When I first converted to veganism, the biggest mistake I made was stocking up on processed foods and expensive vegan-friendly alternatives to some of my favorite non-vegan meals. Though it was three years ago, I still remember my first vegan shopping trip. I remember filling my shopping cart with packages of frozen vegan chicken nuggets and burgers, containers of vegan cream cheese and organic frozen burritos. I spent nearly $300 on groceries that day alone, and quickly found my monthly grocery bill exceeding the cost of all of my other bills combined. As a poor art school student, it wasn’t long before I could no longer afford my vegan lifestyle, and though I believed in veganism passionately I ended up giving up because the grocery bills simply weren’t feasible for me.
I’ve recently reconverted to veganism, and this time I am taking an entirely different approach to how I shop and what I eat. I’m being smarter about what I put in my shopping cart and into my body, and my wallet is thanking me greatly. The purpose of this article is to help both new and seasoned vegans avoid the mistakes I made as a new vegan in order to save money on vegan groceries. The vegan lifestyle can actually be much cheaper than an omnivorous diet, as fruits and vegetables are far less expensive than meat and dairy products. Here are some tips that will teach you how to save money on vegan groceries so you never have to sacrifice your values as a result of money.
Buy Only What You Need
When shopping for perishable foods such as produce, only buy what you will realistically eat before the food gos bad. Produce is usually priced by the pound, but you may find yourself unlikely to eat a full pound of bananas or tomatoes. Instead opt to buy a quarter or half pound of produce. This will save you money and reduce food waste. You can always increase the amount you buy if you find it is something you will eat the next time you visit the grocery store.
Check out weekly fliers for grocery stores in your area and compare their prices on produce items. Don’t let yourself get suckered into paying $4.00 for an onion at one store only to find out they were on sale for 77cents per pound at the store down the street. Also compare the price difference between organic and non-organic fruits and vegetables, as non-organic are usually cheaper. If you have a farmer’s market in your area, utilize it for all of your produce needs. Farmer’s markets are usually the cheapest place to buy produce and you will be supporting local farmers in your area.
Buy in Bulk
For non perishable, dry food items such as oats, beans, rice and granola, always buy in bulk when possible. This is an excellent way to save money as bulk items are priced by the pound and will not spoil if it takes you awhile to eat them. For example, dry black beans are about $1.00 per pound at my local Sunflower Market, as is one can of black beans. By choosing to buy my beans in bulk versus canned, I save a tremendous amount of money and have to purchase beans less frequently. A pound of rice is about $1.50, while a half-pound box of rice is about $3.00. I can not stress the amount of money you can save on vegan groceries by buying in bulk enough.
Buy Shelf-Stable Milks
I refuse to buy Silk soy milk because it is owned by Dean Foods, a major dairy company. Silk also tends to be the most expensive vegan-friendly milk at the grocery store, and is also one of the only non-dairy milks available in the refrigerated section. To avoid supporting the dairy industry and to save money, I instead purchase shelf stable milks such as Soy Dream or Rice Dream. These milks are far cheaper than their refrigerated counterparts and are shelf-stable until opened. You can easily stock up on shelf-stable milks when they are on sale and keep them in your pantry until you are ready to drink them. And if you are worried about preservatives, these milks contain none. The packaging is what prevents them from spoiling.
Plan Meals Ahead of Time
Bust out your favorite vegan cook books and plan your meals before you visit the store. This way you can make a grocery list to buy all of the necessary ingredients and will be less likely to buy frozen, processed versions of your favorite meals.
Buy Clearance When Possible
Most grocery stores have a clearance section, and this can be an excellent place to find deals on vegan groceries. I always buy my bread from the clearance section, because I eat a lot of bread and know I will eat the entire loaf before it actually gos bad. I have purchased bread for as cheap as 25cents a loaf before by shopping this way. I have also found vitamin supplements on sale in clearance sections many a time. The clearance section is great for finding snacks and other small items at a fraction of their normal cost, and none of the food is actually expired and is safe to eat.
