Is Vegan Living Expensive?

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I had many people telling me that vegan living must be expensive. I am not sure where this assumption comes from. But before we explore why it’s not true, let’s talk about why the rumor is so pervasive.

Let’s talk about the food-related products first.

Vegan Substitutes

Meat substitutes, as well as dairy substitutes, can be pricey when you compare them side by side with the animal products they’re replacing. Ounce for ounce, a veggie burger can cost more than a hamburger. The truth is, however, that you’re going to eat much less of the substitutes than you would of the animal products.

In my personal experience, I rarely purchase or use substitute products. I don’t miss the meat. However, I have 3 boys (aka my husband and 2 kids) who are not vegan. To reduce the amount of non-vegan products in their diet, I need to “bribe” them once in a while with meat-like products.

Vegan “hot-dogs” or burgers can be quite expensive but we usually get them when they are on sale or simply make them at home 😉

I do use agar-agar powder instead of gelatin, and I haven’t tried a commercial egg-replacement product yet. I guess using flax-egg, bananas or chia-seeds “egg” has been working fine for my baking.

Organic Produce

Organic produce often does cost more than non-organic. It is awesome if you can buy organic produce. However, you don’t have to eat organic to be vegan. You also don’t have to buy everything organic. You can stick to the dirty dozen and buy everything else non-organic.

Another way to add organic products to your plate is to grow them yourself.

If you have been following and reading our blog for some time now, you know we grow a lot of vegetables in our small urban garden. We also grow microgreens indoors during the long winter months. Growing them at home is much cheaper than buying them from a store. We also love seeing those cute green seedlings grow fast when almost nothing else grows in the garden then.

Food preservation

Since we grow more veggies than we can eat at a time, we find different ways to preserve them.

Freezing and canning have been our favourite ways to preserve the food. Relishes, tomato sauce, jam, marmalade – you name it! Yes, it is time-consuming. But this way we know what’s on our plates 😉

Did you know you can find fruit for canning for free or almost free?

We were lucky to have apples, plums, pears, and much other fruit shared with us by people in the community. People have fruit trees in their backyards but they don’t use all of the fruit, and they will be happy to share their surplus with others.

This way they know they can help others, and they don’t need to worry about the rodents who will be happy to munch on the fallen fruit…

But what about other things?

Clothes and shoes

Similar to the “conventional” fashion, trendy items and high-fashion vegan brands can be more expensive. But even those high-end brands have sales and promotions.

And who doesn’t like a good sale?

Vegan Skincare and Makeup

I am skincare and makeup obsessed! I am sure I got it from my mom 🙂 I remember trying her skincare and makeup products when I was a teenager and having conversations with her about them.

Here is a list of my favourite vegan and cruelty-free skin cleansing products. Are you using any of these?

Here’s the Truth…

Not necessarily expensive means good and vice versa! Don’t tell anyone I told you that 😉 Let’s keep it our secret 🙂

I have tried very expensive products and not so expensive products. One of my favourite vegan perfumes costs less than CA$40!

 

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Let’s talk the money, Honey

Vegetables and grains are much less expensive than meat and animal products. Don’t believe it?

Make a list of products your family buys regularly. Go to the supermarket or check prices online with your favourite groceries store.

Don’t forget the eggs, milk, and meat.

Then create a vegan menu and go shopping. You’ll spend 75 to 50 percent less. Vegetables are cheaper than meat.

Should I elaborate on the health benefits of the veggies over the not-vegan too?

Can you spend more on a vegan diet? Absolutely, if you replace your meat with meat substitute items and you eat only organic produce then you can spend as much or more – but you don’t have to.

A vegan diet and lifestyle don’t have to break the bank.

Looking for more tips and resources on the healthy living?

Check out the Healthy Living Bundle – a collection of ebooks, courses, and printables. Recipes, meal plans, fitness plans, homesteading and gardening resources, home and beauty tips, and so much more!