How to do Veganuary on a budget

Updated: 13/12/2021

Whether you’re looking for a good detox or want to try a new lifestyle, Veganuary is a fantastic way to trial and explore a plant-based diet. Typically, this trend is practiced from the start to the end of January but seen as though the unpredictability of 2020/2021 has trickled into 2022, I think we can all agree, structure is out of the window. We may be several weeks into January, but don’t let that put you off taking Veganuary for a spin. And if like most of us you’re short for cash this month, don’t worry- we have plenty of tips to help you ditch meat and dairy at a cost that won’t break the bank.

Create a meal plan

An obvious starting point, but there is nothing more effective than planning meals ahead of time. Firstly, it will make your shopping trip far less chaotic and most likely, cheaper. Why? It’s simple- if you know exactly what you need to buy and in what quantity, you’re less likely to overbuy and allow food to go to waste. Therefore, you’ll save money.

Whether you’re shopping on a weekly, fortnightly or monthly basis, make a list of the recipes you’d like to try and calculate what ingredients you need. Following a vegan diet, most of your items will be fresh vegetables and you may need to visit the supermarket a little more often, but you can quite easily incorporate this into your budget. Just try and resist over shopping and overspending- make your plan, stick to your shopping list and cut down the expense.

For more information on how to create a detailed meal plan, check out this extensive guide

Cook in bulk

Vegan or not, I swear by bulk food prep. If you aren’t a massive fan of cooking, this could be the solution you’ve been searching for, and what’s more, it will also save you some money. As we all know, vegetables have a small sell-by-date in comparison to most other food groups. Therefore, it’s really important to cook and eat them as soon as possible, in order to avoid food waste. To start, find a recipe that you like and buy enough ingredients for several meals (I would aim for 6). Cook your recipe in one go and portion the remaining food into Tupperware containers, suitable for the freezer. Then, pop them in and thaw before eating. Whether you’re strapped for time or don’t have the energy to go full Gordon Ramsay, pre-maid meals are the answer to your prayers and wallet. By cooking all your ingredients in one go, you won’t waste any food and won’t need to buy more.

Check out some of our favourite vegan batch cooking recipes here 

Avoid pre-made vegan meals

In recent years, there’s been a massive influx of vegan meals making their way to our supermarket shelves. Granted, they look and taste delicious- but they come at a price, that’s for sure. If you are tight on cash, as many of us are in January, resist the temptation of ready-made meals/ products and have a go making them from scratch. Where one pre-made meal may cost roughly £3.50, you’ll find that by purchasing the ingredients and cooking it yourself, you may create several meals for the same price.

Find out how to cook vegan meals from scratch here

Buy wonky veg

If you commit to Veganuary, you’ll be purchasing a lot of veg- and that can get costly. Wonky veg is stocked by many supermarkets in an attempt to curb food waste. Typically, the produce looks less attractive, but it is just as healthy and nutritious as its prettier neighbours. On average, wonky veg is roughly 30% the cost of standard stock, meaning you could save a staggering amount of cash by purchasing this ‘unwanted’ produce. It may not look as appealing, but opting for cheaper fresh foods, especially as a vegan, will help lower the cost of Veganuary and you’ll be helping the planet but cutting back on plastic/food waste!

If you decide to try Veganuary, let us know how you get on by sharing your delicious meals with us on our Facebook page!