Seeds are expensive. I've read this factoid a number of times regarding vegetable seeds.

But if just one of the 60 plus aubergine seeds I sowed this afternoon goes on to produce one decent plant and produces say 20 organic fruit, I estimate that - based on the equivalent cost of supermarket produce - the cost of the ten or so different packets of aubergine seed I have (recklessly) purchased is recouped at a stroke...

There is no allowance here for the cost of my time (ha!), compost, heat, light etc. but, by any measure, these costs can be factored out again thanks to the environmental savings engendered by home-produced fruit and veg.

Seeds are a steal...as long as you sow them...