Lately I’ve gotten a number of emails or Facebook comments asking why Southern Savers requires you to login to print a shopping list.  While this is something that we rolled out 8 months or so ago, I thought I’d take a second and explain what exactly the login is for.  (This maybe review for some of ya.)

First, the Login is not anything to benefit me.  I do not sort, file, or analyze your data.  With over 1 million saved grocery lists a month that would require computers I am too cheap to buy…

About a year ago we rolled out a much smarter shopping list.  One that could be tailored to the area you live and only show you the coupons that were in your actual paper, instead of sending you looking for coupons that came in a paper 3 states away.  For a while we ran two systems keeping up the programming behind the old system for those that hate logins (even if they make life easier) and the new system.  In the end it cost way too much to maintain both and since things around here are free we had to pull the plug on the old “no sign-in” system about 7 months ago.

So yes, we are asking that folks login now.  That said, this login thing is actually pretty awesome!

Here’s what the system does for ya:

• Create a Shopping List with coupons shown only for the newspaper that you get.  If your newspaper is not listed, pick the closest city near you and maybe even consider volunteering to cover your area…
• Save your Shopping List forever (or until you decide to delete it). You can also keep adding to it, editing it and even putting multiple lists from Southern Savers together on one printable list!
• Track your Savings in the Savings Tracker.  You can track by store and see your total grocery budget.
• Search with the Item Search just for things you need right now across only the stores you have in your area.  You can also make a shopping list of just the things you searched for.

We have a number of other features planned, but for right now this is already more than any other couponing site.  I’m quite proud of what we’ve built, and that life around here is still completely free for everyone!

In order to fully use these features the system had to know who you were, what paper you get and what stores you like to shop at.  Thus we needed a login feature so that it could remember those things about you.

If there are ever things you would like to see us add please let me know.  I’m also open to feedback on current things.  Leave a comment or send me an email at jenny@southernsavers.com.  What I don’t like getting are emails just saying that you’ll never use the site again… so it would be a little more pleasant if you could be constructive in your feedback.