A unique hobby born out of isolation has blossomed into a fascinating collection of over 3,000 grocery lists, offering a candid glimpse into the lives of ordinary people. Paige Overhultz, a nurse from North Carolina, began collecting discarded shopping lists in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Initially a way to cope with loneliness and a difficult personal period, her endeavor has transformed into a profound exploration of human behavior and societal trends, documented on scraps of paper found in supermarket parking lots, shopping trolleys, and even bins.

The Genesis of a Unique Collection

Overhultz’s journey into list-gathering started unexpectedly. While walking through a supermarket car park near her apartment, she found her first grocery list. It was a simple note with just three items: “Pea, Onion, Corn.” This seemingly mundane discovery sparked her imagination. “For me, collecting grocery lists turns something ordinary into a tiny mystery, and solving those mysteries feels both grounding and deeply satisfying,” Overhultz explains. She began creating elaborate backstories for the list’s unknown author, a practice that soon evolved into a dedicated hobby.

What began as a solitary pursuit during a time of limited social interaction has now become a significant collection. Overhultz meticulously gathers these lists, viewing each one as a potential narrative. Her collection spans various languages, including Korean, Spanish, French, German, Hindi, and Russian, and is documented on a diverse array of surfaces. “I find grocery lists written on all kinds of surfaces,” she notes. Common materials include Post-it notes and plain paper scraps, but she also cherishes lists found on specialized notepads, such as those from St. Jude Children’s Hospital. As a childhood cancer survivor, finding lists on these particular notepads holds special personal significance.

Uncovering Trends and Societal Shifts

Beyond the personal stories, Overhultz’s collection serves as an unintentional sociological study, revealing shifts in consumer habits and cultural phenomena. She observed distinct patterns emerging from the lists, particularly those from the early days of the pandemic. “Lists from that period often included a lot more comfort items, sweets, chips, and alcohol showed up far more frequently than they do now,” she recalls.

More recently, Overhultz has noticed the increasing prevalence of weight-loss medications appearing on grocery lists. Names like Wegovy and Mounjaro have become more common alongside everyday food items. “I started seeing weight-loss medications right next to everyday groceries,” she points out. This trend, along with the sudden appearance and disappearance of specific ingredients or seasonings—like sriracha or Everything But the Bagel seasoning—illustrates how cultural trends and public health concerns can be quickly reflected in consumer behavior.

Overhultz finds these observations compelling because they offer “small but incredibly revealing snapshots of life.” The lists, she believes, “quietly document what people are worried about, excited about, or taking care of in that moment.”

The Personal Significance of Mundane Items

For Overhultz, the act of collecting and analyzing these lists is deeply connected to her innate curiosity about people and their stories. She describes her fascination as a “natural extension” of her neurodivergence, which drives her to seek patterns, details, and connections. “My brain is constantly looking for patterns, details, and connections. Each list is a small puzzle,” she says, detailing the questions she poses to herself about each find: Who wrote it? Who are they shopping for? What are they planning to cook? What might their life be like?

The most profound moment in her collecting journey occurred after her grandmother passed away. While going through her belongings, Overhultz discovered one of her grandmother’s grocery lists. “Seeing her handwriting again, something so ordinary and practical, was incredibly moving,” she shares. This experience underscored the deep emotional resonance that even the most mundane items can hold. “It wasn’t a letter or a keepsake she meant to leave behind, it was just a reminder to buy everyday items. But that’s exactly what made it so powerful.”

This personal connection transformed her perspective on the entire collection. Overhultz now sees grocery lists not merely as errands on paper, but as “evidence of care, routine, and presence.” They represent the quiet acts of sustenance and affection that form the fabric of daily life, becoming poignant reminders of individuals and their routines, especially when they are no longer present.

Sharing the Stories

Overhultz has begun sharing aspects of her collection on social media, where her unique hobby has garnered significant attention and appreciation from followers. Many express awe at the depth of stories she uncovers, with some even humorously pledging to sign their future shopping lists “for Paige.” Her content often includes discussions about her finds, thrift shopping, and explorations of unusual foods, all stemming from her overarching interest in human stories and patterns.

The collection, which started as a personal coping mechanism, has evolved into a source of connection and reflection for both Overhultz and her growing audience. It highlights how everyday objects, often overlooked, can contain rich narratives and offer meaningful insights into the human experience.