Home(made) Economics

Does made from scratch equal cheaper? It seems like it should. Seems. Like when I took a recent trip to Safeway to embark on the ambitious plan of baking a blueberry pie, only to discover that the recipe's ingredients would cost more than a ready-made Whole Foods version. That's right, the same Whole Foods that is sometimes referred to as Whole Paycheck. I promptly put all the items back on the shelf and grabbed a Twinkie on the way out. Hey, they were two for a dollar.

Marketplace reports that at The Tipsy Baker, blogger Jennifer Reese is doing the cost-benefit analysis for you. She breaks down everything from peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to raising chickens. Among the items worth making at home: bagels and jam. And those best left to the grocery store? Butter, crackers, granola. One of the most surprising finds: Four large pizzas made at home cost $14.53 compared with $75.83 at Domino's.

There is, of course, the time factor. Is the time it takes to make four pizzas worth $60? Maybe. But isn't it worth the time to stun your friends with the fact that you can cook something other than cereal? Definitely.

Photo courtesy of EvilErin, via Flickr