How do you keep track of your preps?

Both are questions that have been flitting thru the back of my mind for some time now. A few months back I did have an inventory on a spread sheet in ExCel on the computer. Then I blew it.

Once I knew where I was with the preps I was able to target what I needed to add. And of course I have been using and replacing (mostly) and rethinking some things. Now I can honestly say that I don't know the specifics of the preps without doing another involved count/tally.

So, I would like to know how you might keep a better or more comprehensive inventory of preps that would be easily managable. We are all preping for that day when TSHTF and part of that day will be knowing exactly what our available resource are. There has to be a way of keeping track of a dynamic flow that does not require constant attention.

we have a master list, broken into sections of have, want, dream. I keep an inventory on excel too, but only update it periodically. The idea is/was to know where I was at, so it's done it's job. I figure if I update it every 3 months, it's fine. I could get by with 6 months reviewing most years, but now we are working to excelerate our preps, so I'm going to have to keep better tabs on things.

Since I have moved into the apt...I have not been able to inventory..more of a space issue then anything else...Once we get moved in to the house I can un pack everything,organize and make lists..

I keep a running inventory list. It's clipped right inside the door of my main pantry. I use something and mark it on the list. Then when I make my shopping list I just refer back to that list.

I use www.trackmyfoodstorage.com They let me print PDFs and keep my database. It's secure. I input as I buy, it makes it very easy.

excel spreadsheet here.

tygerkittn, is it possible to get a 'pattern' to use off line for the inventory from trackmyfood? Call me paranoid but I don't want my inventory on line.

What I did was, I emailed them and asked what happens when I delete my account. They said it gets completely deleted, with no trace left on their servers, so I joined, I got everything in the inventory, and printed all the PDFs and then I had it deleted. I can't afford to prep anymore anyway, so the bulk of my preps are inventoried through that, and I just keep written notes for the few cans of spam I add now and then.

I usually have spreadsheets made up for the different places that I have food stored. They need to be updated right now. I know there were a few times that we grabbed things without marking them down, and I also didn't get everything recorded from the last shopping trip. Everything is labeled on the can or box with a purchase date. If something has a closer expiration date I just move the purchase date back until it is in line with whatever else we have. I usually only have to do that if we buy things from a scratch and dent type place that sells cheap stuff close to the date. It'll still be good for ages after that date. I try to have everything listed by location and grouped together. For example, all my green beans might be on shelf A. It wouldn't help me if something compromised that location, but it makes figuring out where things are and how much is left easier.

Because a lot of our storage space is tough to access and requires moving furniture I try to pull out cases of stuff at a time and store them in the kitchen pantry. There are still times when my husband will find me laying on my stomach with drawers strewn about trying to reach something that I need for dinner. It's not perfect, but our inventory system works alright when we actually do it. When you're in the habit of recording everything and when you pull everything out at once it is a lot easier to keep track of. We have no inventory of the items we are currently using in the kitchen pantry, we don't count those in our food storage. There is still enough in here for two or three weeks of food, so it's a nice buffer to our stored food.

Right now the chest freezer inventory is just written on a piece of paper tacked on a piece of corkboard in the kitchen. When I grab something from the freezer it gets crossed off. When we put more in it gets written down. I'll probably be putting it into a spreadsheet sometime soon too. It certainly makes it easy to decide what to cook during the week when I can look at all of the ingredients I have on hand without opening cupboards and the freezer.

Kayleigh

We did comparison shopping at all three of our local stores pluss Amish outlets. We now have a base price one everything. I have been buying and have not had time to do the inventory, but it is coming

breaking the list down to the location makes a lot of sense, beaners. I am of a mind to pay attention to the old saying "don't put all your eggs in one basket." So I have several places to stash things.

OK how's this sound? Make a spread sheet for each location on the computer. Then on the computer merge the lists into one master list so I can see the big picture. That should give me an idea of anything that may be left out. I am confident now that if things fell apart tomorrow that we could get along just fine until next year's harvest. But I still come up with things that would be real handy if there wasn't the option of running to the store.

I think the best thing I have in the preps is all the 'how to' books.

http://www.revelar.com/

This is the one I have been using for at least the last five years. I love it. It is a software that you buy. Nothing is left online. You can add extra isles and products to the program. It shows you what has to be used first by date. Makes shopping lists. You can put in your family membersd by sex and age and it will tell you what you need of what for a year and how much it will cost. If you want to break it down to get it weekly, by weekly or monthly it also gives you that cost.

You can add as many pantries as you like. For example I have one for freezers and one for the basement ect. It is not only for tracking food. You can also track tools, other supplies. Anything. All you have to do is add a new pantry, isles and products.

It also comes with long term storage recipes and it will tell you what you are lacking in your stores to make each recipe. Or tell you if you have everything. You can also add recipes to the program.