When you shop for groceries, you might not always realize which items are more affordable to make yourself rather than buy pre-made. By preparing certain foods at home, you can often save money and control the quality of what you eat.
Knowing which groceries are cheaper to make than buy helps you stretch your budget without sacrificing taste or nutrition. This article will guide you through some common foods that you can easily create at home for less than their store-bought counterparts.
Homemade salad dressings
Making your own salad dressings can save you money compared to buying bottled ones. You likely have most ingredients at home already, like olive oil, vinegar, and spices.
Homemade dressings often taste fresher and let you control the ingredients. Non-creamy types, like Italian dressing, are especially simple and cheap to prepare.
By mixing up your own batch, you avoid preservatives and added sugars found in many store brands. Plus, it’s easy to customize flavors to your liking.
Pesto sauce
You might find it cheaper to buy store-bought pesto, especially if you only need a small amount. Good-quality ingredients like fresh basil and olive oil can add up quickly when making it at home.
However, if you use a lot of pesto, making it yourself can save money over time. Plus, you can adjust the flavors to your taste and control the freshness of the ingredients.
Marinades
You can save money by making your own marinades at home. Most marinades only need a few basic ingredients like oil, vinegar, and spices, which you might already have.
Homemade marinades let you control the flavors and avoid preservatives found in store-bought versions. It’s simple and often cheaper, especially if you make larger batches to use over time.
Spice mixes
Making your own spice mixes is a simple way to save money. Buying spices in bulk lets you customize blends without paying for expensive pre-made packets.
You only buy what you need, which helps keep spices fresh. Plus, mixing your own lets you control the flavors and salt levels in your recipes.
With a few basic spices, you can create many blends, cutting costs and enhancing your cooking experience.
Red pasta sauce
You can save money by making red pasta sauce at home, especially if you buy tomatoes in bulk. Using fresh ingredients gives you control over flavor and quality.
Making sauce takes about 30 minutes, but you’ll avoid the preservatives found in store-bought versions. If you have time and fresh tomatoes, homemade sauce can be worth it.
However, if time is tight, buying sauce is often cheaper and more convenient because of mass production and longer shelf life.
Pizza dough
Making your own pizza dough can save you money. The cost of ingredients for dough is low, especially when you divide a batch into multiple pizzas.
While frozen dough is convenient and consistent, fresh dough often costs less per pizza. It takes a little time and effort, but the savings and taste can be worth it. You control the ingredients and freshness in your homemade dough.
Cranberry sauce
You can save money by making cranberry sauce at home instead of buying canned. It only takes a few simple ingredients like fresh cranberries, sugar, and water.
Homemade sauce lets you control the sweetness and flavor. It usually costs less per cup than store-bought, especially if you buy cranberries in bulk.
Plus, making your own means fresher taste and no added preservatives. It’s a quick recipe that works great for holidays or everyday meals.
Guacamole
You can save money by making guacamole at home instead of buying it pre-made. Fresh avocados, lime, salt, and a few basic ingredients often cost less than store-bought guacamole.
Using frozen peeled and cut avocados is another budget-friendly option. They stay fresh longer and reduce waste since you only thaw what you need. This way, you get fresh tasting guacamole without spending extra.
Whipped cream
You can save money by making whipped cream at home using just heavy cream. A half gallon of heavy cream costs around $8, which is often cheaper than buying canned whipped cream repeatedly.
Making it yourself means you control the ingredients, so it’s healthier and fresher. Plus, homemade whipped cream tastes better and is simple to whip up in minutes with a mixer or whisk.
Laundry soap
You can save money by making your own laundry soap at home. It usually involves simple ingredients like borax and washing soda, which you can find easily in stores.
Store-bought detergents often cost more because they include fillers or water. Making your own soap can cut costs by about 50%.
Homemade laundry soap might take a little time to prepare, but it lasts long and cleans well for fewer cents per load compared to many popular brands.
Bath salts
You can easily make bath salts at home with simple ingredients like Epsom salt, baking soda, and essential oils. This lets you customize scents and avoid unnecessary additives.
Making your own bath salts is often cheaper than buying pre-made versions. You’ll save money and get a fresh, personalized product every time. It only takes a few minutes to mix a batch.
All-purpose cleaning spray
You can easily make your own all-purpose cleaner with simple ingredients like vinegar, water, and lemon peels. This saves money since a concentrate can make dozens of bottles.
Homemade sprays often cost just a fraction of store-bought versions, sometimes less than 35 cents per bottle.
Making your cleaner lets you control the scent and avoid harsh chemicals. Plus, it’s quick to mix up and lasts a long time.