Food inventory management ?

Hi,

I've been keeping a certain amount of food in stock for a few years now. I've been doing it the simplest possible way : dry food (past, grains), in waterproof barrels.
Now I'd like to diversify what I keep in stock, with cans for instance. That implies keeping track of each item's expiration date.
I'm talking about keeping enough food for a few weeks, not tons of food. I live in a small appartment without much room anyway.


Is there any simple way to go about this ? With an excel sheet or something ? I've no idea how people have been doing this on farms before the computer age, but I guess there's got to be a way to manage a small stock without professional inventory management software.

Thank you in advance for your help.

I have always just keep my list in a 3 ring notebook.

If you only keep enough for a few weeks, just write the expiration date on the container in nice clear lettering, and rotate your stock as you use it, put the new stuff in back, use from the front.

I have tried inventorying my stock but I always fail at it. I have a lot though. I do date it all with sharpies so I can watch dates.