Have you ever seen a DIY project on Pinterest that looked amazing? And, then you tried it, and it was a total flop? It seems that “Pinterest fails” are everywhere these days!
Yet, there are some DIY projects that are actually worth it. They are easy, money-saving, and really work.
This year I am on a mission to find those projects for you. I will be tackling one frugal DIY project each month in order to let you know how they really work. I am letting myself (and in some cases, my family!) be the guinea pig in a new My Frugal DIY Experiments series.
Here is what we have planned for 2016:
January- Homemade Glass Cleaner
February-Coconut Oil Face Soap
March-Homemade Taco Seasoning
April- Homemade Laundry Detergent
May-Baking Soda and Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo
June-Yogurt in a Crock pot
July-DIY Dusting Spray
August-Coconut Oil and Honey Hair Mask
September-Homemade Ranch Dressing
October-Homemade Tub and Tile Cleaner
November-Oatmeal Body Scrub
December-Hot Chocolate Mix
Homemade Taco Seasoning
In January I experimented with homemade cleaning solutions. Then I ventured into the world of DIY beauty products. This month I tested out a homemade version of a prepackaged product that I frequently buy in the store.
Our family always enjoys a good Mexican dish, so I will often buy a package of taco seasoning to use in a recipe. Since it only costs around $1, I have never been too interested in making my own. Would it really be worth it when time was considered? After all, the time that I spend in the kitchen is time I am not doing something else. If a convenience item that only costs $1 will save me a few minutes, it might be worth it.
Still, for the sake of this series, I decided to try my hand at making homemade taco seasoning.
Here are the steps for homemade taco seasoning:
For this experiment I used a recipe found on Little House Living, which is a fantastic resource for the frugal DIY experimenter.
Step One: Gather All Ingredients
- 1/4 c. minced onion
- 2 T chili powder
- 2 t. paprika
- 2 t. crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 1/2 t. dried oregano
- 1/2 t. marjoram
- 1 T salt
- 1/4 t. pepper
- 2 T. cornstarch
- 1 T minced garlic
- 1 t. ground cumin
Step Two: Mix together
Step Three: Store in an airtight container or bag.
That’s it!
The Experiment
I spent a few minutes one evening scouring my spice cabinet to find all of the required ingredients. I never did find any marjoram, as it’s not something that I typically use. However, I didn’t want to go out and buy a spice just for this experiment, so I simply skipped that ingredient.
Altogether it took around five minutes to make (most of that time consisted of finding the ingredients!). Then I used the seasoning in a taco recipe that evening. It tasted great! (I guess the marjoram wasn’t crucial. 🙂 )
The Breakdown: Is It Worth It?
In this series, I evaluate each DIY project by three criterion:
- Does it Work?
- Is it Easy?
- Is it Frugal?
If the answer to any of those questions is “no,” then I don’t think the project is worth it.
Does It Work?
Definitely. The recipe for homemade taco seasoning is tasty and received no complaints from any member of my family–even the picky kiddos.
Is it Easy?
Yes. It took a bit longer to make than it would just to pick up a packet at the store; however, the recipe also made more than just one packet. Most packets contain around 2 tablespoons of seasoning, but the recipe makes easily four times that. So, now I have taco seasoning on hand ready to use again.
Is it Frugal?
Absolutely. If I estimate that the homemade version makes at least four times more than the store bought version, that means that I would spend $4 in the store for the equivalent of the homemade. Because I already had these spices on hand and used such small amounts of each, the total cost is estimated at $.50. Definitely more frugal.
Final Verdict: Homemade Taco Seasoning is easy to make, saves money, and tastes great.
Have you ever made homemade taco seasoning? Did you use a similar recipe?
An additional bonus of making your own taco seasoning is that it’s better for you. The store bought ones contain added sugar, and can contain other undesirable ingredients like MSG, a lot of fillers, or whey (not bad for you, but not Lenten and can be an allergen). Also making your own lets you control the amount of salt you put in. Plus you can tailor it to your family’s preference. (Like leaving out the marjoram) Fun series! I’m enjoying reading about your experiments.
Great point, Sarah! I hadn’t even thought about the MSG. Yet another reason homemade is typically best.