Do you have a breadmaker? It can be one of the best small appliances in the arsenal for frugal living. You can save a ton by making your own bread. In the past, I have written how the breadmaker can greatly reduce your bread cost. Breadmakers aren’t just for bread, either. Even the basic models can make dough which can be turned into so many different goods that will provide your family with low cost meals. Fancier models can make jams, quick breads, and even deserts.
You don’t have to spend a lot for a breadmaker. There are often plenty of available models for just a few bucks at a thrift store or tag sale, or sometimes for free on freecycle.org.
Here is a breakdown of some the food you can make, and a general cost of what you would pay for the same item at the store.
Dinner rolls. I can make twelve large, fresh dinner rolls with my breadmaker at a cost of amount 42 cents. The equivalent at the bakery section of the grocery store would cost me $2.59.
Three jars of jam made from fresh ingredients costs me about 78 cents. Three jars of gourmet jam would cost me between $9 and $21. (Welch’s grape is the cheapest jelly, and on sale would actually cost me cost to the amount or even less than home made jam, but the quality is so different that I didn’t compare this.
Pizza dough can be made with a breadmaker in less than an hour. It costs me very little, about 26 cents for enough dough to make two pizzas. I could buy dough from the local pizza place (or even the grocery store) for about $2.50. I would have to let it return to room temperature, so I wouldn’t save much on prep time.
Next up: bagels, bread sticks, deserts and quick breads.
Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, technology in the Computing Blog, and creating a home in the Home Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here.
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