Food Storage

It seems like I catch the "food storage bug" and then it dies off quickly as I dive into it. I get really excited about the thought of getting my food storage but when it comes right down to it, I get completely overwhelmed, don't know where to start, then I put it off for the 15th time. Anyone relate? I've been slowly (SLOWLY-key word) building up our food storage so I'm not even thinking about it. I know for some it works for them to do all the calculations of how many pounds per person you need of each item and then they get all of the items and they're done. I have to be honest. I don't think I would ever eat half of the things on the "items suggested" and that is why it becomes such a daunting task. So I'm still struggling with the long term food storage. So, my solution for the short term food storage? I write a date on almost every item in my pantry when I open it. When it is emptied I see how long it took for us to use that item and then figure out how much we need for one year and stock up on it when it goes on sale. Genius? I'm not sure but it works for us. (For items that are one time use like a can of tomato sauce, I keep track of how many cans I use in a month with a sheet on the side of my refrigerator and figure it out that way. I use the date method for vegetable oil, peanut butter, etc.) I feel like I'll get to the point by the end of this year where I'll know exactly how much of each item we need that we use on a regular basis. Then I rotate the food through so it doesn't go bad. Now I just have to keep on top of the replenishing of it since I haven't really gone grocery shopping since May. It's really easy to have a grocery store in your basement to justify putting off going grocery shopping one more week. ;) I'm hoping to put together a spread sheet of every item and how much we need of it for a year and have it to reference so I know we have enough. Because really, I have no idea how much is enough just by looking at what I have because it seems like plenty to me. As for the long term storage. That's another issue to tackle for another day (or year). As Andy puts it, if we ever needed to use some of those "items" I was referring to, he said he would rather die than suffer. Since I love looking at how others put their food storage together, (really, is it some secret thing because it seems like it's always talked about but never shown how it's executed. Or am I just missing the boat?) I thought I would show you mine. Please, no judgements. I know that it's not anything impressive but it's what works for me and if it inspires you or gives you an idea on how to do yours, great!

(It is still a work in progress but welcome to what Andy calls "My Grocery Store!")