Got pizza?
I admit it—I do Dave Ramsey-ish. Were we in a much better financial place when we did his plan fully? Absolutely.
But this isn’t about that. This is about something he said in an interview a while back.
Eating out costs significantly more than people realize compared to cooking the same meal at home. I believed him, but it didn’t really click until I realized I could make the foods I loved from restaurants in my own kitchen for about 75 percent less. And not only that…I could actually have them whenever I wanted. They didn’t have to be a once in awhile special treat anymore
It was like a light bulb moment.
I wanted a hamburger steak with onions and mushrooms. Bam!
75 percent less at home.
I wanted an iced chai latte. Bam!
75 percent less at home.
Then my husband wanted pizza. Now, I’ve never made pizza from scratch in my entire life. But I thought, if I can use my bread maker and whip up homemade cookies, surely I can try this. For me, it was a big step. My mom was amazing, but cooking just wasn’t her thing when I was growing up. I could sing the quadratic formula; but the kitchen wasn’t our place of learning.
So I tried it. I made pizza for 75 percent cheaper than delivery, with ingredients I could list on one hand.
Did it take time? Yes.
Did it take more time than waiting on a drive-thru or delivery? Not really.
Did it taste the same? Actually…it tasted better.
And the more I thought about it, the more I realized I’d rather spend my time and money in reverse. Build the savings account. Trim the waistline. Spend time at home making meals we love without the guilt.
Dinner wasn’t an emergency anymore, it was a chance to make a meal or something to eat everyday.
Statistics back this up. The USDA reports that the average American household spends nearly 40 percent of their food budget on eating out. And restaurant meals are marked up three to five times the cost of home-cooked food. On top of that, studies show eating out regularly leads to higher calorie intake, higher sodium, and less nutrition overall.
As a lady who has had six pregnancies…losing that weight over and over is a lot of work…why make it harder on myself?
God’s Word reminds us of the value in this too. “She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household…” (Proverbs 31:15). And Hebrews 12:11 tells us, “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace.”
Cooking at home is discipline—it takes effort. But ladies, the harvest is worth it.
So where have I been?
Believing lies, apparently.
That I couldn’t make good food at home.
That buying more “stuff” would satisfy me.
That if I couldn’t do it perfectly, I shouldn’t do it at all.
But the truth is—I can cook for my family. I can be brave enough to tweak recipes to fit us. I can risk failing in the kitchen and still serve something good.
Nine years into this, I finally feel like I earned my apron. And now? I think I need one of those cute PPP aprons just to celebrate.
Here’s the pizza recipe that changed everything for me:
Homemade Pizza Dough
2 cups bread flour
1 ½ teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 ¼ teaspoons bread maker yeast
½ teaspoon garlic powder (or more to taste)
1 teaspoon Italian herb blend
¾ cup warm water
Mix, roll into a ball, coat with olive oil, cover with a towel, and let rise 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 425. Spread dough thin on parchment-lined baking sheet. Top with Newman’s Own marinara, shredded 8oz block mozzarella, and another sprinkle of herbs. Bake 15 minutes.
And since you didn’t ask…let me still give you the math my mom did teach me.
Cost comparison for one large pizza:
Restaurant take-out is usually $18–$22 plus tip and delivery fee.
Homemade is around $5–for all ingredients (and less if you already have flour, oil, and seasonings on hand)
That’s a savings of at least $13–$15 every single time. Multiply that by just a couple pizza nights a month and you’re looking at hundreds of dollars saved each year.
Your family won’t want take-out pizza again. And you’ll love knowing you’re saving money, feeding them well, and building PRICELESS memories at the dinner table.
We can do the simple things the hard way—and it’s worth it.
What’s something you’ve been scared to tackle, because you don’t feel qualified?
You go, girl. You go.
Rachel Redlin is a columnist, author, journalist, and award-winning radio host. She lives in Northwest Kansas with her husband and five children, where she writes about faith, food, and the simple everyday life. Want to read more or contact us? You can subscribe to the FREE newsletter at www.simplybloominggrace.com
Want some help with where to start? We’ve chosen a few items to encourage and equip you with discipline and budgeting with the whole family. Click the links below to find out more!
Have you read our latest book release? Check out and read The Well today!
Note: This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases—at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting Simply Blooming Grace. You can read our privacy and security policy HERE.
Simply Blooming Grace 