How to Afford Being a Vegan

Whether you are a student or not, affording to lead a healthy and well balanced vegan lifestyle can be challenging. This is especially true if you enjoy specialty food item such as faux meats, artisan nut cheese, and other things. However, you can maintain a nutritious diet without breaking the bank. Learn how with these four smart strategies.

Create a Meal Calendar

A meal calendar is one of the simplest ways to avoid overspending and ensure that you have every day covered with well balanced meals. To do this, simply figure out what meals you would like to enjoy over the course of the next several days or week. Include plenty of variety and a good amount of fruits and vegetables while brainstorming. Typically food comes in over-sized portions. Combine ingredients to be used across multiple meals. An example of this is using Quinoa pasta for your dinner and then using some of that same quinoa pasta for your lunch. You should also account for a few snacks each day. You may even include vegan gluten free recipes if desired. One you are down, use your meal calendar as a guide while shopping. This way, you will not be tempted to indulge in unnecessary items.

Invest in Bulk Staple Items

Grocery stores that allow you to purchase loose products in bulk such as nuts, rice and beans are a great way to reduce your grocery shopping costs. The Vegan Society recommends stocking up on instant noodles as well, many of which are surprisingly vegan. You can use them to create simple stir fry dishes or soups. Bulk items can be stored in reusable containers in your kitchen or dorm. These foods are often cheaper to prepare on your own. For example, investing in a pound of dried beans can be half the cost of buying canned and precooked varieties.

Pick One Special Treat

One way to avoid overspending on junk or specialty foods is to allow yourself to pick one item you enjoy each time you go grocery shopping. This way, you will not accidentally spike your grocery costs and can take the time to really savor your treat. Peta mentions that buying store brands of common foods such as canned goods, oatmeal and frozen vegetables is a great way to reduce your overall costs, allowing you to feel good about investing in your specialty item. Another way to ensure you do not spend too much on junk foods is to eat before you go to the grocery store. The Simple Dollar found that doing this can limit your impulse buys that may be based on hunger alone.

Check for Discounts

Most grocery stores offer weekly coupons and other deals that can save you money if you take the time to find them. Typically, they can be found near the front of the store in a booklet. Spend a few minutes browsing the deals and circle the ones you are interested in before getting your shopping done. Another strategy to locate discounts is to ask a grocery store employee if they offer a discounted food section. Some stores keep these special finds near the back, making it challenging to find on your own. However, you can often save some serious cash on things like canned goods, bread and snacks. These goods may be discounted for simple packaging flaws such as deformities that do not affect the quality of the actual product. Others may be discounted because they are nearing their expiration date. This is a great way to cut your food costs on items that you would have spent full price for anyways.

Saving money as a vegan is not only doable, but easy. You do not need to invest in costly items to enjoy a well balanced and healthy diet. Use these strategies next time you go shopping to see the savings for yourself.