When you first create a list, all of the
values (Unit, Price and Quantity) are estimated values. This is
shown visually in the list by the product being preceded by a red square 
.
After you have shopped using a list, you
should update the list to reflect what you actually purchased. When
a product in the list has been updated to Actual values, then it will be preceded
by a green dot 
.
An Overview of the MyListMate Process
1) Create your list in MyListMate using estimated prices.
2) Print your list.
3) Do your shopping using the MyListMate list.
4) Update your list with Actual values, reflecting what you actually bought and at what price.
The first few times that you use MyListMate, you might want to make sure that you print prices on your list. Keep your estimated list, and when you have updated your list with Actual details, print out the Actual list with prices as well. By comparing the two printed lists (Estimate and Actual) and also using the MyListMate reports, you can analyze any differences between what you wanted to spend and what you actually spent. Differences may be attributable to price changes, impulse buying, unavailability of products and so on.
You can do this by choosing Open ... from the List
menu, or by clicking on the Open 
button on the Main Toolbar.
Having opened the list that you want to update, you can now do anything you like to it, including adding or removing products, changing quantities.
For the best accuracy and the most complete way of using MyListMate, please consider the following approach :
1) Up until the point when you shop from a list, you can change the estimated Quantities and Prices as much as you like, and add and remove products from the list.
2) After you have shopped from the list, do not remove products that you did not buy. Instead, you should set the Actual quantity to zero to signify that you did not buy any.
3) If you bought products that were not on the list, then you should add them to the list, but set the estimated quantity to zero, to signify that you did not intend to buy. Then update the Actual values to reflect what you bought.
If you use this approach then the original estimated total for your list will stay unchanged, and your Actual total for your list will be accurate. This will allow for accurate comparison of Estimate vs Actual using the MyListMate Reports.
NOTE : Use the Change
Quantity option from the List context menu to change the Estimated
quantity.
Use the Update Actual details option from the List context menu to
change the Actual quantity and other details.
NOTE : If you delete a Store or Category that is used in an existing list then you will no longer be able to maintain that list. You will still be able to open and print the list, but maintaining and saving will not be available.
