The invention discloses a self-help shopping system and a method. The system comprises an intelligent label, a regional communicator, a host, an intelligent settlement system, an intelligent label unlocking device and an access control. The method comprises a main program, wherein the main program comprises the following steps of: S1, changing the static state of the intelligent label; S2, sendinginformation to the regional communicator or to the host by the intelligent label; S3, forming a shopping list by the intelligent settlement system when the intelligent label is at the intelligent settlement system; S4, judging whether payment is completed or not by the intelligent settlement system, and starting the intelligent label unlocking device if the payment is completed successfully; S5,unlocking the intelligent label by the intelligent label unlocking device; S6, separating the intelligent label from the corresponding commodity. According to the invention, the inconvenience factorsbrought by queuing are avoided, the cost is greatly reduced, the commodity security is improved, the intelligent degree is improved, the labor quantity is reduced, the shopping experience is improved,and the compatibility is strong.