I constantly hear people say that they don’t have enough money to eat healthier. They “can’t afford to be vegan”. It’s actually a myth that healthy food is more expensive than junk food (unless you live in a food desert, which is a completely different issue). In the long run, whole plant foods are more affordable and way better for your health and the environment. It doesn’t have to be hard or expensive to eat plant-based. With the tips I provide you and a little planning, you will realize how easy it can be to adopt this lifestyle.
- Buy in season. If you prefer fresh produce (who doesn’t), buy fruits and veggies in season. Avoid buying summer fruits and vegetables in the winter and vice versa. Squash is more affordable in autumn and winter. Avocados and tropical fruits are less expensive in the summer. Potatoes and starchy vegetables are typically affordable year round. In my area, spinach and kale is around the same price all year as well. If it’s more expensive to buy fresh, go for the frozen option.
- Buy frozen. Fruits and vegetables are actually frozen at peak freshness, so buying the frozen option allows your food to stay fresh for longer and it is also more affordable. I prefer to buy broccoli and most of my fruit frozen. Corn is also good to buy frozen. You don’t have to worry about using your fruit or vegetables before they go bad because you can store them in the freezer for an extended period of time.
- Avoid name brand. If you are buying packaged food, you don’t need to get the name brand version. Just get the generic version (if it’s vegan friendly) because it is most likely exactly the same. Some generic products are even manufactured by the same company that produces the name brand version.
- Minimize the “organic” products. Occasionally, I do buy organic products. However, it is common for products to be labeled organic in order to justify the higher price. If eating organic is super important to you-that’s great, but you might have to adjust your budget. Buying organic potatoes, bananas, and dark leafy greens won’t leave you broke and they might be better. You do not need organic packaged food because it’s essentially the same.
- Buy rice, legumes, some pastas, potatoes, etc. Stick to whole plant foods, rice, beans, and pastas. You don’t need to buy various meat alternatives or vegan junk food items. Buy the most affordable plant-based options at your grocery store and buy those each week.
- Shop at different places. Where I live, there are two main grocery stores. One has more affordable packaged goods and the other has more quality fresh vegetables and fruit. I shop at both to get the most out of my money. This can be time-consuming, so I do this on days I don’t have work or school. Additionally in some states, there are programs where you can have discarded produce sent to you. This is also a good option if you want to save money.
- Make a list. This seems obvious, but a lot of people don’t do this. Write down your plan and follow it. This will help keep you on track and help you avoid impulse purchases.
- Do your best. Don’t over think buying groceries. It isn’t supposed to be a stressful situation. You don’t have to completely overhaul your lifestyle overnight. Slowly add more plant-based foods into your grocery shopping. Do some research and shop around. Also, cruelty free makeup and hair care should come second to what you eat (especially on a budget). I have been vegan for a year and not all of my cleaning products, hair products, skin care, and makeup products are 100% cruelty free. My goal is to get nearly all cruelty free and vegan products, but I don’t use these products very often and I don’t want to waste the products I have. Putting so much pressure on yourself, will turn you off from the vegan lifestyle. Trying your best is all you can really do. Start with food and then go from there.
It can be overwhelming to change your diet and lifestyle, but it doesn’t have to be expensive or hard. The vegan lifestyle is so amazing and money shouldn’t be a deterrent. On average, I spend $40 for 10 days worth of groceries. I don’t spend money at restaurants, so I save money in that aspect. In the summer, my groceries can be as cheap as $20 for a week. If you live on the coast, your groceries will probably be even less expensive. I hope this helps you in your vegan journey. If you have tips or advice, leave them in the comments!
29 Comments
raynotbradbury
March 12, 2018 at 6:13 amto eat healthy is expensive 🙂 I know that, because I’m eating healthy and all organic (80% of the time cooking from the scratch at home). To buy organic you have to pay double price here in Sweden (as everywhere else, i guess). A list and planning for a week helps, thats right 🙂 but anyway…. usually I’m spending 300-400 dollar in a week. Only for 2 people and 2 dogs.
Kaley
March 12, 2018 at 1:43 pmIn some places eating vegan or healthy is more expensive unfortunately. Where I live, there really isn’t a huge difference between organic and nonorganic. So I only buy some organic products. For me, it’s more important that everything is vegan/plant based than if it’s organic or not.
raynotbradbury
March 12, 2018 at 1:46 pmyes, i understood 🙂 I guess it is depends on the country.
dont you scared of diff shit and chemicals?
Kaley
March 12, 2018 at 1:54 pmI wash everything. Also, I live in a rural area so most of the produce is local anyway.
raynotbradbury
March 12, 2018 at 1:55 pmyes, then you are lucky :))
Kaley
March 12, 2018 at 1:59 pmI do feel lucky, but I still try my best to save money!
raynotbradbury
March 12, 2018 at 6:13 am– you do not believe in eco-organic? ..
Cathryn
March 12, 2018 at 2:38 pmEnjoyed your post.
Kaley
March 12, 2018 at 3:09 pmThank you!
Dietitian Mom
March 16, 2018 at 4:47 pmThis is a great helpful post! I agree that eating plant-based doesn’t have to be costly. It is completely doable and affordable!
Kaley
March 16, 2018 at 4:50 pmThank you for reading! It is easy to make a budget for groceries. I try to keep everything simple!
Dietitian Mom
March 16, 2018 at 7:03 pmYes, I agree: simplicity is key! 🙂
Apurva
April 6, 2018 at 9:24 pmAmazing blog!!! keep up the good work 🙂
Would you care to check out mine too? Thanks. Be blessed
https://theveganartist2017.wordpress.com/
Kaley
April 6, 2018 at 10:33 pmThank you! I just checked yours out, nice!
thetreekisser
April 15, 2018 at 3:46 pmWow, $40 for 10 days- that’s impressive! I’m so bad with my food budget, but trying to be better. I’m growing my own vegetables for the first time this year, so hopefully that will make a big difference!
Kaley
April 15, 2018 at 3:47 pmThank you and don’t worry because I’m also not consistent with my food budget. That’s so cool hat you’re growing your own vegetables! Thanks for commenting!
Lorna
April 28, 2018 at 8:37 pmNice post. I would love to see your grocery list for a week. Have you posted it before? I do try to buy organic for the “dirty dozen” as I can taste pesticides even when I give them a good washing. I can also feel the chemicals in my body afterwards. I would tell those people who can’t afford to go organic that they can’t afford not to! They’ll be paying the doctor later. Ouch!
Kaley
April 28, 2018 at 8:39 pmI can post my grocery list sometime. Thanks for the idea and thanks for commenting!
Lorna
April 29, 2018 at 3:50 amYou’re welcome! I want to try shopping for a week and eating vegan to see if I can do it.
Kaley
April 29, 2018 at 11:51 amEating vegan is not hard at all, I’m sure you could do it!
justmemillymay
May 3, 2018 at 4:09 pmThank you for your post, having gone mostly vegan (I only egg now); i can honestly say it isn’t that much of a difference in price where I live 🙂
sarahjacobsnyc
May 17, 2018 at 12:38 amThanks for sharing! I’ve found that buying whatever is sale, and being as easy going as possible about it, helps immensely. There’s also a lot of grocery store options and farmers markets around me, so that does make it easy. I’m (mostly) vegan in Brooklyn, NY. I just started a lifestyle blog that includes vegan restaurant tips and things to do (would love if you followed me, since we have overlapping interests:-) https://livedoseenyc.wordpress.com/2018/05/10/10-vegan-restaurants-in-nyc-to-try-right-now/
Kaley
May 17, 2018 at 10:56 amThanks for commenting! Being easy going always helps and I will definitely check out your blog!
Typical Grocery List // Vegan – Finding Purpose
May 23, 2018 at 11:43 pm[…] Vegan on a Budget […]
leroy watson
June 6, 2018 at 6:00 amGreat tips! I like the ideal of trying our best and totally agree that a vegan diet is not expensive or hard with a little know-how. Thanks for sharing:)
Kaley
June 6, 2018 at 11:24 amThank you for commenting and agreeing with me!
Tinu
July 2, 2018 at 11:31 amAww this is soo nice.. I love all the tips you gave… Nice job dear👍
Check out my new post.. Its on super easy tips to always look good..
https://tinutrends.wordpress.com/2018/06/30/6-super-easy-tips-to-always-look-good-my-week-in-style/
healthfulchel
July 5, 2018 at 4:57 pmGreat tips!
Kaley
July 5, 2018 at 4:58 pmThanks!