Cheap Trick Thursday: DIY vs. store-bought?
Get Rich Slowly had an intriguing list of items to make or do yourself rather than buy or pay others to do.
I agree that making greeting cards is a great idea, and I infinitely prefer making my own gift wrap instead of buying packaging that if used as directed will be destroyed. And don't get me started about DIY microwave popcorn.
However, often the DIY trade off is time (it takes a while for bread to rise, even no-knead bread) and convenience (it can get messy to change your own oil). Growing your own produce or making your own cheese requires an initial investment of money for tools --- not to mention the real estate. You could also brew your own beer ...
Frankly, there are a lot of things you could make for yourself -- and the pursuit of these DIY delights could be very rewarding. But where do you draw the line in the cost-benefit analysis?
Here's a few ideas:
Laundry detergent: click this link to find 10 homemade laundry detergent recipes. You may need to hunt around to find the ingredients, such as washing --- not baking! --- soda. But you'll be rewarded with a fragrance-free soap that does not suds up a lot.
Popsicles: Don't be tempted by the alluring melody of the Mister Softee truck. You may have read the ice pop cookbook review last week in The Sun's Taste section, but the Internet is also full of icy inspiration. Check out this list of homemade popsicle recipes --- note the dripless one, made with gelatin --- that could easily be frozen in paper cups or empty yogurt containers.
Baking mixes: why do people reach for pancake mix or pre-packaged spice blends? Because it's quick and easy to open a box and dump. But with a little advance work, you could stir up dry ingredients and put them aside until you need and want them, to save yourself the measuring later. Allrecipes has this homemade pancake mix recipe and lots of cookie and brownie mixes that are suitable for gift-giving.
Okay, I just read over these ideas and realize some sound like they were pulled from a home economics textbook from a previous century. Most of us probably don't live in a Little House on the Prairie. If you've got something better in your back pocket, please share below.
Comments
I've got nothing, Liz. But only because I almost failed Home Ec class in the 8th grade. It scarred me for life.
Posted by: dan thanh | July 17, 2008 10:17 AM
Dan Thanh, you raise a good point --- if you can't do it yourself well (or at least well enough), it makes sense to pay someone else to do it. I'm not good enough at knitting, for example, to make my own sweaters and socks, nor am a good enough seamstress to do more than reattach buttons. There's kind of a handmade chic thing going on these days but you have to be practical, as well. Don't make clothes you don't want to wear. It doesn't pay to make bread if it doesn't taste good enough for you to want to eat it.
Posted by: Liz Kay | July 17, 2008 11:23 AM
I am getting re-acquainted with DIY skin and beauty products. When I was a kid my mom taught me how to make oatmeal scrub and an avocado mask. I just found a recipe the other day for a caffeine scrub (supposed to help with cellulite!) that I am going to try. Saves money and is fun and healthy! Of course, I guess this is only a money saver if you are someone who spends lots on beauty treatments/products... But it's still fun. :)
aeb, those are fabulous ideas ... why pay to exfoliate, when you've got the ingredients in your pantry! Here are some recipes from Whole Foods for DIY sugar scrub. --- lfk
Posted by: aeb | July 17, 2008 12:40 PM
aeb, here's a link to super simple DIY facial cleanser recipes, also courtesy of Whole Foods.
Posted by: Liz Kay | July 17, 2008 2:01 PM
liz, I just learned you can use baking soda to exfoliate. I tried it. It works. I'm sold. Seriously. It made my face feel so smooth and clean and sparkly. OK. Not sparkly, But you know what I mean. Baking soda, you gotta love it. So many uses.
yay! --- lfk
Posted by: dan thanh | July 17, 2008 2:12 PM