Doing a “no-shopping” month is such a smart way to spot hidden gaps. I did something similar last year, thinking my shelves were set, but realized we blew through flour and olive oil way quicker than I thought. Felt a little silly missing out on basics like baking powder too—hard to bake much without it! I started keeping a notebook in the pantry to jot down whenever we finish something, since memory fails if I just rely on it.
Salt’s a big one I’ve heard about from others—so cheap and easy to store, but you need lots if cooking from scratch, preserving, or even just for taste. Also surprised by how much tea I went through, since I usually have a cup out of habit.
One thing that really threw me off was dried beans. I had plenty, but forgot how much extra water and fuel they take to cook compared to canned beans. Now I try to balance both. For inventory, I do a quick check every 3-4 months, reset after harvest season, and go over the medicine cabinet twice a year. Anyone else find themselves suddenly out of condiments or spices, or is that just me?
