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Use My Shopping Schedules

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    You can define a shopping schedule for each of your top folders. The shopping schedule defines how often you plan to shop for needs in that top folder, and keeps track of your next two shopping dates. You don't have to use schedules, or you can use schedules in a limited way. But if you can get in the habit of shopping on schedule, you'll spend less time shopping, less money on shipping costs, and your shopping decisions will be simpler.

    MakeLifeEasy will suggest amounts to purchase which will cover your needs until your next shopping trip. These amounts are shown in the automatic buying advice section of the buying advice panel. If you buy these amounts, Your inventory levels will tend to be synchronized so that you'll run out of most things just in time for your next shopping trip. If the price is right, MakeLifeEasy will suggest how much to stock up on to save money.

    Just a few easy steps will get you on schedule:

    1. Define a shopping schedule for each of your top folders. Each time you create a new top folder, it is given a default shopping schedule of the first day of each month. You'll probably want to change it. Go to Shopping Schedules and select the top folder to change its shopping schedule. Get these set up the way you want them for each top folder.
    2. View your Shopping Lists, filtered for a specific top folder's needs "Needed by next trip/receipt".
    3. Use the Automatic Buying Advice. For each item you plan to purchase, view this advice, and print out and take with you if needed.

      The automatic buying advice uses a few simple rules of thumb to help you minimize your costs. When you buy financial assets, the classic rule is to "buy low, sell high". When you buy personal assets, the rule is to "buy little or none when the price is high, but stock up when the price is low." MakeLifeEasy uses these rules of thumb to suggest how much you should buy:

      When the unit price is:Buy this much:
      Higher than normal Just enough to last you until your next shopping trip; or less if you can.
      Normal Just enough to last you until your next shopping trip.
      Less than normal Buy extra; enough to last for two shopping trips.
      Much less than normal Buy extra; enough to last for three or more shopping trips.

    MakeLifeEasy keeps track of your unit prices and usage rates to provide these suggestions to you. When you follow these simple steps, your needs will tend to become "clustered", which means that your shopping needs will get synchronized. At normal or lousy prices, you'll buy just enough assets to cover your needs, and run out right before you're ready to shop again. This is what businesses call "just-in-time" purchasing. Or, you can decide to stock up if the price is right, and MakeLifeEasy will tell you how much you can save and what your profit will be if you do.

    If you get out of synch, it's not a problem. MakeLifeEasy will always recommend an amount to purchase that will get you back in synch, if you want to.

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