20 (Realistic!) Things to Stop Buying and Start Making
Inside: a list of household staples that you (yes, you) can remove from your shopping list and make yourself. DIY is almost always cheaper, no matter what the haters say. Really.
You can stock a pantry with lots of bulk items, invest in some coconut oil, lye, and a scale, and open up a whole new world of homemade breads, soaps, snacks, and much, much more.
This won’t only save you money at the grocery store, but it will change how you see yourself and your household. You aren’t just a person attached to your phone “hitting add to cart”. You’re productive and thrifty. And it all starts with a batch of granola.
Simple Homemade Marinara
This simple, one-pot marinara sauce comes together in about 40 minutes using basic pantry staples.
Granola
This is a fortune to buy, and so cheap to make. And MUCH better!
Lip Balm
Melt 2 parts beeswax, 2 parts coconut oil, 1 part shea butter. Add a few drops of essential oil if desired.
Apple Syrup
Use this instead of maple syrup on your waffles and pancakes. Uses scraps so it costs you hardly anything but your time.
How To Make A Simple and Frugal Liquid Dish Soap (With Video)
A high-lathering, grease-cutting liquid dish soap made with 100% coconut oil, 0% superfat for maximum cleaning power. Infused with (optional!) lemon essential oil for a fresh scent. This makes about 2 quarts of soap paste, which will dilute to a gallon of dish soap.
Laundry Stain Remover
Mix 1 part hydrogen peroxide, 1 part blue Dawn dish soap. Store in dark bottle (light degrades peroxide). The most effective stain treatment I’ve found – even on set-in stains.
How to Make Garlic Powder in a Dehydrator
Make your own garlic powder with just one ingredient, a dehydrator, and a few minutes of hands-on prep. The flavor is stronger and fresher than anything store-bought, and it keeps for months in the pantry.
Bar Dish Soap
A homemade bar soap that leaves dishes sparkling clean.
Drain Cleaner
Pour 1/2 cup baking soda down drain, follow with 1/2 cup vinegar. Cover drain, let fizz 15 minutes. Flush with boiling water. Monthly maintenance prevents clogs without harsh chemicals. This doesn’t work well if your drain is already clogged, but it’s great for prevention.
Pizza Sauce
From the kitchens of Italian grandmothers to your modern home, this timeless pizza sauce recipe is perfect for canning.
Window & Glass Cleaner
Mix 2 cups water, 1/4 cup white vinegar, 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol. The secret ingredient your great-grandmother knew about? A tablespoon of cornstarch – it prevents streaking.
Chicken/Vegetable Stock
Save vegetable scraps and chicken bones in a freezer bag. When full, simmer with water and herbs for 4-6 hours. Free, zero-waste, and far more flavorful than boxed.
Paste Cleaner (like Soft Scrub)
Mix 1/2 cup baking soda with just enough liquid castile soap to form a paste. Optional: 5 drops tea tree or lemon oil. The consistency of cake frosting works best. Far gentler on porcelain than commercial alternatives.
Ranch Seasoning Mix
Basic ranch: Mix 1/4 cup dried parsley, 1 tbsp dried dill, 1 tbsp garlic powder, 1 tbsp onion powder, 1/2 tsp black pepper, 1/2 tsp salt.Â
Apple Cider Vinegar
A homemade vinegar that turns apple scraps into a useful pantry staple. Makes 1 gallon.
Herbal Tea
Dry mint, lemon balm, or chamomile from your garden. Mix and store in jars. Especially good: 2 parts chamomile, 1 part lavender, 1 part mint for an evening blend.
Refrigerator Pickles
The crispest and most delicious refrigerator pickles with garlic, dill, and a hint of spice. This recipe makes a small batch and is ready in just a few minutes. No canning required.
Vanilla Extract
Split 3-4 vanilla beans lengthwise, submerge in 8 oz vodka. Store in a dark place for 3-6 months. Infinitely cheaper than store-bought and gets better with age.
All-Purpose Cleaner
Fill a spray bottle with 1 part white vinegar, 1 part water, peels from 2-3 citrus fruits. Let sit 2 weeks. Strain. Natural, effective, and pennies per bottle.
White Sandwich Bread
Bread on a budget. No expensive ingredients, nothing weird you have to buy, and you'll get a loaf that your family and your bank account will love.
Start small. Try just one thing from this list. Maybe make some vanilla extract for your Christmas baking, or mix up that cleaning spray that costs next to nothing. Once you make one thing yourself, you’ll probably start wondering what else you could make instead of buy
This is a great list! I followed your recipe for canned pizza sauce last September and am on my last jar now. It always feels extra special making homemade pizza with homemade pizza sauce, too. Broth is such a great way to use bones and veggie scraps when we collect enough in the freezer. We make it in our instant pot. I will also add that I have been making herb salad dressing for a long time and it’s definitely worth it. A bunch of herbs (variety is nice), oil (any kind or a mix), vinegar (any kind or a mix), salt or soy sauce, pepper, and some onions and garlic all together in a blender. It’s so versatile and keeps forever. Can also be used as a marinade. Pesto is great to make when there’s a lot of basil in the summer, and then take out of the freezer throughout the year. I also make mint extract from our mint plant. It goes well in hot chocolate in the winter, and I also add it to homemade all purpose cleaners. It does feel empowering to use things you’ve made and some of these are really quite easy. Now I should challenge myself to try something new!
hi greta! i love all of your ideas. i wish i had the gift of mixing up salad dressings on the fly. i don’t! next time you make one write down your proportions nad send it my way 🙂
Such a great list! I already make a lot of these. I can’t wait until apple time. I’m definitely making the cider vinegar and syrup.