Because vegans are still quite a small minority, convenience foods like vegan burgers, sausages, cheese and pies can certainly be a bit pricey in comparison to their animal equivalents, but that doesn’t mean that going vegan has to break the bank.
Given that it means cutting out traditionally expensive food items – such as meat and cheese – going vegan can actually be a very cheap way to live. A vegan chef in America went as far as to live for five days on just $7.50. That’s equivalent to less than £1 per day! You can read about her experiences here. And whilst it’s not recommended that people live long-term on such a restrictive diet, it does demonstrate just how low-cost veganism can be.
Meanwhile, here in the UK, Jack Monroe has posted numerous ultra-cheap vegan recipes on their blog. Although not a vegan, Jack has clearly seen that animal-free options often work out cheaper.
As these examples show, taking a ‘from scratch’ approach to cooking is often the best way to reduce costs, and it doesn’t have to be difficult. The website Frugal.org.uk has some great easy vegan recipes, all for under £1 per portion and often much cheaper than that. Animal Aid also has a handy booklet called Meat Free: Feed four for under a fiver that’s full of cheap recipes and money-saving tips. To request a printed copy, click here.