Make up a mnemonic to remember, like roygbiv for the rainbow.

Write it down or mnemonics.

Yesterday, I had to remember to buy ….lol, I can’t remember now. Anyhow, the letters were PBC (something, bananas, and cream)

It helped me remember what I needed.

eta I just remembered! Pork chops! We grilled them outside yesterday.

Lucille, great minds think alike.

Repeating them.

Of course nothing helps me remember what I needed at the store like coming home after shopping!!

I just wanted to mention my late first ex mother in law who I loved and who was a great person. Not a critique because she managed to have a quiet happy satisfying life. Instead of making a grocery list, she would place the empty packages on the dining table as reminders, and it was always quite cluttered. Oddly enough once at the store she managed to recall all the items she needed to buy without bringing either packages or list.

I don't know what it's called, but I came across something online about a dozen years ago that has worked like a charm for me to remember a grocery list of ten or fewer items.

Example:

1 = bun, 2 = glue, 3 = tree, 4 = door, 5 = drive, 6 = mix, 7 = heaven, 8 = ape, 9 = dine, 10 = pen

Proposed grocery list:

1 - pickles: I picture a jar of pickles between the top and bottom of a giant hamburger bun.

2 - milk: I picture myself brushing glue all over a jug of milk.

3 - Dish soap: l picture many bottles of dish soap hanging from a tree.

4 - picture opening a closet door and lots of “the product” come tumbling out.

5 - picture driving down a road and you see a huge “product” blocking your way.

6 - picture stirring a bunch of “the product” in a mixing bowl.

7- picture lots of “the product” on an escalator ascending to heaven.

8 - picture an ape holding a frame with a photo of “the product”.

9 - picture a dinner plate with “the product” on the plate and you’re cutting it.

10 - picture yourself writing the name of “the product” on a piece of paper.

Sounds crazy, but it works for me. Even weeks later the list is still in my mind. But once I assign products to a new grocery list, it’s fixed for my next small grocery run. And I never worry about losing my grocery list (ever done that?)

This can be used for larger lists in a different way, but I never tried it and can’t remember where I found the info.

Sing the list.

1. write out list

2. read list out loud

3. take picture of list with phone

4. remember to take phone to store with you

KW, that sounds easy enough, but I need two hands to do my shopping. I never carry a wallet into the store. It's not uncommon in my area to have phones, wallets, or purses stolen from carts. I made a very slim fabric pouch, just big enough to hold my phone, ID and debit card, which I attach to the waistband of my pants and can't be seen. I can concentrate on shopping rather than losing an expensive phone and my cards.

donna, what a great solution you created! 99% of my shopping trips are joint with my DH. He pushes cart & watches my purse which I place in upper part of basket. That leaves me free to wander the aisles. Totally different when I shop solo - I’m weighed down by my cross body bag. I pull out my phone to verify I’ve picked up everything on my list. If I’m shopping for a new recipie I take a pic of recipie ingredients too.

Give the list to someone else and ask them to help you remember.

Artificial Intelligence(AI)

@donna_loomis - I take my purse, but I never put it in the cart. It's a crossbody, and always zipped shut.

tie a string on your finger to remind you to put your list in your pocket

I guess I'm paranoid. All it takes is a pocket knife, a tug on the strap and a sprint out the door.

donna - Agree with you. I really strive to always maintain situational awareness when I’m away from the privacy of my home. I aim to always be alert to everything around us. I scan my surroundings before exiting my car. Even walking my little dog through our very ’safe’ neighborhood - only one entrance / exit, wide streets & great sidewalks - I am alert for things that might be a threat to her or me. In public my cross body bag is carried in front not draped over my back. I don’t live in a huge city now but I did & I also traveled often for work. Old habits die hard.

I agree with Annie…repeating whatever it is always helps me.

Word looks like a number association: The number zero looks like an egg. A squirt bottle looks like the number seven. So I remember the numbers 0 & 7 to purchase those 2 items.