There’s a quiet wisdom in the work of our ancestors, who viewed self-sufficiency not as a hobby, but as a necessity. The skills and items our grandmothers made by hand and the repairs our grandfathers mastered to maintain the homestead have become a lost art. By reclaiming these forgotten skills, we unlock financial freedom and true resilience. I used to say I was born in the wrong generation. However, I realize that if it were not for me being where I am these skills would remain a lost art to the generation that follows.
I am pleased that I am one of the many who still holds these skills near and dear to my heart, and eager to teach my children so they can teach their children. Here are 12 essential things we stopped buying and started doing ourselves on the homestead, showing you exactly where you can stop wasting money and start building a more capable and sustainable life.
1. Bread
If your family is anything like ours, you go through a lot of bread! Especially when I’m making quick PB&Js for the freezer or packing sandwiches for school lunches, the cost of continuous buying becomes pointless when you can make it yourself. We save an average of $4.00 per loaf by making our own, with ingredients costing us only roughly $0.60 per loaf. This savings can be put toward home renovations, a holiday, or saved.
2. All-Purpose Cleaner
The cleaning aisle is a perfect example of what we’ve outsourced unnecessarily with a single bottle of cleaner costing $5.00 to $7.00 per bottle! Not only are they filled with unnecessary chemicals, but they cost a fortune. Reclaiming this task is key to both health and self-sufficiency. Our homemade all-purpose cleaner costs roughly $0.05 bottle, is incredibly easy to make, and is versatile enough for virtually every surface: windows, counters, floors, and showers.
3. Laundry Detergent
Making your own laundry detergent is a task that will easily save you hundreds of dollars per year. Beyond the significant annual savings, the true reward is having control over the ingredients. Homemade detergent isn’t as harsh on clothing fibers or skin and you know exactly what is going into the wash—no unnecessary fillers or harsh chemicals. We break down exactly how to make it, and provide four different recipes to fit your specific needs, including a space-saving option for those who don’t have storage for a five-gallon batch.
4. Maple Syrup
Quality maple syrup is costly, and the fake stuff is just that—fake. When you taste the real thing, especially what you’ve made yourself, there’s no comparison, there is a reason they call it liquid gold! There is something profoundly satisfying about this skill: Walking out on a crisp late winter or early spring day to collect sap and going through the rewarding, lengthy process of boiling it down. It takes about 40 gallons of maple sap to produce just 1 quart of syrup, which explains the high retail price and reinforces the value of doing it yourself.
When I started, I was hauling multiple five-gallon buckets of maple sap out of the woods every day and boiling it down on my kitchen stove! Within the first week or so I transitioned to two large steam table pans and started boiling on my woodstove. It was a labor-intensive beginning. We eventually scaled up, converting a 55-gallon metal drum into an outdoor woodstove and evaporator.
While we now only sugar for our family, this skill is a fantastic way to barter for other goods, get help on the homestead, or even sell at local markets, turning your resources into revenue.
5. Lotion
Making your own lotion and body care products is another rewarding skill to learn, offering benefits that go far beyond just saving money.
The process of making your own lotion is surprisingly fun and easy to learn. You gain complete control and peace of mind by knowing exactly what goes into your product. You can eliminate harsh chemicals, synthetic fillers, or unknown additives often found in store-bought brands, making your lotions ideal for the sensitive skin of a baby or those focusing on a cleaner healthier lifestyle.
But the real joy comes from the freedom behind making it. The art of choosing colors and playing with an endless variety of scents like lavender, invigorating citrus, or a playful cotton candy. Conversely, if you or a family member has sensitivities, you can easily keep the formulation plain, natural, and unscented. Finish it off by putting it into a piping bag to look like a whipped lotion cloud.
The finished products are amazing. Not only do they save money in the long run by replacing expensive commercial brands, but they also become wonderful items for sharing. Homemade lotions make beautiful, thoughtful gifts—personalized with unique scents or packaging—and can even be a fantastic starting point for a small side business or the farmers or craft market. Whatever path you choose, getting into DIY body care is a rewarding step toward greater self-sufficiency.
6. Soap
Making soap was one of the most enjoyable skills I did on the homestead, and it quickly became one of my most requested items. This craft is essential to self-sufficiency, especially if you utilize local resources.
When you render your own tallow or lard, you are using what could be waste into a valuable ingredient, which means you will save a tremendous amount of money on oils when you making your own soap with the ingredient readily available. However, I always used store bought oils and it came out amazing.
When you make your own soap you choose the ingredients and ultimately what you and your family use on their bodies. You can customize bars to be scented or unscented and formulate them for any use—from body care, to laundry, to dish washing bars. Once you do your research, creating custom bars to meet your needs becomes a fun homesteading hobby that leads to significant savings.
7. Homemade Cleaning Wipes
I used to spend money every year on those plastic canisters of lemon-scented wipes, Clorox wipes, and all purpose wipes. I never really questioned what was actually in the liquid. Since I stopped buying them, I’ve switched to a homemade version that costs much less to make and works just as well.
Once you see how easy this is, you’ll never head to the cleaning aisle for disposables again. Homemade cleaning wipes are one of those small habits that make everyday upkeep feel lighter. When you have something simple and ready to grab, it becomes easier to wipe a counter, freshen a bathroom sink, or handle small messes before they turn into bigger ones. Many people love homemade wipes because they’re gentle, customizable, and free from unnecessary extras, making them a practical choice for homes that value simplicity and intention.
If you’ve ever thought about making your own but weren’t sure if it was worth the effort, this is one of those projects that pays off quickly. Once you see how easy it is to keep a steady supply on hand, it often becomes a staple in your cleaning routine. Click the link where I share the exact recipe I use, along with simple tips to help you decide if homemade wipes are a good fit for your home and lifestyle.
8. Mayonnaise
Making your own mayonnaise is very easy to make. While it’s true that homemade mayo does not keep as long as the store-bought variety—due to the absence of synthetic preservatives and stabilizers—the trade-off is absolutely worth it.
What you lose in shelf life, you gain in superior flavor and ingredient control. Commercial mayonnaise often contains oils you wish to avoid, along with high levels of sugar and additives. When you make it yourself, you choose fresh, high-quality ingredients, like farm-fresh eggs and healthy oils. The resulting product is rich, creamy, and undeniably delicious, transforming sandwiches, salads, and dressings. A quick batch takes only minutes to emulsify.
9. Snacks
A quick walk down the snack aisle is all the proof you need—grocery prices are skyrocketing. A box of crackers that was once $2.50 is now $6.00 and a bag of chips can easily cost $7.00. The expense keeps climbing!
Like any parent, I appreciate the convenience of opening a box for a quick snack to give my children. However, given the high cost and how quickly my children go through them, I’ve started making many of our snacks at home.
The Benefits of DIY Snacks
You don’t need to be a seasoned chef to get started! Even with little experience, you can easily make popular items like:
- Homemade “Cheeze-its”
- Peanut Butter Power Bites
- 5 Easy No-Bake Snacks (Plus a Secret Hack)Custom Trail Mix
- Frozen Banana Pops
- Baked Potato Chips
Start Simple!
To see just how easy this can be, check out the article 5 Easy No-Bake Snacks which features a few of these recipes. All you need are a few basic kitchen supplies, like measuring cups, to start saving money today!
You can also plant fruit trees, bushes, and plants and forage for fruit on your property.
10. Amazing Homemade Pizza
If you’re craving that perfect slice of pizza but wince at the thought of a $50 to $100 bill for a medium-sized family, it’s time to take control of your kitchen and your budget. It’s time to ditch the take-out and learn how to make pizza.
Making your own pizza is far less intimidating than you might think. If you have ever made bread, you already have the basic skills for a fantastic crust. But even if you’re a complete novice, you have great options:
The Quick & Easy Option: No-Rise Dough
The biggest barrier for most people is waiting for the dough to rise. The good news? You don’t have to wait! There are incredible, quick-prep recipes for no-rise pizza dough. These recipes skip the long proofing time, allowing you to mix, roll, top, and bake a fresh pizza in under an hour. All you need are basic pantry staples.
The Simplest Shortcut: Store-Bought Dough
Don’t have the time to make the dough? No problem. Most grocery stores sell fresh, pre-made pizza dough for a few dollars.
The Real Payoff
The financial savings are significant—you can often make a large, fully-topped family pizza for under $10, compared to the skyrocketing cost of take-out.
Beyond the savings, homemade pizza offers:
Family Fun: Making pizza is a fantastic activity to get the kids involved, letting them design their own personal pizzas.
Customization: You control the cheese, the sauce, and the toppings. Want double the garlic or a mix of cheeses a delivery place would never offer? Have-at-it!
Freshness: You know exactly what ingredients you are using, resulting in a fresher, healthier, and often better-tasting pizza.
We have a few pizza stones and have baked pizza in the stove, the grill, and in our small pizza oven outside.
11. Frozen Meals (Alternative to Take-Out)
When I was pregnant with my second child I learned the importance of having some meals saved. As the primary cook in our household, I was quite aware that the immediate period before delivery and following the baby’s arrival would leave me exhausted and completely disinterested in spending time in the kitchen. I began a mission to stock our freezer completely with freezer meals. I dedicated several days to batch-cooking family favorites—lasagnas, hearty chilis, shepherd’s pie, and breakfast burritos—all neatly portioned and labeled and stacked nicely in the freezer.
I remember thinking at the time that it was a way to manage when I was sleep deprived and the house was in a transition that comes with having a newborn.
It turned out that this foresight was an absolute life saver. My second labor and delivery took an unexpected turn and I was scheduled for an unplanned C-section mere hours after seeing the doctor for a general check up. Suddenly, my recovery wasn’t just about managing a few stitches and general fatigue; it involved significant abdominal surgery. I was in the hospital for a lot longer than anticipated due to my baby needing to spend time in the NICU, and once home, I was facing weeks of mobility restrictions and strict lifting limits.
In those first hazy, painful weeks of recovery, the freezer became our most essential resource. There was no way I could stand for a long length of time, let alone chop, sauté, or bake. Knowing I could pull out a pre-made meal, slide it into the oven, and have a hot, nutritious dinner ready for my family with virtually zero effort was a relief I can barely put into words. Those frozen meals gave me a gift of time, energy, and peace of mind during a critical recovery period.
12. Plumbing, Electrical, Structural Repairs on Buildings
The financial impact of tackling repairs on your own can save you thousands of dollars annually. For homeowners, the constant need for maintenance and unexpected fixes can quickly drain your account. This year alone, we’ve encountered a slew of issues: a constantly running toilet needing new internal components, a failing ice maker, routine generator maintenance, moving light switches, a specific section of drywall removed to improve the sound travel in our home, and the major undertaking of dismantling an old barn to repurpose the beautiful wood for a bathroom update. These skills, collectively, have easily represented our largest annual cost savings.
Electrical Maintenance
However, this substantial saving does not come without a critical warning. While the impulse to fix everything yourself is strong, certain specialized trades carry significant risk. It is far wiser and safer to hire a licensed professional to handle some tasks, especially electrical work, if you do not possess the necessary knowledge and experience. Incorrect wiring can lead to a house fire, personal injury, or even death, making it a risk that far outweighs the cost of a professional electrician.
Structural Maintenance and Renovations
Similarly, improper plumbing repairs can lead to disastrous water leaks and mold growth. Certain structural repairs require a deep understanding of load-bearing walls and engineering principles. The key to successful DIY in these areas is education and mentorship. Before you tackle a high-risk project, commit to a thorough learning process: read technical books, complete online courses, watch numerous instructional videos, and, ideally, apprentice or watch a friend/professional complete the same type of work safely. Start with small, non-critical repairs, and build your confidence and expertise gradually before moving on to projects that could potentially compromise the safety or structure of your home.
13. Harvesting Fire Wood and Kindling
If you own a woodstove, you understand the significant cost involved in purchasing cords of firewood to supply heat during the colder months. The prices seem to climb relentlessly each year, turning a traditional, cozy heat source into a substantial annual expense. This is why, if you have access to wooded property, the decision to chop and process your own firewood isn’t just a chore—it’s an economic strategy that can save your household a few thousand dollars every single year.
For our family, however, the process is a family task. It’s process that begins with felling trees and bucking the logs into rounds. We bring the rounds from the woods on a trailer that attaches to our quad, and bring them to the log splitter near the woodshed.
Every person has a vital job to do when it comes to getting wood for the cold months. We have designated roles: moving the heavy rounds to the splitter, to operating the splitter itself, to using wheelbarrows to transport the split wood, and finally, the job of stacking the cords for drying and storage. Even the youngest members have a task, typically gathering the smaller wood chunks that fall and putting them into buckets to use as kindling. The baby’s job… to eat snacks, watch, look cute, and give me an excuse to take a short snuggle break.
14. Hair Cuts
I have been cutting my families hair from day one. Each person needs a hair cut about once a month which leads to yet another significant savings. My hair cuts would cost significantly more at a salon than the boys at the barber. Don’t get me wrong, I love to get nice things done for my self. However, with the cost between $80 to $450, to get things done. That is not an expense I would ever be willing to pay.
If you have never cut hair, look at a few tutorials on YouTube. It is surprisingly easy. If you have younger kids its nice to practice on them because their hair grows much faster than an adult.
15. Homemade Pop Corn
Making homemade popcorn is a simple and affordable snack that takes only a few minutes to prepare. With just a small amount of oil and popcorn kernels, you can create a fresh, warm treat without the added ingredients often found in packaged microwave popcorn.
Homemade popcorn is also easy to customize. Whether you prefer a little salt, melted butter, or a sprinkle of your favorite seasoning, popping it yourself lets you control the flavor while keeping the snack simple and budget-friendly.
16. Homemade Hand Sanitizer
This is one of my favorites because it is so easy to make and comes in handy all the time.
If you have a big family, everyone ends up sick at the same time, and having sanitizer around helps prevent germs from spreading. It is one of the easiest recipes to make and will keep your family germ free.
17. Using Ashes to Melt Ice Instead of Buying Salt
If you have a woodstove and are looking for a way to get rid of your ashes, this is just one of the many ways to use the ashes that collect.
Wood ashes can be a simple, natural way to help melt snow and ice on driveways and walkways. The dark color absorbs sunlight, helping ice melt faster, and the gritty texture adds traction on slippery surfaces. Wood ash also contains small amounts of alkaline minerals that may slightly help with melting, though the main benefit comes from the heat absorption and added grip.
However, ashes can leave dark stains on lighter pavement and may create a muddy residue once the snow melts. For dirt driveways like we have this isnt a problem. In Vt we are used to “mud season” and it eventually hardens into the driveway once everything melts and dries up. For best results, spread a thin layer rather than large piles, and only use ash from clean, untreated firewood. Avoid ashes from charcoal briquettes (store bought fire starters) or burned trash, as they may contain chemicals that could harm surfaces or soil.
