Overspending on store-bought products can become a real drain on your expenses, especially when there are easy and affordable DIY alternatives to pamper yourself and your home without breaking the bank. Here are 17 amazing ways to replace retail options with homemade ones.
Cleaning Products
Healthline says, “Most homemade cleaners can be made in the amount of time it would take to go to the store with stuff you already have on hand.” By making your own, you can ensure that there are no harmful chemicals added that will cause harm to you or your family members.
Candles
Store-bought candles can be expensive, especially scented ones. Making your own candles with soy wax, essential oils, and recycled jars is a fun and affordable alternative. It is also a fun and creative project you can do with your children to produce gifts for friends and family.
Body Scrubs
We all want super-soft skin, but not always at the prices exfoliating scrubs are sold for. These body scrubs are great for your skin, but not your wallet. Luckily, you can easily make your own with sugar, oil, and your favorite essential oils. So make sure to save and sterilize those old jars from the kitchen.
Gift Wrap
Presenting a gift that is decadently wrapped feels awesome, but wrapping paper is often overpriced and only ends up in the trash. Get creative with fabric scraps, newspaper, or brown paper decorated with stamps or drawings. Your gifts can look just as, if not more, beautiful with a little inspiration.
Greeting Cards
Store-bought cards can be generic and expensive, with little personality or personal touch. A home-made card not only makes the receiver feel special but also saves you money. So why not create personalized cards with paper, markers, or even recycled materials like magazines or old calendars?
Hand Soap
Instead of buying liquid hand soap, you can make your own foaming hand soap with castile soap, water, and essential oils. Good Housekeeping says, “The soap you make won’t kill germs, but it will certainly wash them away as well as any other bar soap you might buy.” Plus, you can adjust your recipes to suit your skin’s needs, too!
Macramé Hangers
Skip the store-bought macramé hangers and craft your own; it’s a budget-friendly way to add personality and charm to your home. With just some macramé cord and basic knots, you can create unique designs tailored to your style. Not only is it a relaxing and rewarding hobby, but it’s also a sustainable one.
Laundry Detergent
By making your own detergent, you can decide what goes in there and what doesn’t. Commercial laundry detergents can be harsh on your clothes, skin, and the environment. A much better alternative is to make your own with simple ingredients like soap flakes, borax, and washing soda.
Picture Frames
If you love those natural, bohemian, or alternative vibes, then this could be a fun project for you. Rather than choosing to frame art or photos with a generic square, get creative with cardboard, fabric scraps, or even twigs to create unique and affordable picture frames. It will give your art or photos a unique edge.
Dog Toys
Your dog has no idea if the toy you made them came from the garden shed or a fancy pet store, and they won’t judge, honestly. Instead of buying expensive dog toys, make your own with old t-shirts, socks, or rope. Your furry friend will love them just as much, and it will leave you with more cash to buy dog treats. Now you have their attention!
Air Fresheners
Taste of Home says, “Ditch the chemicals and use a natural air freshener to get rid of stinky smells.” Store-bought air fresheners can fill your home with nasty chemicals. Try making your own natural air freshener with water, essential oils, and baking soda, and you won’t look back.
Hair Masks
There are thousands of DIY hair mask recipes that you can make to pamper your hair with a homemade hair mask. Inexpensive ingredients like avocado, honey, or coconut oil are common components. Make sure to find a recipe that is suitable for your hair type; otherwise, it might be too oily or unsuitable.
Herbal Teas
If you have a garden full of herbs, then you should try to make your own herbal teas. Pre-packaged herbal teas can be expensive, and the tea bags are often coated with microplastics. It is much nicer to dry your own herbs and enjoy a loose tea blend, or buy them in bulk to make your own custom blends.
Play Dough
The cost of children’s toys can mount up to become an astronomical cost that never seems to end. Your children will really love to help you create their own play dough from scratch with flour, salt, cream of tartar, and food coloring. Store-bought play dough can be pricey and full of artificial ingredients, making this craft project a great alternative!
Pet Shampoo
Your little pooch can have sensitive skin just like you and might react better to natural ingredients. Instead of buying expensive shampoo from the store, make your own with castile soap, water, neem oils, and essential oils safe for your furry friend. Always make sure to find a safe and suitable recipe to follow.
Potpourri
Rather than buying expensive potpourri with artificial fragrances, create your own with dried flowers, herbs, and spices from your garden or pantry. Not only will it feel wholesome to gather and dry your own plants, but it will also give your wallet a break and your home a refreshing and personalized scent.
Insect Repellent
It’s so easy, you’ll wonder why you never did it before! By combining a few ingredients, you can skip the chemical-laden store-bought repellents and make your own with essential oils like citronella, lemongrass, and peppermint. A scientific study by the NIH claims that “citronellol, citronellal, α-pinene, and limonene are common constituents of many EOs exhibiting repellent effects.”
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