Things which are easy to make and cheaper than shop-made versions

[Urbanbeetler]

I have just made hummus from a tin of chickpeas, tahini (1 tablespoon), some olive oil, juice of a lemon and 2 cloves of garlic.

It’s lush! I added a drop of water as it was slightly too stiff in texture. Nicer than the shop stuff in texture and taste.

I think I have saved a couple of pounds as it is a good amount. Using a high quality olive oil may have negated that a bit (oil was a present so I don’t know the cost but I know it’s a good one).

I thought perhaps it would be a good emergency from-storage food if made with bottled lemon juice and garlic paste from a jar.

Anyone have any other ideas of how to avoid shop made food staples when it’s simple to make your own? Especially if they are things that can be made with long-life substitutes to fresh ingredients.

Soups as said above. You can make your own flavours and can make loads so you can freeze it or take it to work as well as have it for tea.
Those Mexican meal kits. So easy to make up your own spice mix and you can more easily control the amount of salt in it.
Sandwiches.
Pancakes.

Quick garlic bread - slices of bread cut into rectangles, melt butter and garlic in pan, throw in some parsley, brush mix onto the bread with pastry brush and into the oven! Cheap and delicious..

Breadcrumbs. I never buy them! Everybody has bread and a toaster..

I toast two slices of bread and break them up, throw them in my smoothie maker food processor and boom! Homemade breadcrumbs perfect for breaded chicken. Delicious. Freeze leftover breadcrumbs or bread that's going stale make a huge batch. They are expensive cause they're so convenient.

@Peanutbuttershake same here. I presumed when people make spaghetti they make their own tomato sauce. Until my friend one day explained her friend at work had delicious pasta and 'even made her own sauce' I was like it's the most basic thing lol clearly not for everyone!

I love home cooking though I rarely bake desserts or cake.
I always make my own tomato sauces and I haven't bought bread in months since I got a bread maker. I make my own mayonnaise as we don't have it often.
We are also soup fiends.

I make my own stock and I didn't know buying breadcrumbs was a thing.
I cannot be bothered to make my own pasta though.
Used to make my own butter but cream is very expensive now.

Greek yogurt in my instant pot. Brilliant! Always keep a stock of UHT milk in the cupboard for this. Never run out of yogurt anymore and it is cheaper and much nicer than shop bought!