Cheaper and Better: Homemade Alternatives to Storebought Goods

by Nancy Birnes and Nancy Hayfield Birnes

Book Overview

Savings of over a thousand dollars each year with products made at home is easy with this unique book that has more than 300 quality-tested recipes for everything from hair spray to sangria. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060960833
• ISBN13: 9780060960834
• Release Date: January 1988
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Length: 433 Pages
• Weight: 1.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.1" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

I LOVE THIS BOOK!!

This is a fantastic book! It is chock full of recipes to make your own versions of store-bought items, from seasonings to hand soap.

A must have for frugal or careful consumers

I LOVE this book !! You can make at home, usually cheaper and often better, goods that you buy everyday. If you have allergies or sensitivities to chemicals used in commercially produced products this could be a life saver. If you are trying to live frugally it's a real budget saver. This book is well organized, easy to use. You won't use every recipe but it's amazing how many things you really can make at home "cheaper and better". I've also learned that by having some basic ingredients at home I can make many products without having to make a trip to the store and make the quantity I need. Contents include: Pantry Stockers; Convenience Foods; Snack and Sweets; Beverages, Wines and Liqueurs; Health and Personal Care Aids; Household Cleaning supplies; Clothing Care; Gardens, Pets and Pests; High-tech toys; Children's Play and Rainy Day items; Craft, Holiday, and Decorating Items. The book was published in 1987, wish they would come out with a new edition.

So helpful! Saves you money!

I originally checked this book out from the library. I did not want to return it. It is a masterpiece for the penny pincher! It tells you how to make your own version of store products. I even make my own perfumed starch for ironing now! I love it and could not imagine doing with out it. As a mother of 4 I can assure you will save money and feel good about being so clever for getting this handy book!

Indispensable reference

It's sad that this book is out of print. It provides information about avoiding many common high-cost cleaning and drug products.