I like to make my own bread for a couple of reasons. It is cheaper, easy to do, I know what is going into to it and it tastes better. First the cheaper.  The cheapest loaf I can buy locally is $1.49 for a 350g loaf. The recipe I use makes two 700 g loafs.  I use weights in the recipe because it allows we to adjust things easily and makes it easier to get the ingredients.

Ingredients

Ingredient	Last Purchase Price	Cost in Recipe
495g Milk	$4.08/4 litres	$0.51
58g Margarine	$6.49/3lb box	$0.27
24g Lemon juice	n/a	n/a
51g sugar	$11.15/10KG bag	$0.06
10g salt	n/a	n/a
420g Whole Wheat Flour	$11.15/10kg bag	$0.47
300g Flour	$11.15/10kg bag	$0.34
9g Yeast	$5.69/113g bottle	$0.45
50g Ground Chia Seeds	$14.95/500g bag	$1.50

Total cost with Chia is $3.60 for 2 700g loaves, $1.80 per loaf, $0.90 for and equivalent 350g loaf.
Total cost without the Chia is $2.10 for 2 700 g loaves, $1.05 per loaf, $0.53 for an equivalent 350g loaf.
NOTE: If you remove the chia you need to add 50g of flour preferably the whole wheat.

I like adding the chia in as it is an excellent source of Omega 3, fiber and many other good things.

I make a 3lb batch in a 2lb Bread Machine set to dough only.  That way it does all the mixing, kneading and rising on its own.  I then take out the dough and divide it equally between two pans using the scale. This gives me nicely shaped loaves. Role into loaf shapes and place in the loaf pans.  Pour some olive oil over the loafs and run it round the loaf and the side of the pan. Let rise for 45 minutes then bake for 35 minute in a 375deg oven.

Tips: I cut of the ends of the bread and either cut it into cube for stuffing or toast it and run it through a food processor for bread crumbs both I keep in the freezer.

Time commitment

8 minutes to measure the ingredients and set up the machine. (I use a digital scale with the insert on the scale and just keep zeroing the scale for each ingredient.)

2 hour wait for the maching to do its bit.

5 minutes to shape the loaf and put in pans.

1.5 house wait for it to rise and bake.

5 minutes to slice, freeze one loaf and deal with the ends.

3 minute to wash everything.

Total 21 minute of actual work and 3.5 hours of waiting and doing other things.