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Overview

The Shopping List feature provides a collaborative way for households to track items needed from the store. Organize items by category, check them off as you shop, and keep everyone in sync with real-time updates.

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Key Features

Category Organization

Automatically group items by Groceries, Cleaning, Household, or Other

Real-Time Sync

Changes sync instantly across all household members’ devices

Drag & Drop

Reorder items within categories by dragging

Quick Add

Simple two-field form lets you add items in seconds

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Adding Items

  1. Tap the + floating button at the bottom right
  2. Enter the item details:
    • Item Name - What you need (e.g., “Milk”, “Paper towels”)
    • Category - Select from: Groceries, Cleaning, Household, or Other
  3. Click Add to save
The item immediately appears in its category section for all household members.

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Shopping List Categories

Food items, beverages, snacks, produce, dairy, meat, frozen foods, and pantry staples

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Checking Off Items

When you find an item at the store:
  1. Tap the item in your shopping list
  2. The item is removed from view immediately
  3. An Undo button appears for 3.5 seconds
  4. After 4 seconds, the item is permanently deleted
  5. The action is logged as “Completed item” in the audit trail
All household members see the item disappear in real-time, preventing duplicate purchases.

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Editing Items

To change an item’s name or category:
  1. Tap the edit icon on the right side of the item
  2. Modify:
    • Item name
    • Category
  3. Click Update to save
The item moves to the new category if you changed it, and all household members see the update immediately.

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Reordering Items

Organize items in the order you encounter them in the store:
  1. Press and hold an item
  2. Drag it to the desired position within the same category
  3. Release to drop it in place
The new order is saved to the database and persists across all devices.
Items can only be reordered within their category. To move an item to a different category, use the edit function.

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Real-Time Collaboration

The shopping list is truly collaborative:
  • Add items remotely - One person can add items while another is at the store
  • Instant updates - Items appear and disappear in real-time for all users
  • No conflicts - The system handles simultaneous edits gracefully
  • Undo safety - The 3.5-second undo window prevents accidental removals
If two people check off the same item simultaneously, the undo timer starts from whoever tapped first. The second tap won’t create a duplicate undo action.

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Permissions

Access to shopping list functionality by role:
RoleView ItemsAdd ItemsEdit ItemsCheck Off ItemsReorder
Owner✅✅✅✅✅
Member✅✅✅✅✅
Guest✅❌❌❌❌
Guests can see the shopping list but cannot make changes. This is useful for babysitters or visitors who might need to reference the list.

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Data Model

Each shopping item contains:
  • id - Unique identifier (UUID)
  • householdId - Links the item to your household
  • name - Item description
  • category - One of: Groceries, Cleaning, Household, Other
  • position - Sort order within category (0-based integer)
  • checked - Whether the item has been purchased (boolean)
  • createdAt - Timestamp when created

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Audit Logging

Shopping list actions are tracked:
  • Added item - When someone creates a new item
  • Completed item - When an item is checked off
Each log includes the user name and item name for household visibility.

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Mobile Shopping Tips

Reorder items to match your store’s aisle layout. This minimizes backtracking and speeds up shopping.
Run out of milk? Add it to the list immediately before you forget. Real-time sync means the shopper sees it instantly.
Instead of “cereal”, write “Honey Nut Cheerios” to avoid bringing home the wrong brand.
Review the list before heading to the store to ensure everything is categorized correctly.
If you accidentally tap an item, quickly tap the Undo button within 3.5 seconds.

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Common Workflows

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Weekly Grocery Shopping

  1. Throughout the week, family members add items as they run out
  2. Before shopping, review the Groceries category
  3. Reorder items to match your store’s layout
  4. While shopping, check items off as you put them in your cart
  5. Other family members see real-time updates at home

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Emergency Item Requests

  1. Person at home realizes something is needed
  2. They add it to the list with the appropriate category
  3. Person at the store sees the new item immediately
  4. They can grab it before checking out

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Store-Specific Lists

While the system uses one shared list, you can manage store-specific items:
  1. Use the Household category for hardware store items
  2. Use Groceries for the supermarket
  3. Use Cleaning for bulk stores or specialty shops
  4. Check off items only when you’re at the relevant store

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