Concoct your own cola

Spend a fortune on fizzy drinks? You’re not alone. The average family of four consumes 2,400 sodas annually―totaling nearly $1,080. With a home fountain machine, you can save money and have fun making everything from soda water to diet root beer. After purchasing a startup kit, you buy refill canisters of CO2 and syrup. A liter of sparkling water is 21 cents, compared with $1.50 or more for the store-bought variety, and flavored soda costs roughly 25 cents per 12 ounces.

• SAVE about $720 per year for a family of four (you’ll also produce less household waste).
• GET IT The SodaStream Fountain Jet starter kit (comes with a soda maker, carbonator and two bottles), $100; sodastreamusa.com.

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