250 rolls of toilet paper

Yesterday I was writing out a grocery list for typical perishables like milk, bananas, apples, and cheese. After I write those first few items, I always then write WATER at the top. The water here is whole-body-icky-shiver-bleck. Brita doesn't even help. I don't mind cooking with it because supposedly it is safe-- but I will not drink it. Anyhow, I digress.

So, as I was writing out my list, I thought about how we're down to about two packages of 12-double rolls of Quilted Northern Bathroom Tissue. I thought about my friend Jerusha and the advice she passed along to me about buying all the non-food type items on one store trip per month and her groceries at other times. Those non-food items like toilet paper, diapers, napkins, etc. always seems bulky and take up the whole cart. That's not very reasonable if you want to containerize 1 or 2 kids in it at the same time.

Then I started thinking about how I look like a circus act when it's time to unload my grocery cart and my body starts into contractions trying to get the little cans and shelf stable food from the cart (versus the big items like cereal and t.p. that I can reach without having to bend too much). And by the time I get to the register my feet have swollen up into caveman proportions and I'm dancing back and forth trying to ward off further pain. AND this reminded me how much I love the riding cart.

BUT I can't fit all my stuff into a riding cart. I had a contraction just thinking about all the annoying factors in grocery shopping. Then I thought about how tricky it will be shopping post-partum. I HATE shopping within the first six weeks after a baby is born. Do I predict the joy points will increase shopping within six weeks after twins are born? Notsomuch. Anyways, I tend to be anemic and extremely sleep-deprived and low on muscle tone after a baby is born and so it is painful and exhausting to shop then-- even sans children.

SO I decided to make a massive list of non-food items, non-perishable self-stable food items, and bulk freezer items in addition to my weekly perishables like milk, bananas, apples, and cheese, so I can buy them before I have the babies and before any possible bedrest.

I was quite pleased with myself when I was done with the list that should take us through Halloween. When Danny came home I showed him beaming from ear to ear and probably talking 120 miles per hour because that's what happens when I'm excited . . . or nervous. I talked to him about finances explaining that this could be a tremendous amount considering I also factored in approximately 180 newborn/size 1 diapers per week but it should end up being cheaper since we won't be frequenting the store as often and it should be easier then forcing our brains to print out a grocery list when we will be sleep-deprived.

He told me that some lady on his mission only went to the store every six months. Other than that she had a little vegetable and herb garden to help sustain her. I was so intrigued! I want to hear more about people who don't shop on at least a monthly basis. I want to know how they organize their shopping list and shopping day. I would very much like to know about their budget as well- but that's a little more personal. Am I a frugal nut? Perhaps. I love efficiency.

So why did I blog all this? Because I hope that this is the start of a grand thing for our family in time saving and money saving. And I hope that if you have any motivational stories about yourself or others that you'll share with me too. And I want it saved for posterity.