How to...
Create and Follow a Weekly Asset Control Plan

You can use MakeLifeEasy to shop on a schedule (though you don't have to - you can simply use your smart shopping lists whenever you want to shop). But let's say you want to do all your shopping on Saturday afternoon. Here's a simple plan for using MakeLifeEasy to do this:

Setup (One-Time)

1. Set up your need folders. (optional) Add the need folders for the store types and departments for which you want to use MakeLifeEasy to shop. You may also want to pre-enter needs for these folders, or you can add the needs as you add your assets. See How To... Add a lot of need folders at once.



2. Load your initial assets (optional) to get your database accurate quickly, or just enter assets as you purchase them and let your database build up slowly. See How To... Load my starting inventory.



3. Set up your shopping schedules for weekly, on Saturday. For store types which require a shorter lead time, like Health & Beauty items, select a period of 1-2 weeks. For store types you want to visit less frequently, like office supplies, select a period of 4 weeks or more. See How To... View and/or change a shopping schedule.



4. Set up your shopping list to view items needed by the 2nd trip/receipt. To do this, just go to your Shopping List ^< page, select "- Needed by 2nd trip/receipt" from the second filter list, and press "Go" to save this. To assure that it remains saved for your next session, make sure that you sign out using the "Sign out" link on the dashboard or the "More" menu. You can do it now, or wait until you end your session.

Use (Saturdays)

1. Load all purchases for needs you're managing in MakeLifeEasy. Accept all receipts that you've sent from online sellers, and enter any unentered receipts that have been received from offline vendors. Now your entered data is up-to-date.



2. View your checkpoint reports and update your inventory levels. Take a look at the items in the checkpoint reports and validate that each is correct. You make want to take a physical inventory for some or all of these items. Now your inventory levels are checked.



3. View your shopping lists. Since you've performed the first two steps, your shopping lists will be mostly up-to-date. Now, return to your dashboard in advanced mode, which will show shopping lists with needs that must be fulfilled. Open each shopping list, make any final inventory adjustments, and shop using the lists.



4. Enter receipts. (optional) It's best to load the receipts as soon as possible, so that the data is fresh in your mind. If you do this, then you can skip the first step in this section (because you've already done it here), except for items you've purchased during the week, if any.

That's it! Now your shopping will be organized, with less hassle, and as your data builds up you'll be able to use other MakeLifeEasy features, such as buying advice, seller performance reports, etc.

If you don't want to shop on Saturdays, you can easily adapt this plan for a different shopping pattern, such as monthly.