A purchasing aid logistics appliance that assists a purchaser with a shopping list generation, in-store product location, automated checkout, and financial management. The PAL is in the form of a battery operated PAL with touch screen display and multimedia input/output. The PAL functions as a fiduciary aid and two-way communications device secure for managing money and processing perishable data. The PAL can function as a stand-alone device or synchronized with a user's personal computer via a RF or IR 1ink.