diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 600d2d3..be233cb 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -1 +1,2 @@
-.vscode
\ No newline at end of file
+.vscode
+**/migrations/**
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/lists/tests.py b/src/lists/tests.py
index fa5dbd6..0baafab 100644
--- a/src/lists/tests.py
+++ b/src/lists/tests.py
@@ -18,9 +18,18 @@ class HomePageTest(TestCase):
 
     def test_can_save_a_POST_request(self):
         response = self.client.post('/', data={'item_text': 'A new list item'})
+
+        self.assertEqual(Item.objects.count(), 1) # check that one new Item has been saved to the database
+        new_item = Item.objects.first() # same as doing objects.all()[0]
+        self.assertEqual(new_item.text, 'A new list item') # check that the item's text is correct
+        
         self.assertIn('A new list item', response.content.decode())
         self.assertTemplateUsed(response, 'home.html')
 
+    def test_only_saves_items_when_necessary(self):
+        self.client.get('/')
+        self.assertEqual(Item.objects.count(), 0)
+
 class ItemModelTest(TestCase):
 
     def test_saving_and_retrieving_items(self):
diff --git a/src/lists/views.py b/src/lists/views.py
index e569739..34f1ac4 100644
--- a/src/lists/views.py
+++ b/src/lists/views.py
@@ -2,8 +2,17 @@ from django.http.request import HttpRequest
 from django.http.response import HttpResponse
 from django.shortcuts import render
 
+from lists.models import Item
+
 # Create your views here
 def home_page(request):
+    if request.method == 'POST':
+        new_item_text = request.POST['item_text'] # use new_item_text to either hold POST contents or empty string
+        Item.objects.create(text=new_item_text) # .object.create is shortcut for creating a new Item, without needing to call .save()
+    else:
+        new_item_text = ''
+
     return render(request=request, template_name='home.html', context={
         'new_item_text': request.POST.get('item_text', ''),
-    })
\ No newline at end of file
+    })
+