It's an interesting question! I leave out the pectin and then I can use less sugar (a good ratio is 4 cups fruit to 3 cups sugar - that's lots less than with pectin). And jars last for generations, unless there's breakage. They should amortize out for at least 10 years, although I use jars that are easily 50 years old. And then with homegrown fruit that I don't spray, the expenses are much different.