list,” etc. Just specify the list name when adding an item by voice. Manage each list separately.

What about setting budgets for shopping trips?

Great idea! Many grocery apps that sync to voice assistants like AnyList let you set a budget for each list to keep your spending on track.

How do I remember to buy things I routinely forget?

Leverage your voice assistant’s ability to set reminders. Say “Hey Google, remind me to buy shampoo when I get to Target.” The reminder pops up when you arrive to help remember forgotten items.

Conclusion

In summary, harnessing the power of voice assistants can streamline and simplify your grocery shopping. Building lists, adding items, setting reminders, and even checking out can all be handled through simple voice commands. Voice assistant integration with mobile apps enhances the experience further.

So next time your shopping list is growing, let Alexa, Siri or Google lend a hand. You may be surprised at how much easier it makes managing groceries.