Make Bread, Save Some Dough!
It all began when my parents gave us their bread machine a few months ago…
Me being the most experimental of their children when it comes to cooking, they knew I would make good use of it. I was delighted to be the recipient of such a fabulous small appliance and couldn’t wait to take on the new adventure of bread making! There’s just nothing quite like the taste of fresh baked bread!
I started out by making this Homemade Bread for Beginners recipe I found on MoneySavingMom.com. It was so easy to make! The most challenging part for me was just learning how my machine operated, as the order of ingredients, or cycles, can vary between machines. Like Crystal mentions in her post, I too prefer to use the dough cycle on the machine and then bake the loaf in the oven (rather than inside the machine) as the end outcome is more favorable. Figuring this out by my second or third attempt, I had perfected it!
Me being the carb-lover I am, and my husband being the sandwich fanatic he is, I tend to make at least a loaf a week for my husband and I to have as sandwich bread for lunches. Although we’ve tried other wheat bread recipes, this one still remains our favorite.
One of the most tangible benefits of this process is the monetary savings that comes with making our bread at home each week. Beforehand, we were spending an average of $2.50 a loaf each week for wheat bread. By purchasing the ingredients in bulk, the cost for making a loaf at home is well under a dollar. That’s a savings of anywhere between $78 and $104 a year. Keep in mind that this calculated savings is for sandwich bread alone. Having a bread machine on hand, the possibilities of what you can create for less are endless, but that’s an entirely different post 
If you are looking into purchasing a bread machine for yourself, I’ve found the average retail price for a new one to be around $60.00 for a basic model. Of course there is always the potential of finding a better deal online, however, I would recommend first trying to find one “like new” at a yard sale, on Craigslist, or eBay as it would be an opportunity to save even more!
What household find has been the most beneficial to your budget?
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I absolutely LOVE my stand mixer because I can kneed dough with it as well and then make my own bread, which I also LOVE. You are right, there is nothing quite like the taste of fresh bread!
BTW, how do you store your bread to keep it freshest longest?
Jessalyn,
Yes, I know of many who utilize their stand mixer for breadmaking as well! I can’t wait for the day when I have room for a stand mixer in my kitchen-ah the possibilities!!
For storing:
One of the most important things in storing your bread is to be sure its cooled completely beforehand. Any moisture created from storing baked bread still warm/hot will make it lose its freshness quicker.
I actually found some great bread bags at Dollar Tree. They are a really good size and come with twist ties. They are also reusable! I let my bread cool completely and then keep it in one of these bags-making sure all the extra air is out before tying. Our bread keeps this way for at least a week, but we usually eat it all before then!
What is your storing method?
I love my bread machine, too. It was given to me by my Grandmother a year or 2 ago & is so convenient to have. I use it mostly for dinner rolls. They are so expensive at the store & to have enough for a family of 6 can get expensive.
I haven’t done the loaves as much lately, but I am inspired to start again. I found a recipe for “Country White Bread” that I love!
I also love my laundry line. It came out of necessity when our dryer wasn’t working & have since kept it. Dries faster than the machine & makes me remember it, since I don’t want things to get rained on or faded. And of course I’m saving money on our electricity bill.
Breana,
You’re right-rolls and other store-bought specialty breads can get pricey! This discussion on sandwich bread is just the beginning. I am looking forward to sharing more on homemade breadmakin including dinner rolls, pizza dough and more in the coming weeks!
I love that you said your laundry line is one of your necessities! I think my thoughts always go to appliances when it comes to convenience, but what a great stand-by when appliances fail
Thanks for sharing!
I’ve been eying bread machines lately and really want one. I sometimes make bread at home, but the machine would really cut the time.
For best household find, I’m torn between the stand mixer and the coffee grinder. The coffee grinder seems like such a small thing, but being able to grind coffee at home made the Starbucks temptation pretty much go away, and that’s a huge budget saver. I also agree with Jessalyn on the standing mixer. Since it makes baking tasks so much easier, I can get more done in terms of baking for family.
Amy,
The machine is definitely a time-saver, but its great that you can use your stand mixer for making bread in the mean time.
I completely agree with you about the coffee grinder. We save a ton by skipping the morning drive through and grinding our own Starbucks or Dunkin at home!
That reminds me- Our coffee grinder comes in handy for bread making as well…I think I’ll need another post to explain this one
I spoilt myself and bought a KitchenAid and now make bread regularly. I perfer this to a breadmaker (which I use to own until it died) as I can get my hands in and become involved in the breadmaking process!! My first few attempts were duds and were turned into breadcrumbs but now I am on a roll and very pleased with the bread I am making.
Even though the KitchenAid was quite expensive (here in Australia) I will save money in the long run by making my own breads and other yeast products (at Easter I made hot cross buns which I had never tried before). I also use it to make pizza bases which I freeze, bread rolls etc… And home made bread tastes SO MUCH BETTER than the commerical bread.
Mmmmm, and homemade bread is so much tastier!