100 Things you can make yourself
August 15, 2007 by Deborah Ng
Filed under Around the House, Crafty Solutions, Doing it Yourself, Eco Simplicity, Frugal Gourmet, General, Simple Pleasures, Simpler Thinking, Web Resources
Convenience is certainly…well…convenient. Take a trip to just about any type of store and notice how everything is packaged and prepared. It seems the more we advance, the more stuff is done for us. I don’t mind letting someone else do all the work for me, the problem is of course, that convenience is expensive and we’re getting really lazy. I started thinking about all the things we can make ourselves if we put forth a little effort and found lots of cool instructions online.
My fellow cheapskates, I give you:
100 Things You can Make Yourself
- Applesauce
- Spaghetti sauce
- Barbecue sauce
- Maple syrup
- Jelly
- Peanut butter
- Mayonnaise
- Bacon
- Guacamole
- Pesto
- Salsa
- Mango salsa
- Vanilla extract
- Hummus
- Coffee
- Tofu
- Gravy
- Chocolate kisses
- Wedding cake
- Stuffing
- Rootbeer
- Ginger Ale
- Pancake mix
- Pudding pops
- Ice cream
- Chicken Nuggets
- Pizza
- Pasta
- Pickles
- Wine
- Beer
- Whiskey
- Dog treats
- Playdough
- Fingerpaint
- Bubbles
- Books
- Laundry detergent
- All purpose household cleaner
- Soap
- Shampoo
- Hair conditioner
- Moisturizer
- Mouthwash
- Baskets
- Incense
- Paper
- Rubber stamps
- Jewelry
- Curtains
- Rugs
- Candles
- Camera
- CD Cases
- Bookshelves
- Couches
- Tables
- Stool
- Sweater
- Skirt
- Poncho
- Coat
- Blouse
- Shorts
- Gloves
- Socks
- Tree fort
- Back yard shed
- Gazebo
- Windmill
- Birdhouse
- Compost
- Biodiesel
- Solar power generator
- House
- Snowshoes
- Sun clock
- Bread
- Potato chips
- Pretzels
- Donuts
- Sausages
- Bagels
- A pinata
- Crayons
- Gnocchi
- A guitar
- 4th of July sparklers
- A lava lamp
- Tortillas
- Kimchi
- A hula hoop
- A loofah
- Cheese
- 3D glasses
- A Kite
- An igloo
- Modeling clay
- Crossword puzzles
- Cuff links
I don’t think people are trying to be obnoxious by pointing out that some of these would be a little past the time- and labor-intensive threshold for most people to manage on their own. Of course it’s worthwhile to do something yourself sometimes just to have done it, or because it’s enjoyable! But the post *is* in a blog entitled “Simply Thrifty,” and perhaps more to the point, the introduction mentions that “convenience is expensive.”
This is *true*, don’t get me wrong, in a lot of cases. There are others where economies of scale apply or where you might eventually get to saving money but it would take a while to recoup the initial outlay. But I suspect that between the title and the reference to the expense of convenience, a lot of people were probably expecting a higher proportion of the list to be about ways to be frugal through DIY and a lower proportion to be about things that might be costly but are fun or educational or possibly higher quality when you do them for yourself.
Anyway, it’s a fun list, and of course it’s up to each individual which ones are really worthwhile for his or her particular situation. It’s great to have them compiled like this!
I think this is an awesome list chockful of information, I dont know when I will get the time to do any of this but I do know I would love to spend an afternoon doing one of these projects. Thanx Deb for this list , I saved it to my favourites list, good job!!
Even the Amish dont make all these things.They go to the store buy them.Hey the way Russia is talking you may need to know how to do these things.Armageden is coming BE PREPARED.
Deb,
I like the list and agree with several posters at the same time. I think the main point of the varying comments is that handmade does not usually equal thrifty. Knowing that I can make all of those things is intriguing for me, because I like to do crafts, cook, etc. But I do them because I enjoy them, not because most of them net any financial gain or savings for my family.
I knit socks, for example. I buy a $15 skein of sock yarn (minimum price) and knit for what, 20 hours PER SOCK? Maybe 15? NOT cost effective, but very cool looking, creative, and a great pastime for me when watching TV with my family, waiting in the parking lot for my kids to get out of school, etc.
I think the list is fun and inspiring to do things you haven’t done before, even if just to say you did them. (Like the bagels I so screwed up a few years ago. Or the tamales and sushi I’ve become very good at making.)
I think, though, that seeing that your site is about being thrifty as well as the paragraph about convenience, it’s rather easy to think that you’re suggesting that these things will save us money or will best utilize our time that we are wasting right now by not doing them. I understand that’s not your point at all, but I can see it might be easy to think so and that by seeing things that way, one’s comments might be stated differently than if we all thought you were just giving us creative ideas and springboards to thinking outside the box.
Don’t forget to add hominy to a future list! I read the Little House books growing up and have always wanted to make hominy, head cheese (ONLY to say I did it), etc. after reading them.
$15 for a skein of sock yarn??? Is it made of gold thread? I crocheted a blanket 82″ x 110″ for $40 by buying yarn from the eBay. There are different stores within eBay such as Knitters’ Paradise – and it’s a bargain even after paying shipping.
A lot of these things would not be worthwhile if you were selling the stuff as you couldn’t charge enough for your time. However, if you have to sit in the parking lot, or on a commute train (in my case) or be in the room when the TV is on or whatever, you might as well get something out of that time.
I make things myself for 2 reasons: 1) to save money and 2) to get something I otherwise couldn’t get – and 2) still has to be priced very reasonably. For example, the last summer dress I made was $7 for 3.5 yds of cotton, plus thread and power for my machine and iron. The pattern has served numerous times in different configurations.
Neat list, All the comments about maple suryp made me think I better put in my two sense. Yes very time consuming but very cheap if you use downed timber for fuel and recycle canning jars for preserving. My parents have made it nearly every year I can remember. It is great fun! So much of your list is very doable and MUCH cheaper and a great thing to do with ones children!
This list is great! I just hope more people will add to it. Such as the process of making Hominy. I would also like to know the process of making whole made cottage cheese. My mother made it when I was little but can’t remember all that she did. I can remember her sitting me on a chair in the kitchen and I had to shake this jar with cream in it till all the butter particles would cling to each other forming the cake of butter. ( My little arms got very tired ) but oh how I wished I had the chance to go back and do it again with my mother!!!!!! Anyhow, this list gives us a chance to learn how to do these things and to enjoy it while we are doing them. And to see what our parents went through with doing it the old-fashion way. To me it is better! I also loved the Little House on the Prairie shows but if I remember right Pa and Ma also loved some of the new and easier ways that came along. Would’nt you of just loved to had a taste of Caroline’s Berrie pies!!!!!!!!
This site is something that we all need. Saves a lot of money and we sure need to these days.
That’s amazing.. I’m sure my husband (who would always rather make things himself) will be happy about this. Can’t wait to try the pizza!
Good job explaning it. Lovin the pictures, altough I still couldn’t be able to make anything on that list, except maybe playdoh but I don’t have the ingredients.
Just a note: The link for #38 Laundry Detergent is no longer valid. You may want to try http://www.thefamilyhomestead.com/laundrysoap.htm instead.
Love the list. The meditative aspect of creating a thing with my own hands is very satisfying, whether it’s applesauce or a Halloween costume. Sometimes it’s more expensive but there’s no compromise in the final product — I’ve made exactly what I want, not what a factory churns out for the masses. Also, the more I learn to do myself, the more resourceful I catch myself being all around.
Also, I just discovered my next DIY project; Google “homemade marshmallows”!!!
i’m a little disgusted that people need to be told they can make things like apple sauce, spaghetti sauce, salsa, pesto etc themselves…. does everything come out of a jar in the USA? no wonder obesity and diabetes are such a problem… still, it’s nice to see someone encouraging people to do something for themselves…
You can definitely make a lot of things yourself. Most people don’t have time to make anything like no one has time to sit and eat breakfast anymore. People seem to choose convenience rather than saving money these days. But thanks for this list because it made me think how a lot of us are unable to do simple things anymore.
There are many things we can do to be more self sufficient and successful in life.