I've not used homemade bedding. I've watched a couple of videos on YouTube and to be honest it looks very time consuming to make enough and I think could work out expensive. It takes quite a bit of substrate to fill a decent sized cage. And some of the homemade ones look a bit soft. You don't want anything hard or scratchy obviously but it's better if it can hold a shape when burrowed into. But nesting material is something you don't need to buy. Just rip up white, unscented toilet paper. I get the really cheap value one as it shreds nicely and I don't rio it too small as my hams have a nice time tearing it to the right size. And that is something you want lovely and soft for their nest
I'd be intrigued to hear if anyone else has made their substrate and what they thought of it?