Keeping A List

[IronShepherd]

Here lately I have been putting pen to paper over what I feel I should keep in preps. Historically I have just bought extra things as I have found them on sale or for a good price. Now I feel like I have things out of whack. It seems that I have stocked up greatly in the security area and improving my food stores. I have realized that these two areas are far better stocked than things like tp, soap, and toothpaste. I'm wondering if any of you have created a list, like something in excel, to keep track of what you have and how long it is intended to last. I would really like to hear some ideas over how some of you handle this.

[2682nscovell]

Here lately I have been putting pen to paper over what I feel I should keep in preps. Historically I have just bought extra things as I have found them on sale or for a good price. Now I feel like I have things out of whack. It seems that I have stocked up greatly in the security area and improving my food stores. I have realized that these two areas are far better stocked than things like tp, soap, and toothpaste. I'm wondering if any of you have created a list, like something in excel, to keep track of what you have and how long it is intended to last. I would really like to hear some ideas over how some of you handle this.

I am in the process of that right now. Actually since I am a web designer and flash guru... I was going to create an online survival list and tips and tricks interactive catalog. All I need is some help from the pros on this site.

[Rmplstlskn]

I wouldn't get too detailed with a spreadsheet... It takes a lot of time to make and then you have to update it all the time... Unless you like such things...

I do have one for IMPORTANT stuff: ammo inventory, medical inventory, long-term food storage inventory, BUG OUT checklist...

Everything else I just keep an eye on and when it starts to get down I then start looking for sales and bargains on it...

Rmpl

[LizardKing]

I tried the spreadsheet route and found that I was always behind in updating it and had to get my laptop out to even look at it. Finally I went to an alternate method and found that a legal pad always starts right up and is often faster to take a quick look at.

[Knobster]

Being the nerd I am, I love spreadsheets. My 'List of lists' (thank you JWR) has 13 sheets nicely sorted out. Food&Water, Power&Heat, Medical, Tactical, Barter, etc etc. Plus I have every item tagged with a priority number for purchasing.

Of course, since I'm currently working a desk surrounded by fabric walls, a spreadsheet is the best choice for me. I think my coworkers would call the men in the white coats if I had a stack of legal pads here in my office with my list of preps... However, it matters not what tool one uses to track things.

[monkeybird]

I set up my own spreadsheet. Every time I purchased a prep item, I put the receipt in a special jar and then once a week or so I updated my spread sheet. After a year or so, I found it very helpful in knowing where to concentrate my efforts. My spread sheet contained information about the date purchased, date expired, number of servings, and weight of the item.

The number of servings and calories is important as it gives you a realistic view of the amount of food you actually have. Same with ammo. I even had a bug out list when I live in Alabama and needed to get to Florida. I had a check list that I kept in my car of items that I need to get in the car in case of emergency BO. This is different from BOB, these are items that you must take with you if you probably won't be coming back. Things like and gold or silver, grain mills, coin collections, etc.

I tend to buy specials and things on sale, but looking at my spread sheet, I realized that some essential items were missing. I then refocus my preps to stock the missing props. Regardless of the effort, keeping track of your preps should be a priority.

[IronShepherd]

I guess my thing is that I like for things to be organized. I like knowing what I have and everything having its own place. I now have enough stuff that I would have to take the time to add it up and see if I was keeping a balance. I agree that it will take a lot of time to make but to me it would be worth having. I have friends that ask what they should have when I talk to them about preparing and I think it would help them if I was able to hand them a chart or check list and say these are the things that I think will be important. They could then take that and begin or improve their preps.

[Lowdown3]

I had never done a "complete" inventory of stuff in deep storage for years. Over Christmas break in 04 or 05 we spent some time doing just that.

Things I "thought" I had enough of, I had scarely enough. Things I still felt a priority to get, I have in over abundance. Some things I had extremely too much of, some things not enough. Some things took longer to "find", some things I didn't even remember purchasing.

We are old school notebook and pen types. I made copies of all the pages and put the duplicate in another spot.

One time I got into putting all the books in my library on a spreadsheet on my laptop. Entered in about a thousand or so books kept in a couple locations. It wasn't long after that that the laptop went kaput on me.....

[monkeybird]

My laptop also went kaput. Even the computer guru couldn't get it back. Bought an apple. However, I had backed up my stuff on a USB flash drive - thank goodness. I've since backed up almost all essential survival stuff, spread sheets, books on how to do stuff, on these flash drives.

Things I "thought" I had enough of, I had scarely enough. Things I still felt a priority to get, I have in over abundance. Some things I had extremely too much of, some things not enough. Some things took longer to "find", some things I didn't even remember purchasing.

That's exactly the problem I had. Until I seriously organized my data, I didn't realize the situation. The only problem is to be sure you keep up with the information. I just stuck the receipts in a jar, and tried to do it weekly or so.

[BeckyinTX]

I use a spreadsheet but print out a hard copy, which I write on & fill in. When my hard copy starts looking too ratty, I enter the data into the computer & print out a new, up-to-date hard copy. I store food by meals & use the serving size my crew actually eats instead of using what the manufacturer considers a serving. I have a column in my spreadsheet to record how many of each item we use in a month. Those two things really helped me assess what we have, where the holes are, & specific items I need focus on.

[barfife]

As someone who is relatively new to prepping, I have been reading, planning and purchasing as the budget allows. I feel like I am cramming for finals.

I know that I must have some holes in my plan that I am unaware of I'm sure. I really could use a check list or spreedsheet to check for short comings. Anyone out there willing to share theirs or an example of sorts?

If someone could pm me, I would furnish an email address to send it to in order to maintain your (and my) privacy. Thanks guys. This site has been a Godsend.

[610Alpha]

@barfife - go to http://www.survivalblog.com/listoflists.xls

This list was made by James Wesley Rawles author of Patriots, this book has inspired many of us to become prepared. I would also recommend doing a search on his site.

[barfife]

thanks to those that responded

[Klayton]

Welcome barfife, never be afraid to ask questions here, we are all preppers because we see the future unraveling at a terrible rate...