An update...yes, we are still here!

Well, I knew things were going to get crazy but I didn't know just how crazy! The past few weeks I have been kept busy getting quotes for homeowners insurance, car insurance, setting up appointments for inspections and audits, pestering our realtor with questions, signing paperwork with our lending bank...ah! The list seems never ending right now! But with all the craziness, things have been going well with house plans. We made it through all inspections with no problems and all our paperwork is now completed and in so we are just waiting to sign the final paperwork on May 18th and get to work on our house!! THEN, the real fun begins!! I am so excited!

In the midst of all this, I have been having fun getting better at my little hobby of "couponing!" This continues to save us so much money and I wanted to show you just how crazy I am! :) When you use coupons, in order to maximize savings, it is important to "stockpile" items you can get for free or 75% under retail that you use on a regular basis such as shampoo and conditioner, toilet paper, toothpaste, toothbrushes, razors, batteries, paper towels, flour, sugar, spices, coffee/tea, meat (which can be frozen of course), detergent, cleaning supplies, diapers, body wash, pasta, cereal, wipes, condensed cooking soups and broth. So I have been working on this and have created a little stockpile of free or very cheap things that should last us quite a few years. It will be nice to have our own house b/c I am going to organize each stockpiled item by group on shelves in our basement so I will know when a certain product gets low that I need to start looking for the "stock up" price again! I compiled it all into one area to show you just what doing this for a couple months looks like...

Below is the beginning of my diaper stockpile for the next baby...sizes 1,2 and 4...

The mother-load! The boxes in the back are 36 containers of Purex 3 in 1 laundry detergent that I got on a BOGO (Buy one get one sale), paired with a manufacture and store coupon, paying literally pennies for all of them! 36 containers should last us about 3 years. In the front is approx. 40 trial size crest prohealth toothpaste, 12 boxes kotex liners, 15+ body wash (gillette, nivea, pure and natural...whatever I could get for free), scrubbing bubbles and fantastik cleaner, ziploc bags, 8 boxes of benadryl, 8 boxes of motrin pm, face wash (assorted brands), tp, spaghetti sauce. Not pictured: all of Kira's size 3 diapers currently stored under her crib for easy access, 10 boxes of whole wheat pasta I got for free, 12 boxes of cereal I got for $1-1.25 each and I can't think what else right now!

Pictured below are a few of my receipts. Yes, I save them all and file them! I told you I was crazy!

So, what I am trying to say is that if you follow the rules of stockpiling, you should never have to pay for certain items at all! Gotta go! Kira just woke up...