Talk to me about breadmakers please?

[Alibabaandthe40nappies]

I am really hankering after a breadmaker. My Mum has one, and she makes yummy bread and I would like to too.

So I asked her to get me one for Christmas.

Mum 'Ooh what do you need one of those for?'
Me 'Er, to make bread'
Mum 'It's not cheaper than buying bread in the shops you know'
Me 'Um, that isn't why I want it, I would like to be able to make bread'
Mum 'Are you sure there isn't anything else you would like'
Me

It isn't about the money, a breadmaker , even a flashy one is well within the usual present budget, and if there was an issue financially she would tell me.
I am really bemused by her response - it is so bizarre!

I know that if I go back and say that this is what I really want she will get it for me, but I thought I would canvass some more opinion. Good and bad opinions please, because I'm wondering if there is some hidden drawback that Mum doesn't want to share with me

Panasonic. Am on my second. I make bread, pizza bases and use it to make dough which I then shape into rolls and freeze so I can just get them out of the freezer when I need them (usually for packed lunches). I find this is kind of more economical than making bread as dough makes eight rolls and a loaf of bread just goes so quickly. I hate having to eat shop bought bread now.

Surely it's far cheaper to make your own bread?

I have made one loaf (a mix) which was 50p, but if you make loaves with normal bread flour, I thought it would be about 30p for a loaf?

I am researching gluten free, egg free breadmaker recipes now for my next venture (restricted diet here)