Do u take a calculator with u when u go grocery shopping?

@nonew3 (1941)
United States
August 24, 2008 1:59pm CST
Do you take a calculator with you when you go grocery shopping? I think it's a great idea. It forces you to think about what you are buying and how much you are spending, and it helps you to not go over the amount of money you have on hand.
1 person likes this
10 responses
@SaintAnne (5453)
• United States
25 Aug 08
Unfortunately I don't. At first I try to add everything up in my head but if I start buying more than 10 things, I lose my count. So what I do now is write the prices on my grocery list next to the product I picked and then add as I go along. At least the numbers are still on paper, and I do round them up to make it easier for my brain (plus the tax too). Though that doesn't really stop me from overspending at a grocery store. I only buy what I need if I don't have much money. But if I have extra money, I go grocery berserk!
@nonew3 (1941)
• United States
25 Aug 08
Well, maybe that helps. Still, I wonder if taking a calculator along might help? I know what you mean about going grocery berserk. I do the same thing sometimes when I get my check in the mail. It's like I want everything in the store!
@SaintAnne (5453)
• United States
25 Aug 08
I'm sure it's always helpful to take a calculator with you anywhere. But like the first poster, I use my cellphone for that. Boyfriend's mom always whip out the calculator when she pays for dinner at a restaurant. I always find that cute.
@rbailey83 (1428)
• Canada
24 Aug 08
lol yeah i do it when i only have a specific amount of money i can spend on the grocery's makes it easier to know where i am, i round off to the next dollar so that there is room for taxes
@nonew3 (1941)
• United States
24 Aug 08
Good idea! I am glad to hear that you do that. I have a problem with overspending my budget sometimes, and I find that taking the calculator along when I go shopping helps me to think twice about buying things on impulse.
@rbailey83 (1428)
• Canada
25 Aug 08
yeah i have the same problem, and it does help, when you see what your at and know how much you have left available to spend
@James72 (26790)
• Australia
24 Aug 08
No I don't and it would of absolutely no use to me whatsoever if I did! lol. I am living in an Arabic speaking country and do not know the language so whenever I go grocery shopping I have absolutely NO idea what many things cost until such time as I go to pay for it! The larger supermarket chains do use both Arabic and Western numerals but I cannot always get to these stores! Much of my shopping is done at local stores and there is not an English word or Western numbering system in sight. Thankfully over time I at least have a rough idea of what things cost so don't end up with a nasty shock when I get the total bill!
@nonew3 (1941)
• United States
24 Aug 08
Yikes! I can see how a calculator would be completely useless then. And, I have heard that Arabic is a tough language to learn. Good luck to you! I would not want to be in that situation.
1 person likes this
@kellys3ps (3723)
• United States
25 Aug 08
I don't usually take a calculator with me, but I do add up the prices of the things I buy on my grocery list so I can keep track of exactly how much I am spending. I usually just round up to make it easier.
@nonew3 (1941)
• United States
25 Aug 08
The only problem, although I aced differential calculus, is that I have an absolutely horrific time with doing math in my head. lol I'm glad that you are able to do that, though.
@jpso138 (7851)
• Philippines
23 Jul 09
I do not really bring a calculator when I go shopping. I do however use the calculator in my mobile phone considering that I carry always my phone and one of the feature incorporated with such is the calculator. It is really amazing how this gadgets are designed and how many additional things you can do with your mobile phone nowadays.
@nonew3 (1941)
• United States
23 Jul 09
That is great that you use that feature on your mobile phone! Isn't it neat how that is on there? I bet that most people never really think about using it, but I bet it would help to control their budget and their spending habits if they did.
@eagle_f15 (1827)
• Malaysia
26 Aug 08
My cellphone is with me so I use it as it comes with a build in calculator. I use the calculator to compare prices and to count like how much is per piece of something..... it is useful.
@nonew3 (1941)
• United States
26 Aug 08
Great idea! I am glad that you do that. It is easier to get the best deals when you use a calculator, even the one that is built into your cellphone. I have found that my calculator has basically paid for itself, in how much money I end up saving when I go shopping.
@Sir_bobby88 (8231)
• Singapore
25 Jul 09
Do you consider taking a handphone with calculator function is call bringing calculator ? Anyway i will not bring calculator to supermarket because i think it won't help to save money whreas taking note of the prices of the product we used normally is much more useful , when it is having a offer we buy more , when it is getting more expensive we look for other alternatives
@kellys3ps (3723)
• United States
2 May 09
I do take a calculator with me when I go grocery shopping.
• United States
24 Aug 08
not a calculator...but all cell phones have them built in for you to use
@nonew3 (1941)
• United States
24 Aug 08
That is great! Do you use the calculuator on your cell phone much, especially when you are shopping? I don't have a cell phone, and so I must take a simple handheld calculator with me when I go to the stores.
@my1341 (456)
• China
15 Jul 09
Oh, I never take a calculator with myself when I go grocery shopping because I never buy too much stuff for a single time. I don't need to do much complicated calculation. I can do the calculation of money and price in mind as I don't buy too much. If I do have to do the calculation seriously, I usually take out my cell phone to do that for me as it has the built-in calculation feature.