What do you make to save money?

**Maisiedotes** · 02-22-2006, 10:17 AM

I am just wondering what you all make at home to save money rather than buying convenience items. Here is my list:

~I use vinegar or baking soda to clean almost everything
~I make my own laundry detergent
~Cook dried beans and freeze to make chili, hummus, or in casseroles
~buy no convenience or prepared foods- we buy rice and grains, bake our own bread, make our own veggie burgers, etc

I have just started doing this so I don't know what our savings are yet, but the laundry detergent alone is a HUGE savings.

I look forward to getting some new ideas from you all!

**nodmicks** · 02-22-2006, 10:23 AM

vinegar and diluted bleach to clean

bake from scratch (goodies but not most bread the 1.20 for a dozen is cheaper at the outlet)

make my own yogurt

make most meals from scratch

**sunshine** · 02-22-2006, 10:37 AM

I make almost all our gifts to others--- either food stuffs like jams/jellies, breads, muffins, cookies-- or handcrafted items like afghans, potholders, hats, scarvers, etc.

I make nearly all the snacks, baked goods, etc that we eat.

I make all the soups we eat-- we only buy canned soups if they are in the scratch/dent bins.

Vingegar, baking soda, ammonia and bleach are my cleaning supplies for the most part (I do buy The Works for the toilet, as we have hard water and it does a much easier job than the vinegar/baking soda mix)

**Emerald_Mommy** · 02-22-2006, 10:53 AM

~ make our own rolls, biscuits, cinnamon buns, etc. from scratch. We do not currently make our bread or buns.

~ make laundry detergent from Borax, washing soda, and Fels Naptha soap

~ make dishwasher detergent from Borax, washing soda, and whatever detergent is on hand

~ make most meals from scratch although we still buy some canned sauces (especially spaghetti) and boxed mac & cheese.

**Nada.Leona** · 02-22-2006, 11:09 AM

~ shopping for the best bargains
~ using coupons, but checking prices to make sure the purchase is cheaper than buying generic items
~ hang-drying clothes
~ turning out all the lights
~ I'm vegan, so I make a lot of my own food so I know what goes into it. But I bake my own bread, sweets (I don't like baking sweets too often, so it keeps me from eating them!), french fries and "taters", soups, stews, etc.
~ Reusing leftovers to make something great. Like reusing stew juices and bits of left-over potatoes in casseroles.
~ Keeping myself occupied with fun and frugal activities.
~ Having a BF who understands that money doesn't make me happy helps too.

**tlenad** · 02-22-2006, 11:18 AM

I make almost all of my food from scratch. I do buy store bought bread for sandwhiches though. I will also pick up cake and brownie mixes if they are on sale for less than a dollar because it's cheaper that way as well.
I hang dry at least one load of laundry a week. (I live in an apartment.)
I do a lot of my cleaning with straight bleach. I find it does a good job on sinks and such.

Hopefully when I move back in with my parents, I can learn how to sew fairly well and will be able to make home decoration items and clothes. We'll see though. (I don't own a sewing machine and my Mom does.)

**pecunierrant** · 02-22-2006, 12:49 PM

Some things that come to mind that I do regularly-

bake most of our breads, desserts, etc. Bread isnt cheap here and our three boys eat a whole loaf of store bought in a lunch.

Cook most foods from scratch unless its better or cheaper buying a package mix, etc.

Make pizza from scratch, loaded with toppings.

~Audrey

**FrugalMomof3** · 02-22-2006, 12:55 PM

These are some greta tips.... I know this year I will be making my gifts for christmas and birthdays.

- Use Your Crockpot
- Bake from Scratch

**Mojjo** · 02-22-2006, 05:05 PM

the single biggest money saver for me is to make ALL our meals and it's been a HUGE savings.

**cheapgeek** · 02-22-2006, 05:08 PM

I make:
- bread and buns, though sometimes I'll just buy it to save time
- biscuits on occasion
- cookies
- trail mix
- yogurt
- most meals from scratch; rarely buy convenience foods
- HM laundry soap, though I also use detergent
- gift baskets and gifts in jars, like mixes
- beer

**leeleeaub** · 02-22-2006, 06:17 PM

I would LOVE the recipe for homemade laundry detergent
Mine are making all our meals not eating out ever till we get a vehicle
Using plastic bags for garbage bags and doggie poop pickups
Using coffee grounds to make fertilizer for my houseplants
Planning on growing as many veggies as I can on my decks for summer
Planning to get a freezer to buy items that are on sale for future use
Planning to make some of our clothes for summer once I get a sewing machine
Clipping coupons

**ironmaiden** · 02-22-2006, 07:26 PM

We make granola cereal from oatmeal (honey, brown sugar, oil plus whatever dried fruit is around).

Bread in the breadmachine.
Cook ahead for nights when I don't want to cook.

**baxjul** · 02-22-2006, 09:37 PM

I make my own:

~laundry soap
~oxy clean type powder
~general purpose cleaner
~laundry stain remover
~bread
~cookies
~sweets
~most gifts
~some clothing

**Maisiedotes** · 02-22-2006, 09:59 PM

Baxjul, where do you find your cleaner recipes? I would love to try making some. Thanks!

**Kris B** · 02-24-2006, 12:19 AM

Things I make or have made:
Laundry detergent
Greeting cards
Meals
Salad dressings
Pot holders & dish scrubbies
Candles
My own jewelry
Pillow cases
microwave rice heating pad thingy(just did this the other day, it works great!)
All of my window coverings
My dogs bed (from old sheets & pillows)
scarfs
Fire starters w/ pine cones & wax
pizza
I have kind of made my own grocery store in my basement with what I have learned about couponing & stockpiling... does that count?