Going vegan is absolutely life-changing. For many people, veganism also leads to healthier skin and hair, lower cholesterol, easier diabetes prevention and management, and tremendous increases in energy. However, whether you’re concerned about the natural environment, tired of tearing through meat, or heart-stricken by the thought of harming animals, it’s important to make this move wisely. After all, you’re now tasked with getting all of your essential nutrients from a far more limited range of foods. Not only does this require a new way of thinking about your diet, but it also requires a bit of extra spending. To help you get started, the following are four ways to save money on daily expenses to buy vegan food.
1. Take Veganism Into Your Self-Care
Deodorant, body wash, laundry detergent, lotion, and toothpaste are likely among the most costly things in your daily budget. People pay a surprising amount of money on household, health, and beauty products, and although these items aren’t exactly meaty, they’re often rife with animal-derived ingredients or produced via unethical animal testing.
You can switch out your current range of products for simple, natural alternatives that don’t harm animals at all and cost a lot less. For instance, consider moisturizing your skin and hair with olive or coconut oil rather than store-bought lotions and conditioners. Buying large quantities of these oils and putting half in your bathroom and half in your kitchen pantry will cut your spending and make shopping much easier. When mixed with essential oil, baking soda, and other ingredients, coconut oil even doubles as an effective toothpaste. Vegans have found remarkable ways to use apple cider vinegar to clean their hair, tone their skin, and wipe down their mirrors, windows, and other surfaces, even as they use this same tonic to make salad dressings and health remedies.
2. Go for Bulk
Using natural, food-grade ingredients to make your own hygiene, healthcare, and household products is one way to save money. Buying everything you need in bulk will take your savings even further. This is also true for the food items you eat. You’ll pay far less per ounce for essential items like beans, rice, and nuts than you would if purchasing smaller quantities. You’ll also make fewer trips to the store and save on gas or electric energy.
3. Trim the Fat
Make a list of everything you don’t actually need. Many people are spending small fortunes on wants rather than requirements and without being aware of the total impact that this unnecessary spending is having. For instance, treating yourself to a single soy vegan latte each day might cost just a few dollars, but those dollars add up quickly.
If coffee is a must, get a high-quality coffee maker and a bulk order of organic coffee grounds instead. Invest in a quality lunchbox and food storage containers, and stop eating out. When you’re vegan, this keeps your food costs down to the costs of the groceries that you purchase for home. It will also eliminate the hassle of making sure that restaurants are using truly vegan ingredients.
To take your vegan lifestyle and your more eco-conscious approach to living to the next level, you can also cut your gym membership and take advantage of free yoga classes in the park, nearby hiking or biking trails, or free, online workout routines. You can even park your car and bike or walk to work instead.
4. Stop Wasting Money on Transactional Fees
Pay attention to how much you’re spending when moving money, getting cash, cashing checks, and making other financial transactions. A dollar here and a dollar there might not seem like much, but it can really add up over time. Working with a bank that offers best-in-class financial technologies will give you access to higher interest rates, lower-priced funding products, and more ways to make your money work for you.
