Setting Up the Family Chat

Before anyone can add items, you need to set up a group chat that OpenClaw monitors for shopping list commands. This lesson walks you through creating the chat, adding family members, and configuring how OpenClaw recognizes list items.

Create or choose a group chat

You can either create a dedicated shopping chat or use an existing family group.

A separate chat keeps shopping talk out of your main family group:

Create a shopping chat session

openclaw run "Create a new group session called Shopping List for my family"

Pros:

Clean — only shopping messages
Easy to scroll and find the list
No notification fatigue from non-shopping messages

Cons:

One more chat to manage
Family members might forget to use it

Configure the shopping list skill

Install and set up the shopping list skill:

Install shopping list skill

openclaw skill install shopping-list

Configure it with your preferences:

openclaw run "Set up my shopping list with these settings:

Store categories (organize items by aisle):
- 🥬 Produce (fruits, vegetables, herbs)
- 🥛 Dairy (milk, cheese, yogurt, eggs)
- 🍖 Meat & Seafood (chicken, beef, fish)
- 🍞 Bakery (bread, rolls, pastries)
- 🥫 Pantry (canned goods, pasta, rice, sauces)
- 🥣 Breakfast (cereal, oatmeal, coffee, tea)
- 🧊 Frozen (frozen meals, ice cream, frozen veggies)
- 🧴 Household (cleaning supplies, paper goods, toiletries)
- 🍿 Snacks (chips, crackers, nuts, candy)
- 🥤 Beverages (juice, soda, water, beer, wine)

Default store: Main grocery store
Currency: USD
Language: English"

Every store is different. Customize categories to match your usual store's layout:

Update my shopping list categories:
- Combine Dairy and Eggs into one section
- Add a "Deli" category for deli meats and prepared foods
- Add a "Health" category for vitamins and supplements
- Rename "Pantry" to "Dry Goods"

The more your categories match your store's actual aisles, the faster your shopping trip will be.

If you shop at multiple stores, set up routing:

Store routing rules:
- Costco: bulk items, paper goods, snacks in large quantities
- Trader Joe's: specialty items, frozen meals, wine
- Local grocery: produce, dairy, meat (fresher options)
- Amazon: household supplies, pantry staples in bulk

When I add an item, suggest the best store based on these rules.

Set up list commands

Configure how family members interact with the list:

openclaw run "Set up these shopping list commands for my group chat:

Trigger words to ADD items:
- 'add [item]' or 'need [item]' or just the item name
- 'buy [item]' or 'get [item]'
- 'we're out of [item]' or 'running low on [item]'

Commands:
- /list — show the current shopping list, organized by category
- /clear — clear all items (with confirmation)
- /done [item] — mark an item as purchased
- /undo [item] — put a purchased item back on the list
- /budget — show estimated total for current list

Ignore casual food mentions that aren't shopping requests.
For example, 'I had pizza for lunch' should NOT add pizza to the list.
Only add items when the intent is clearly to purchase."

Natural language is key

You don't need to memorize commands. OpenClaw understands natural language, so "we need more paper towels" works just as well as "add paper towels". The commands above are shortcuts, not requirements.

Invite family members

Make sure everyone who shops knows how to use the list:

Add all family members to the group chat
Make sure OpenClaw bot is added to the group
Send a test message: "add test item"
OpenClaw confirms: "Added test item to the list"
Type /list to see it
Type /done test item to remove it

If you want to control who can do what:

Shopping list permissions:
- Everyone can ADD items
- Everyone can view the list (/list)
- Everyone can mark items as DONE
- Only [Mom/Dad] can CLEAR the entire list
- Only [Mom/Dad] can set the budget

This prevents accidental list clears by enthusiastic kids.

Knowledge Check

Why should OpenClaw ignore casual food mentions in the group chat?