I Started Making These 5 Things at Home and Saved Over $200 a Month

As a busy parent, it's usually easier to buy things than make them at home. With three kids under 8 years old, there have been many times I've found myself ordering takeout or running to the store because I don't have the time or energy to make something from scratch. However, I've also realized how much money our family can save by making some of the more expensive items on our list at home.

Learning how to make simple things at home (especially items my family goes through in a day or two) has saved us hundreds of dollars every month.

To determine how much it costs to make some of these recipes at home, we used a recipe cost calculator and input the different ingredients. The cost of the ingredients, especially the pantry staples like flour, oats, and oil, is based on the costs at Costco in our area. The specific cost of different ingredients may vary by location.

Whether you've got small kids at home or you're just trying to shop on a budget, I'll walk you through some of the things I've learned are easy to make yourself and discuss how you can make them without breaking the bank or spending all day in the kitchen.

It's no secret that making bread at home has become a trendy hobby, especially if you're making your own sourdough. But making bread at home is also a practical way to save on your grocery bill, and you don't have to make anything fancy. Even simple recipes lead to delicious homemade bread.

• Total recipe cost: $1.01 for one loaf

The average loaf of bread costs around $4-5 in our area. I don't know about you, but between making toast for breakfast and sandwiches for lunch, my family can go through a loaf of bread pretty quickly. With just a handful of ingredients that cost less than $2, I can make a loaf of bread that tastes better than any of the processed bread you find at the store.

The best thing about granola is that you can mix it up as much as you want. You can make a really fancy granola with nuts and different flavors, or you can make a simple granola with just a few ingredients. We choose to keep things simple with some of the ingredients we have on hand: oats, coconut oil, maple syrup, and chocolate chips. Even though the recipe is simple, my kids gobble it up in less than a day.

• Total recipe cost: $2.48 for about 24 ounces

I don't mind my family consuming the entire batch of granola in a day because it's filling and really affordable to make. Some of the granola brands at the store are really tasty and much fancier than what I make at home. But it's not always realistic to spend $10 or more on one bag of granola at Costco. Some of my favorite granola brands cost about $5 for an 8-oz bag. Even the Target Good & Gather brand costs $4.49 for 12 ounces.

If you have a Kitchen Aid mixer at home, there are so many things you can do with it. One of the items we invested in was the Kitchen Aid Ice Cream Maker Attachment, which makes mixing up some homemade ice cream so simple. However, if you don't have an ice cream maker or mixer attachment, there are plenty of no-churn ice cream recipes out there.

• Total recipe cost: $3.09 for about 2 quarts

Ice cream certainly isn't a necessity when you're on a budget, but it's a tasty treat to have on hand and a great way to cool off on hot days. If we do buy ice cream at the store, we try to take advantage of BOGO deals or coupons if we're shopping at Target. But making ice cream at home is also a great way to save. It costs a bit more to use real vanilla extract, but you can save like we often do by using imitation vanilla. The kids will love it, and you can make it even more fun by adding affordable toppings like sprinkles or crumbled cookies.

As a busy mom, I can't start my day without a cup of coffee. I often want an iced coffee in the afternoon as well as a little pick-me-up. I'll be the first to justify a trip to the coffee shop for something special, but we've saved a lot of money by making our own iced or hot coffee at home.

• Total recipe cost: $1.13 for a cup of iced coffee

No matter what type of coffee you prefer, there are plenty of recipes to make specialty lattes, cold brew, and even frozen coffee beverages at home. When Starbucks comes out with a new cold foam flavor, I usually look up copycat recipes to avoid rushing off to the coffee shop for a treat too often. Most days, I do a simple iced coffee with cream at home, which saves us a ton of money at the end of the month.

Pizza night is a tradition in many households. While many parents do choose to order pizza simply because they're too tired to make it, I've used a simple pizza dough recipe for the past 5 years that comes together with minimal effort. Even when I've had a long day, I'm still able to make a tasty and affordable pizza that feeds my whole family, and there are usually leftovers, too.

• Total recipe cost: $4.77 for two pizzas

When I make pizza at home, the total cost for a recipe that makes two pizzas is $4.77. Even a frozen pizza from the store costs more than that. I save the most money by buying canned tomato sauce and adding my own spices instead of buying pre-made pizza sauce. One 8-oz bag of cheese is enough to spread across the two pizzas if you don't put it on too heavily.

Saving money on your grocery budget may look different for every family. The key to making it sustainable is to focus on things you can make with minimal effort and without needing to rush to the store every other day.

Get creative with your budget and the things you decide to make at home. Don't have the effort to make homemade pizza dough? Many grocery stores sell pre-made dough that you can roll out yourself, and you'll still save compared to ordering from a pizza place. Do what works for your family and see how much you can save each month.