i'm pretty much sure that making them is faster and cheaper than buying
I dunno about faster but it is cheaper since it's free. Downsides are that it uses up time and that you have to be at home to make em. A lot of stuff happens in Bareshade so it's convenient to be able to buy them there while you try to trigger an event or quest. Personally I don't go to the MC's home much unless a new event is put there since I already finished everything there