7 Things to Make at Home Instead of Buying

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7 things to make instead of buying

Plenty of everyday products are surprisingly easy to make yourself: simple skin care, herbs and vegetables, staple foods, children's toys, beer or wine, cleaning sprays and gifts. Making them at home can save money, cut packaging and give you full control over what goes in. It is not automatically cheaper or safer in every case, though, so this guide covers the seven categories most worth trying, what you actually gain from each, and the few safety rules that matter.

The idea is not to stop shopping altogether. It is to pick a handful of things where homemade is genuinely better for you, and to enjoy the skill of making them.

1. Simple skin and hair care

Basic body butters, lip balms, sugar scrubs, oil cleansers and herbal hair rinses need only a few kitchen-friendly ingredients such as shea or cocoa butter, plant oils, sugar, oats, honey and dried rosemary. Many people enjoy them because they can skip fragrances that irritate their skin and choose the texture and scent they like.

A few facts help keep expectations realistic:

  • Preservatives exist for a reason. Anything containing water, such as lotions, toners or creams, can grow bacteria and mould within days. Make small batches, keep them in the fridge and throw them out if they change smell or colour. Anhydrous products (oils and butters only) keep much longer.
  • Parabens are not as scary as their reputation. They are common cosmetic preservatives. European safety reviewers judged methylparaben and ethylparaben safe at authorised levels, while the EU banned five less-studied parabens in 2014. Choosing to avoid them is fine; assuming every shop product is dangerous is not accurate.
  • Animal testing rules have changed. The UK banned cosmetic animal testing in 1998, and the EU phased in a full ban on testing and on marketing animal-tested cosmetics, completed in 2013. India, Israel, New Zealand, Australia and Canada are among the countries that followed. If this matters to you, check where a brand sells and look for recognised cruelty-free certification.

Soap from scratch (cold-process soap) uses lye, which is caustic. It is a rewarding hobby, but follow a tested recipe and wear gloves and eye protection.

2. Herbs, fruit and vegetables

Growing even a little of your own food changes how you shop. Herbs like basil, parsley, mint and chives grow happily in pots on a windowsill and are among the most expensive items per gram in the supermarket. Salad leaves, cherry tomatoes, courgettes and beans are forgiving for beginners. Cool-season crops such as spinach, kale, radishes and garlic can go in during autumn in many climates.

Home growing is not the same as certified organic, but you do decide exactly what goes on your plants. A sensible approach is to grow what is expensive or best eaten fresh, and buy staples like potatoes and onions. Extra herbs freeze well when chopped into ice-cube trays with a little water or oil.

3. Everyday foods you normally buy ready-made

Several shop staples are quick to make and noticeably fresher at home:

  • Nut butter: roasted peanuts and a food processor, plus a pinch of salt. No added sugar or palm oil unless you want it.
  • Pasta sauce and salsa: tomatoes, garlic, onion and herbs; fresh salsa takes ten minutes.
  • Granola and snack bars: oats, nuts, seeds and a little honey or nut butter, baked low and slow.
  • Jam: ripe fruit, sugar and lemon juice.
  • Oven-baked potato chips, ice cream and dog treats: fun projects where you control salt, sugar and additives.
  • Baby food: plain steamed and mashed vegetables and fruit are simple and inexpensive.

Two safety notes matter here. First, if you preserve food in jars, follow tested canning guidance. Improperly home-canned low-acid foods, such as green beans, corn, beets or asparagus, are a classic cause of botulism; acidic fruit jams are much lower risk. Garlic or herbs kept in oil should be acidified and refrigerated. Second, never give honey to a baby under 12 months, including in homemade foods, because it can carry botulism spores. For questions about feeding a young child, talk to a doctor or health visitor.

4. Toys and art supplies for children

Many of children's favourite playthings are simple. Homemade play dough (flour, salt, water, oil and cream of tartar), food-colouring paints, recycled-crayon shapes, cardboard castles and hula hoops made from irrigation tubing cost little and can be made together, which is often the best part.

The point is not that shop toys are unsafe; reputable toys are tested against safety standards. Homemade toys simply let you avoid clutter and focus on open-ended play. Keep small parts away from children under three, and remember that salt dough is not safe for pets to eat.

5. Homebrewed beer, wine and cider

If you enjoy an occasional drink, brewing can be a satisfying hobby. Beer kits, fruit wines and simple ciders let you experiment with styles and flavours, and you know exactly which ingredients went in.

In the United States, homebrewing beer was legalised at the federal level in 1978 under a bill signed by President Jimmy Carter, and the last two states to allow it, Alabama and Mississippi, did so in 2013. Most states allow up to 100 gallons per adult per year, or 200 per household. Distilling spirits at home is a different matter: it is tightly regulated and, without federal permits, illegal. Rules vary widely in other countries, so check yours.

Practical tips: sanitise everything, use the amount of priming sugar a recipe specifies (too much can make bottles burst), and drink in moderation.

6. Cleaning products

A small kit of white vinegar, bicarbonate of soda, washing-up liquid, lemon and a little olive oil handles a surprising amount of household cleaning:

  • Diluted vinegar for glass, taps and limescale (not for stone worktops, which it can etch).
  • Bicarbonate of soda as a gentle scouring paste for sinks and ovens.
  • A drop of washing-up liquid in warm water for most surfaces.
  • A little olive oil with lemon juice to polish sealed wooden furniture.

Most important of all: never mix bleach with vinegar, other acids or ammonia-based cleaners, because the combination releases toxic gases. Homemade cleaners are good for routine cleaning, but they are not registered disinfectants, so for situations where germs truly matter, such as illness in the home, use a product labelled for that job and follow its directions.

7. Handmade gifts

A homemade gift says you spent time, not just money. Soy candles, jars of spiced nuts or biscuits, flavoured salts, a cardboard jewellery box, a reusable advent calendar or a framed recipe all make thoughtful presents. Food gifts are often the easiest win: bake a batch, divide it into jars and add a handwritten label with ingredients, which also helps anyone with allergies.

Is homemade really cheaper?

Often, but not always. Herbs, nut butter, granola, cleaning sprays and gifts usually save money quickly. Soap making, brewing and canning have start-up costs for equipment, so they pay off only if you keep at it. A good rule is to start with one or two projects, track what you spend, and keep the ones you enjoy. The real reward is often the skill itself and the satisfaction of using something you made.

Sources: Paraben (Wikipedia); Testing cosmetics on animals (Wikipedia); Botulism (Wikipedia); Homebrewing (Wikipedia); idea originally shared by I Heart Intelligence, based on a gallery by Mother Nature Network.

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