🏴‍☠️ This is Bad

A few months ago, I spent Saturday hunting for the ideal hiking boots.

Hours of scrolling, reading reviews, and second-guessing left me frustrated and still bootless.

Then, a friend suggested I try ChatGPT, and everything changed. What was a time-sucking chore turned into a five-minute task with better results than I imagined.

This is How People Are Shopping Smarter.

Let’s talk about using AI as your shopping assistant. Not to impress anyone. Not to sound clever. But because it works. And you’re about to see how.

1. Discovering What to Acquire

Imagine you’re searching for hiking boots. You want something durable, comfortable, and good in the rain. Scrolling through endless reviews feels like quicksand.

Instead, type this:
“You're a product expert. Recommend hiking boots for durability, comfort, and rain resistance. Budget is under 150.”

ChatGPT will filter through the noise and give you a list worth considering. No fluff. Just solid recommendations to start your search.

Why this matters: It’s not about being lazy. It’s about clarity—you cut through overwhelm and focus on the right options.

2. Comparing Products

Decisions are hard when everything looks the same. You have two laptops in your cart, claiming to be “awesome.” How do you choose?

Here’s what to ask:
“Evaluate the MacBook Air M2 versus the Dell XPS 13. Highlight speed, battery, and portability.”

You’ll receive a side-by-side breakdown that simplifies your decision-making. This isn’t just useful. It’s sanity-saving.

3. Budgeting for Purchases

Got a limit? Don’t waste time falling in love with something you will not acquire. Instead, have ChatGPT work within your range.

Prompt:
“List smartphones under 500 with good cameras and durable battery .”

You’ll be shocked how quickly you find something that fits your criteria. Because why settle for a wild goose chase?

4. Planning Grocery Runs

No more wandering aisles like you’re lost in a maze. Turn ChatGPT into your meal planner.

Ask it:
“Plan a week of dinners for a family of four. Focus on quick recipes with chicken, rice, and vegetables. Create a grocery list for it.”

It’ll generate meal ideas and an itemized shopping list. This means less stress, more structure, and fewer mid-week pizza nights.

5. Finding Gifts

Gift-giving is supposed to feel thoughtful, but let’s face it: it’s a chore. If you’re stuck, let AI handle the brainstorming.

Prompt:
“Suggest gift ideas for a 10-year-old who loves art and puzzles. Budget is 40.”

You’ll receive thoughtful suggestions you’d never think of. It’s like having a personal buyer in your pocket.

6. Crafting Alerts

You want something, but you’re not in a rush. Instead of checking tags daily, automate the research.

Try this:
“Explain how to set up pricing alerts for AirPods Pro on Amazon or a similar website.”

ChatGPT will walk you through it. No manual refreshing. Just a smarter way to time your shopping.

7. Shopping for Niche Items

Need a very specific product? Say, eco-friendly packaging for a small event? These searches can be a nightmare.

Ask:
“Find eco-friendly party provisions for 20 guests. Focus on compostable plates, cups, and utensils.”

ChatGPT will cut your search time in half and guide you toward reputable options.

8. Learning What’s Worth It

When unsure if something’s hype or helpful, ask ChatGPT for reviews.

Example:
“Summarize customer reviews for Pot Duo Plus. Highlight common likes and dislikes.”

You’ll walk away with a clear picture of whether it’s worth pursuing or passing.

9. Anticipate Needs

Prevent last-minute shortages by planning. ChatGPT can predict your needs based on past consumption.

Try asking:
“Based on my previous shopping habits, what should I stock up on for the upcoming month?”

You’ll always have essentials ready without overbuying.

10. Seasonal Adjustments

Shopping shifts with the seasons. Let ChatGPT guide you.

Example:
“What seasonal items should I consider stocking up on for winter?”

You’ll cover seasonal essentials and maybe even discover a few extras worth having.

11. Create Custom Lists

Tailor your shopping to match your exact needs.

Prompt:
“Help me create a grocery list for a week of meals for a family of four.”

ChatGPT simplifies the planning process so nothing gets forgotten.

12. Inventory Management

Prevent unnecessary runs to the store. Let ChatGPT help track what you’ve got.

Example:
“What items should I restock based on my current pantry inventory?”

It’ll recommend what’s running low, so your shelves are always stocked.

13. Find Best Tags

While ChatGPT doesn’t browse live pricing, it’s good for strategy.

Prompt:
“What are best practices for comparing pricing across different retailers?”

Smart strategies mean better choices and fewer regrets.

14. Track Promotions

Stay informed on when to shop smarter.

Example:
“When do grocery stores typically have promotions on canned goods?”

You’ll learn timing tricks that make your shopping more efficient.

15. Create a Restock Schedule

Keep essentials on a steady rotation.

Ask:
“Help me create a monthly restock schedule for household essentials.”

With ChatGPT, you’ll prevent running out of the things you use most.

16. Enhancing the Shopping Experience

Maximize what you acquire with smart suggestions.

Example:
“What sauces or ingredients should I consider purchasing with pasta?”

This turns simple purchases into thoughtful pairings.

17. Recipe Ideas

Shop with purpose and reduce waste.

Prompt:
“Suggest recipes based on chicken, rice, and vegetables I already have.”

You’ll prevent waste and enjoy better meals.

Takeaways?
This isn’t about replacing man's effort. It’s about supercharging it. ChatGPT can handle the grunt work, freeing you up to make better decisions.

Use the prompts. Experiment. See how much smoother your shopping becomes.

Your move: Start with one thing—a pair of shoes, a gift, a meal plan. Use ChatGPT for it. You’ll wonder why you didn’t start sooner.

Pro Tip: ChatGPT might not be very capable of using Internet search, so try these prompts with Perplexity instead

Tool of the Day: Fathom.video

What It Does: Automatically records, transcribes, and summarizes your Zoom meetings in real-time.
Why It’s Awesome: Saves you hours of note-taking while providing fast, searchable meeting insights.
Pro Tip: Use the summaries to create quick plans or share highlights with your team.

(Try Fathom.video →)

Challenge of the Day: AI Time Audit

Pick one upcoming meeting to record using Fathom.video

Share the summary and insights with your team to streamline follow-ups.

Let us know how it improves your workflow, and we might feature you in the next issue.

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Set sail,
Captain Yar