How much and what do you store in 5 gallon buckets

[MustangGal]

We are able to get round and square buckets from a friend (who I am beginning to suspect might be a prepper), who is in the grocery business. We are going to use the square buckets for non food items - like the 50+ dozen canning lids I just bought and save the round buckets for food items. He also got us some smaller buckets that may be ideal for salt, sugar, and other items we either want in smaller, more manageable amounts or things we just don't need a lot of... it would be silly to store yeast by the 5 gallon bucket.

[boltgun308]

I use a sharpie and write what and when on the lid. I don't double stack with my storage system (shelving) and I only have room for 54 buckets or so. Once this space is filled, I am done with food storage for the most part. I personally am not willing to give up living in the present to prepare for the unknown future. I store my boat, tractor, etc. also and the shelving for food only has a certain amount of space that I am willing to give up.

[kappydell]

Has anyone worked out a system to keep track of what you have? I have a decent sized pantry area but as I get more and more stuff, I sometimes will forget what I have. I have labels but when the buckets/boxes get stacked up - sometimes I lose track of things. Which is the equivalent of not having it all-right? I have tried the spreadsheet - heck there is an app for your smartphone too - but I can't seem to maintain any sort of order with it. Anyone got a better idea?

Along with storing the basics, I have been trying to learn to make everything from scratch. well, I can make most everything - it's whether or not the hubby/dog will eat it is the problem.

I have a list that is updated about once a month with additions/subtractions. If I take something out it is promptly listed on the grocery list for a replacement purchase to keep stocks up. Basically other than grouping my purchases on the shelves (main dishes/proteins - veggies & fruits - dairy - baking - fats - pastas, noodles & flours - for quick visual checks, and putting longer term bulk stuff in pails along one side, again, with lables, I don't do anything special. One side of my large storeroom/tornado shelter is food & water; the other is non-food preps (lighting, heat, beddings, clothes, etc.) and comfortable chairs with hassocks to put feet up while waiting out a tornado. I even have a couple folding cots and a folding commode for longer term needs. Lots & lotsa shelves. More shelving is outside the concealed and hidden storeroom/shelter with things I don't mind being seen - treadle & electric sewing machine is out on table near laundry area so I can mend things promptly, for example. Tools are in/near the workbench in the basement, not in the garage. Weapons are secured in the regular living area. Etc, etc, etc

[Grinnan Barrett]

Cross Bow is serious and so is Admin. One thing I really have found to be essential is to mix of the contents of the buckets. I want some of each product in the bucket and mark the outside showing what it contains and when it was packed. Use the oldest ones first. The reason for doing this is multiple. For one thing it allows you to hit intermediate goals. You are not trying to buy 300 pounds of rice at one time. At some point you may want to buy a full bucket of one thing but at first just try to get the basics in the bucket. Rice, beans, pasta, sugar, salt, other condiments, powdered milk, etc. As you fill one and get it in mylar you have hit a goal. I assure you that Crossbow did not do that overnight. Store what you eat and eat out of your storage. replace what you eat by twos.