Keeping Inventory

After the thousandth time I bought spaghetti sauce instead of salsa, mushrooms instead of beans, and cereal instead of oatmeal, I decided to start keeping a pantry inventory. I went to organizedhome.com , downloaded out the Pantry Inventory forms, sat down with a cup of coffee and wrote down everything I could think of that we normally keep in our pantry.

I wrote down staples like diced tomatoes, spaghetti sauce, and salsa and skipped things like black beans and orzo pasta - things we normally don't have on hand (but I happen to have them after trying new recipes).

 I placed them in sheet protectors and stuck the freezer inventory to my fridge and taped the pantry inventory to the inside of my cabinet doors.

Each time I take something out, I put a hash mark next to it with a dry erase marker. When I make my grocery list, I take a look at what I've used and add it to the list.

This is definitely a work in progress. I've had to take the sheets out of the protectors to add things and am still working on what is a good 'basic pantry inventory' for us to have based on the meals we normally eat.

Do you keep a pantry inventory? What works for you? What staples do you always have in your pantry?

I'm working on the last few pages of my latest book. Be sure to check my 100 Books Challenge blog for a review!