30 Things to Stop Buying and Start Making (2024)

Jan 2 | Frugal Living, Grocery Saving Tips | 28 comments

30 Things to Stop Buying and Start Making (1)

Things to stop buying and start making

If you’re wanting to save some big grocery bucks, it’s time to start thinking about things to stop buying and start making yourself. I’m talking about making your own pantry staples and household essentials!

Not only does creating your own stuff keep more money in your wallet, often times it’s better for your health! I mean how many times are you stuck reading a label in the store wondering what half of the ingredients are?By making your own essentials, you’re ensuring that you know each and every ingredient involved.

Also, an aspect of the frugal lifestyle for some, or many, is to be more self sufficient. Rather than running to the store every time you run out of something, you could try making it yourself! Once you know how to make everyday items, you’ll save yourself a lot of trips to the store, reduce your plastic waste, all while saving lots of money.

Creating your own products from scratch is simple. But to make it even easier for you, I’ve rounded up a list of 30 things to stop buying and start making:

  1. Homemade Flavoured Coffee Cream | SimplyFrugal.ca
  2. Homemade Peanut Butter | Fox and Briar
  3. Homemade Yogurt | Faithfully Gluten Free
  4. Homemade Mayonnaise (video) | Simple Bites
  5. Homemade Bisquick | SimplyFrugal.ca
  6. Homemade Ketchup | Cupcakes and Kale Chips
  7. Homemade Instant Oatmeal Packs | SimplyFrugal.ca
  8. Homemade Butter | Unsophisticook.com
  9. Homemade Cream of Chicken Soup | Buns in my Oven30 Things to Stop Buying and Start Making (2)
  10. Homemade BBQ Sauce | Simply Scratch
  11. Homemade Bread Crumbs | Make and Takes
  12. Homemade Taco Seasoning | SimplyFrugal.ca
  13. Homemade Ranch Dressing | SimplyFrugal.ca
  14. Homemade Cream Cheese | Bigger Bolder Baking
  15. Homemade Bouillon Cubes | Simple Bites
  16. Homemade Alfredo Sauce | Genius Kitchen
  17. Homemade Sweetened Condensed Milk | Cooking with Books
  18. Homemade Brown Sugar | Nourishing Joy
  19. Homemade Sour Cream | Oh Lardy
  20. Homemade Powdered Sugar | Mom with a Prep
  21. Homemade Vanilla Extract | SimplyFrugal.ca
  22. Homemade Pizza Dough | SimplyFrugal.ca
  23. Homemade Baking Powder | Mommypotamus
  24. Homemade Refried Beans | Simply Scratch
  25. Homemade Tomato Sauce | Food 52
  26. Homemade Apple Sauce | Pioneer Woman
  27. Homemade Pop Tarts | Smitten Kitchen
  28. Homemade Worcestershire Sauce | Little House Living
  29. Homemade Laundry Detergent | DIY Natural
  30. Homemade All-Purpose Cleaner | SimplyFrugal.ca
  31. Homemade Soy Sauce | Little House Living
  32. Homemade Dryer Sheets | SimplyFrugal.ca

How many of these have you tried?What are some things to stop buying and start making that you would recommend?

If you’re wanting more ideas for things to make from scratch, you might want to try this book, The Homemade Pantry. It features 101 recipes that you can try!

30 Things to Stop Buying and Start Making (3)


  1. E. L.on April 19, 2024 at 12:00 pm

    I’m looking for a recipe for a powder coffee creamer. My late Mother made this but I’ve not found her recipe. I’m not certain that she had even written down. Any help will be most appreciated. Thanks in advance.

    Reply

  2. Kirsten Hughsonon April 13, 2024 at 7:05 pm

    Thanks for the cream cheese recipe! I’ve made several of these things, but by no means all. I’ve actually got two old honey jars in the pantry right now that are full of (almost) vanilla extract. They’ll be ready in June. I bake WAY too much to buy teeny bottles of vanilla extract for exorbitant prices. I’m trying the cream cheese tomorrow morning, so excited!

    Reply

  3. Thomas Allisonon March 24, 2024 at 2:55 pm

    I’ve been making homemade vanilla extract, and selling it at farmers markets for years now, along with bread starters.

    Reply

  4. Joson March 22, 2024 at 7:14 pm

    I’ve made my own laundry soap for 18 years. I started because my son was allergic to every soap I tried.

    Reply

  5. Dawnon March 18, 2024 at 4:03 am

    Any recipe for A1 steak sauce?

    Reply

  6. Rachelleon January 31, 2024 at 9:37 pm

    I have been making brown sugar for my husband’s coffee for a while now, and he absolutely loves it. I use organic cane sugar and molasses and scrape vanilla seeds into it. It’s better and it’s custom, just for him. Making things from scratch helps make things special for our family. 🙂

    Reply

  7. Fiona Langloison December 7, 2023 at 12:03 pm

    Another one I’ve come across, is homemade Nutella, (with a few different versions), but I’ve yet to try. 🙂

    Reply

  8. Maryon October 7, 2023 at 1:15 pm

    Such a great list. I need to start making these.

    Reply

  9. Johnnieon February 5, 2023 at 3:10 am

    My Granny made butter when I was little but she always soured (?) the milk in a churn. How do you have buttermilk left if the cream is not soured first?

    Reply

    • Sipiwe Mashingaidzeon March 17, 2023 at 1:02 am

      Churning will separate the butter from the buttermilk

      Reply

  10. Carlaon January 4, 2023 at 7:41 am

    Making powdered sugar from granulated is really not easy, and I’m not even sure it’s possible. I’ve tried it – and watched video about someone else trying it – and it just didn’t work. It’s grainy and not smooth like the store bought kind. I want it to work, but just putting it in the blender, doesn’t. Some recipes call for cornstarch; I didn’t find that it helped either.

    Reply

    • Mama Ron January 20, 2023 at 7:01 am

      Don’t give up just yet… I don’t have a high powered blender and I know that I have to make my powdered sugar in very small batches for it to work… Like quarter cup at a time… And then I have had to put it in a sieve or sifter to get the big sugar chunks out and put those back in the blender… I hope that helps don’t give up you’ve got this

      Reply

    • Marleon January 27, 2023 at 9:54 pm

      I agree. What they are making is CASTER sugar.

      Reply

    • Jennion February 18, 2023 at 1:50 pm

      Hi it works great in a Kenwood seed and nut grinder or a coffee grinder. That’s what I do and it comes out great

      Reply

    • Barbon February 25, 2023 at 8:54 am

      If you need only a few tablespoons, use a coffee grinder. I don’t need a full box of powdered sugar, which I use rarely. This is for a quick fix used in a pinch.

      Reply

    • Sarahon March 27, 2023 at 5:39 am

      I use a simple coffee grinder to make powder sugar. It’s really easy. Coffee grinders are cheap, around $20.00. I keep one for only coffee, and the other for powdering sugars, herbs, and spices.

      Reply

    • Kathyon May 30, 2023 at 8:06 pm

      Try a coffee grinder it’ll make it nice and smooth I use one for my herbs when making my yearly seasoning

      Reply

    • WelshAmericanMamaon August 24, 2023 at 11:12 am

      The longer you put it through a grinder. I use a nut/ coffee grinder then you can make caster sugar. Longer icing sugar/ powder sugar.

      Reply

    • Jodyon September 15, 2023 at 11:40 am

      Don’t listen to the others – unless you have a VERY high powered blender, it is grainy. I have a blend tech and I have made it -just because I could, and I’m a pinch. But powdered sugar is so easy and cheap -it isn’t worth making your own.
      With the blend tech, I make my own rice flour from rice and wheat flour from wheat berries.

      Reply

    • Victoria Miluson February 5, 2024 at 8:01 pm

      A small magic bullet works great for this it takes some time to get a big batch, but works!! (Granulated sugar & corn starch)

      Reply

  11. Joon April 7, 2022 at 9:58 am

    Thanks for this awesome list!!

    Reply

  12. Cassieon October 8, 2014 at 4:18 pm

    Thanks for the link-up to my PB post. We seriously make this peanut butter every week and it takes just minutes. So easy!

    Reply

  13. Jenniferon October 8, 2014 at 2:41 pm

    How many items do you make homemade to save money personally? I’m not asking in a judge-y way at all I’m simply just curious if it’s possible to make most things from scratch these days and still have time for other things lol. I like the idea of homemade and recently made my first turkey stock from bones we had leftover. I know it’s so much better for you and I felt better using it in our turkey soup. But having said that we don’t always have bones in the freezer to make stock from, especially beef bones. And it did take quite a while to make enough for a pot of soup. I had to leave it in the crockpot all day and then make the soup the next day.

    Reply

    • Taya Kon October 8, 2014 at 5:26 pm

      I totally get what you’re saying! 🙂 Sometimes it makes more sense to buy things when it’s going to cost you more time than money. I personally make the instant oatmeal packs, the coffee cream, all-purpose cleaner, Bisquick, bread crumbs, taco seasoning, ranch dressing, Alfredo sauce, vanilla extract, pizza dough and apple sauce. Most of those things only involve pouring/combining ingredients so are super quick to put together.

      Reply

      • Crafteron March 30, 2024 at 1:46 pm

        I have been making ghee (butter oil) from KerryGold butter for awhile now. I love it!l I found out how on YouTube. I’m also making my own yogurt, and just in the last few months I’ve been experimenting and learning how to make graham crackers. ( I want to get away from “seed oils”.) Been making bone broth for several years. I’m 76 and want to live healthier.

        Reply

    • Kirsten Hughsonon April 13, 2024 at 7:12 pm

      What I do is I make stuff once I run out of the store-bought thing. I have a big list of homemade stuff I want to try, it seems to get longer all the time! Next one is I want to make butter, but I have four sticks right now. I’m not going to make it tomorrow, but once I’m on the last stick, I will try. I just do one thing at a time as it comes up that I need it, and over a few years I’ve made a ton of stuff.

      Reply

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30 Things to Stop Buying and Start Making (2024)

FAQs

How do you determine what things to buy and what not to buy? ›

5 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Making a Purchase
  1. Do I need it? First and foremost, determine if your prospective purchase fulfills a need or is simply something you want. ...
  2. What is the real cost? ...
  3. How long will it make me happy? ...
  4. What do I gain by buying this? ...
  5. Is there something else that can bring me joy?

How do I stop buying things constantly? ›

Identify and remove your spending triggers
  1. Unsubscribe from store newsletters or lists of things you can buy.
  2. Delete apps that make buying easy from your phone.
  3. Don't save credit card information on sites where you shop—if you need to purchase something, enter the card info manually.

Why we should stop buying unnecessary things? ›

Buying unnecessary things often leads to over-consumption which harms the environment. To keep up with consumer demands, fast fashion and other goods are producing lots of waste that have toxic chemicals. They are using non-biodegradable materials and contributing to the destruction of our environment.

What are the two things you Cannot buy with money? ›

The two things that money cannot buy are time and peace.

How to not buy everything? ›

How to stop shopping: 12 ideas that will save you time and money
  1. Identify the real need. Before you buy something new because you are bored, sad, frustrated or even celebrating, identify the real need. ...
  2. Remove temptation. ...
  3. Delay. ...
  4. Try a shopping ban. ...
  5. Watch your excuses. ...
  6. Track your spending. ...
  7. Declutter. ...
  8. Location.

How to stop buying so much junk? ›

Here are a few options.
  1. Set a 24-hour rule. One way to curb spending on things you don't really need is to force yourself to take the time to think about a purchase. ...
  2. Track your spending. Tracking how you spend your money is another great way to avoid buying junk. ...
  3. Put a picture of your financial goals in your wallet.
Aug 23, 2023

How to be happy without buying things? ›

How To Be Happier Without Spending a Lot of Money
  1. Strengthen Bonds With Family and Friends. ...
  2. Create a Gratitude Journal. ...
  3. Go for a Walk. ...
  4. Define 'Fun' for You. ...
  5. Start a Pay-It-Forward Line. ...
  6. Say 'No' ...
  7. Smile Even If You Don't Feel Like It. ...
  8. Strive for Serenity and Security.
Sep 29, 2020

What is the uncontrollable urge to spend money? ›

Compulsive spending - which is also known as oniomania, shopping addiction and pathological buying - is when a person feels an uncontrollable need to shop and spend, either for themselves or others.

What are people buying less of now? ›

Increased prices were the number-one reason consumers reported purchasing fewer items in grocery, personal care, and household products. This also appeared to be the case across subcategories such as beverages, snacks, dairy products, cereals, and fresh and prepared foods.

How to stop spending unnecessarily? ›

How to Stop Spending Money
  1. Know what you're spending money on. ...
  2. Make your budget work for you. ...
  3. Shop with a goal in mind. ...
  4. Stop spending money at restaurants. ...
  5. Resist sales. ...
  6. Swear off debt. ...
  7. Delay gratification. ...
  8. Challenge yourself to reach your new goals.
Apr 5, 2024

Why do I buy useless things? ›

We seek to recover from loss, loneliness, or heartache by purchasing unnecessary items. We seek fulfillment in material things. And we try to impress other people with the things that we own rather than the people that we are. But these pursuits will never fully satisfy our deficiencies.

How to stop boredom shopping? ›

6 Easy Ways to Stop Your Habit of Shopping When You Get Bored, According to AT Readers
  1. Ask yourself if what you're buying is a “want” or a “need.”
  2. Focus on one or two small things that scratch the shopping itch without putting a dent in your budget.
  3. Delay hitting the “buy now” button by doing literally anything else.
May 18, 2021

How to not buy anything for a month? ›

8 Tips For Doing A No-Spend Month
  1. Time It Right. A financial fast is a terrible idea around the holiday season, of course. ...
  2. Establish Rules. ...
  3. Plan Your Meals. ...
  4. Go Public With Your Goals. ...
  5. Set Up Obstacles To Spending. ...
  6. Start Having Fun (Yes, Really) ...
  7. Focus On The Future. ...
  8. Be Kind To Yourself.

Why do I buy things I never use? ›

These reactive purchases have become known as the Diderot Effect. The Diderot Effect states that obtaining a new possession often creates a spiral of consumption which leads you to acquire more new things. As a result, we end up buying things that our previous selves never needed to feel happy or fulfilled.

How do I decide to buy something or not? ›

How do you determine if you should buy something? A good first step is to determine whether a prospective purchase fulfills a need or is simply something you want. If it fills a need, you can go ahead buy it, as long as you can afford it. If it's a want, you might next consider why you want to buy it.

How do we decide which products to buy? ›

Choosing the right product or service requires careful consideration of various factors. You can make an informed decision that aligns with your needs and expectations by evaluating the quality, functionality, pricing, customer support, reputation, compatibility, and security.

How do people decide on what to buy? ›

They compare competitors. Some 87% of buying decisions begin with research conducted online, usually on Amazon or Google. Product quality and seller reputation matter, of course. But what about when the product matches the customer's needs and they trust the seller?

How do customers decide what to buy? ›

What is the consumer decision making process. The consumer decision-making process involves five basic steps. This is the process by which consumers evaluate making a purchasing decision. The 5 steps are problem recognition, information search, alternatives evaluation, purchase decision and post-purchase evaluation.

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