You’re standing in the middle of the grocery store aisle, a packet of pasta in your hand, racking your brain: do I have this in my pantry? With inflation making life more expensive, one of the few things you can control is how you shop. To avoid unnecessary expenses like buying a fourth can of beans, you need to know what you already have on hand. The key is to have an accessible, up-to-date list that you actually use every time you shop: a digital list on your phone makes this quick and easy, saving you time and money in the long run.

Follow these steps to save money on groceries with a digital shopping list.

There are several apps and services that let you create shared grocery lists that the whole family can access. Popular options include AnyList, Bring!, and Out of Milk. Pick one that fits your needs and that you can easily access from your smartphone. (Here's our roundup of the best grocery apps for every need.)

Set up categories in your list app to organize items. Typical categories for groceries include: produce, dairy, meat, frozen, snacks, beverages, pantry items, bakery, deli, paper/cleaning supplies. Categories make your list neater and easier to manage.