How to Save Money as a Vegetarian

Do you want to learn How to Save Money as a Vegetarian?

I’ve been on a vegan diet for about 10 years and have learned a lot over the years! Eating a vegan diet can be very useful for your health, environment, and animals, and it doesn’t have to be expensive. With some strategies you can enjoy a vegan meal that includes delicious dishes without spending too much money.

Today, I’m going to share real tips and money-saving tips to help you save money while living a vegan lifestyle. Even if you are not fully vegan, this post will help you learn how to save money by eating more vegan recipes and meat-free meals.

Recommended reading: 13 vegan meal preparation recipes

How to Save Money as a Vegetarian

Here is a list of ways you can save money as a vegetarian.

1. Buy food

Buying food in bulk is one of the best ways to save money on groceries. Foods like rice, beans, pasta, oats and lentils are usually cheaper than smaller foods.

These foods can last for months in sealed containers, which really helps save you money. The batch section can be found in many grocery stores including international grocery stores such as Asian grocery stores, as well as Kroger, Publix, Sprouts, Whole Foods, and more.

You can find sealed food containers on Amazon here.

2. Buy frozen

Frozen fruits and vegetables are a great way to eat healthy and save vegetarians.

Frozen produce is usually more affordable than fresh produce, especially when it is out of season. These foods are picked in peak maturity and then frozen so you don’t sacrifice any nutritional value.

Also, if you are someone who tends to throw away a lot of fresh produce because it will deteriorate quickly, frozen produce is the way to go. A bag of frozen vegetables can be used to make soups, stir-fry, smoothies, curries and many other dishes.

3. Go to the discount grocery store

If you live in a big city, you may have a discount grocery store nearby.

For example, I live near Las Vegas and open a new discount grocery store called Grocery Outlet. The store has purchased bricks or something close to expiration dates back to the surrounding stores. I get crazy discounts on food here, like:

• Vegan meatballs for $2 (usually $6)
• Vegan Kimbap for $2 (usually $9)
• Vegetarian kimchi price is $2 (usually $8)
• Vegans are dietary meals for $3 (usually $7)
• Grillo’s pickle price is $1 (usually $8)

Food always spins in this store, new items keep coming, so I enter with an open mind and don’t expect to find the same thing every time.

4. Trader Joe

Trader Joe’s is one of the best places to find vegetarians, which is why it is at most a store where I shop.

If you’re a fan of vegetarian meat and cheese alternatives, Trader Joe’s has some of the best options available, and they really can be affordable. My favorite items from Trader Joe include:

• Vegetarian Korean Bulgogi (I recently brought it to my sister’s house and even if they aren’t vegetarian they think it’s really delicious!)
• Vegetarian Orange Chicken
• Vegetarian Jimbap
• Vegetarian Cheese/Palm/Cheddar
• Vegetarian ice cream sandwich
• Tofu
• tempeh

5. Costco

Believe it or not, Costco has a large number of vegetarians, so if you’re already shopping at Costco, this is a great place to get most of the vegetarian foods.

For example, Costco currently sells impossible burger pies for $1.90 per slice, which is cheaper than buying at other stores.

Costco also sells the tofu package for $8, and the four-piece package costs about $2. The best place to get frozen vegetables and fruits is Costco, as they sell some budget-friendly staples including broccoli florets, edamame, mixed berries and stir-fry mixtures.

6. Plan your meals

Planning your meals will save you the most money as you are using strategies to get into this meal instead of buying random groceries and getting something you’ve already wasted.

When you know exactly what to eat throughout the week, you can only buy what you need.

When I’m not sure about my week’s meal plan, I’ll go into chatgpt and enter a rough list of the groceries I have, which will create a breakfast/lunch/dinner plan.

I recommend using leftovers as meals and copying meals to make meal costs easier.

Recommended reading: Weekly meal planners can print

7. Be your own vegetarian

It can be fun to learn how to eat your favorite snacks. Some of my favorite vegan snack recipes include:

I’ve made these two recipes millions of times and they are always popular, especially pop!

8. Use leftovers

Leftovers can be reused into many new things, so here are some tips if you have always disliked eating the same thing.

• The remaining roasted vegetables can be mixed into a creamy soup
• Cooked beans can be used as the basis for vegetarian burgers or taco stuffing
• Convert the remaining rice into fried rice

9. Online shopping

Sometimes I buy groceries on Amazon, whether it’s fresh or whole foods on Amazon, and then send them to my house.

I will search for items that are being sold or discounted (which can be easily done by Amazon with the sales section), and I will also buy the Whole Foods Universal Brand to save on items.

Remember, I have a major membership on Amazon; otherwise, I wouldn’t do that as it would cost extra to ship food to my home, which is not worth it.

10. Buy seasonal food

Buying food during the season can make a huge difference, rather than buying food in season. For example, fresh strawberries are priced at about $3 to $5 per pound in season, and in the case of insufficient season, up to $7 per pound, so when you buy food, this does make a difference.

Here is a rough guide to a season:

Spring (March – possible)

• Strawberries (peak in late spring)
• asparagus
• spinach
• pea
• radish

Summer (June to August)

• Strawberries (early summer in some areas)
• blueberry
• raspberry
• blackberries
• mango
• tomato
• zucchini
• corn
• Bell pepper

Autumn (September to November)

• apple
• pear
• pumpkin
• Pumpkin (walnut, acorn, spaghetti)
• broccoli

Winter (December to February)

• Citrus fruits (orange, grapefruit, lemon)
• Kale
• cabbage
• carrot
• sweet potato

11. Comparing grocery stores and their prices

My closest grocery store is one of the most expensive stores in the area, so I am familiar with very quick comparisons of grocery prices.

For example, a box of pasta costs from $3 to $4 at my local grocery store, and I can buy a box of pasta for $1 at Walmart. We eat a lot of pasta, so strategic about where we buy certain foods is money-saving.

12. Store with grocery list

I always go to the grocery store and think about the list.

Here is what always rotates on my list:

• pasta
• Quinoa
• beans
• Tofu
• tempeh
• Peanut butter
• jam
• bread
• Vegetables (always try something new, I’m currently kicking in cabbage)
• Fresh fruits such as mango, berries and bananas
• Basics of canned tomatoes and other food storage
• Plant-based milk and yogurt
• nut

13. Analyze how much vegetarian alternatives cost (with your own making)

Vegetarian alternatives like plain cheese and meat can become very expensive, so it can sometimes be very helpful and how much money can be saved by making it yourself.

For example, cashew cheese or vegetarian burgers are often much cheaper than buying them in the store.

Even if you don’t start all the work from scratch, choosing some staples can cut your grocery bill.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are the common questions about how to save money as a vegetarian.

What does vegetarianism mean?

Vegetarians mean differently to everyone, but to me it means choosing not to eat animal products. These animal products include meat (beef, chicken, pork, fish, etc.), dairy products (milk, cheese, yogurt, butter), eggs and honey. It also means I try to avoid as many animal products as possible outside of my diet, including clothing, beauty products and other everyday items.

Can vegetarians save money?

Being a vegetarian can save you money or spend money. It really depends on the food you buy. If you tend to eat a lot of processed vegetarian alternatives, you will have a higher grocery bill. If you stick to a whole-food, plant-based diet, you may spend less money.

As a vegetarian, what’s the best secret to cheap consumption?

Some of my best tips for eating vegan include:

• Made meals around staples – beans, lentils, rice, oats, pasta and potatoes are cheap, stuffed and can be made in many different ways.
• Buy Buy – Dried beans, rice, oats and frozen vegetables are usually less expensive when purchased in larger quantities.
• Cooking at home – Pre-made vegetarian products such as artificial meat, cheese or snacks are expensive. Cooking at home saves the most money.

What are your thoughts on a week’s cheap vegetarian meal?

Some of my favorite cheap vegetarian meals include:

• Oatmeal with banana and peanut butter
• Toast with hummus, tomato and cucumber
• Stir-fried tofu with vegetables and toast
• Black Beans and Tortillas with Salsa Sauce
• Spaghetti and pickled vegetables
• Chili with beans, canned tomatoes and spices (eat with rice or bread)
• Fried noodles with vegetables and beans

Is vegetarian food alternative worth it?

If you enjoy the texture and flavor of meat and cheese, or just want to recreate the nostalgic meal you love when you don’t eat vegan recipes, a vegetarian food alternative may be worth it. I love vegetarian food alternatives, but I want to make sure to buy them when they are sold or at discount grocery stores because these foods tend to be more valuable.

How to Save Money as a Vegetarian – Summary

Hope you enjoyed my article on the best way to save money as a vegetarian.

I’ve been a vegetarian for many years and I think there are many ways to save money when eating vegetarian foods. Even if you are not completely vegan, these tips can help and can be used as a general guide to saving more groceries.

How do you save money on groceries?

Recommended reading: