Vegan grocery shopping on a budget?

[Pirate Huntress]

Over the last two weeks, we've been spending a lot of money in groceries. 200 dollars a week just for two people. I must be doing something wrong. Is it possible to get everything you need at a Whole Food store without spending more than 100 - 130? My mom is an omni, but doesn't buy any meat during grocery shopping.

[amaroque]

Rice and beans baby! No seriously. Rice and beans are economical, a perfect veg*n protein when combined and yummy.

Personally I say skip WF. If you focus on fruit and veggies versus prepared veg*n foods then you will save a ton! Also try shopping at ethnic markets. In my experience the prices are substantially better...like 1/5th the cost.

[Semicharmed]

Everything you can make yourself - make it yourself. (Hummus can be made (and frozen!) at home for a massive savings. Today I used TVP to make my own meat crumbles, also freezable. WAY cheaper.)

But stuff that is on sale that is freezable. I like to indulge in the occasional Black Bean & Chipotle Gardenburger. I bought a megaton of them when they went on a BOGO sale.

Poke around online for manufacturer coupons too. So Delicious has some printable ones for their ice creams - so those "omgwant" indulgences are less cruel on your wallet.

Plan meals ahead of time, and make your own Master Shopping List (http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l299/hyphill/shoppinglist.jpg) that has EVERYTHING you could possibly need so you can go down the list at home in spare time and check off what you need for recipes and in general. (That's a link to a picture of my old one. It's changed a bit as I've started making things on my own like hummus, and I've cut a few things out, added some things, etc. Also, stuff like Parmesan and Worcestershire I know are not vegan - I get the vegan versions, no worries!) Anyway, this saves you from impulse buys or "Wait, do I have/need that?" or "Crap, what am I gonna cook for dinner?" moments.

Shop at more than one place. Some places have super deals on certain items, some are way costly. Buy in bulk whenever/wherever you can.

Also, go online and google ideas about shopping on a budget. A lot of ideas will apply not only to onmivores, but vegans too!

[Tofu-N-Sprouts]

As was already mentioned, skip Whole Foods and shop your regular old grocery store or an ethnic market. I have been vegan 5+ years and only shop at Whole Foods once or twice a year as a treat. Basic, non-processed, non-packaged "whole" foods that you prepare yourself will be the cheapest.

There are a lot of "budget shopping" threads here on VB if you search..

[Mr. Sun]

I agree with the others.

Most of your meals should be made from scratch with some 'treats' (premade foods) thrown in here or there if you want.

[babyvegankris]

Over the last two weeks, we've been spending a lot of money in groceries. 200 dollars a week just for two people. I must be doing something wrong. Is it possible to get everything you need at a Whole Food store without spending more than 100 - 130? My mom is an omni, but doesn't buy any meat during grocery shopping.

Boy, do I relate to that. I have spent $1000 this past month. I do chalk some of the cost up to having to stock basics that I would not normally have. I, also, bought a food processor and rice cooker. My rice cooker was so worth the money spent.

I don't know where you live, but I live in a town that has a WinCo that has many of the items I need in bulk bins, which helps tremendously.

I find that all the beans in cans are extremely, expensive. My new goal is to remember to soak the beans the night before so I can cook them the next day.

[rabid_child]

Yikes!! Mistake #1 is shopping at Whole Foods. They're fine if you need a specialty item you can't find at your regular grocery store, otherwise, they're WAAAY expensive for every day shopping, unless you're loaded!!

Our "expensive" weeks of grocery shopping are about $70 for two people. That includes household items like toilet paper and dish detergent. Our cheap weeks are about $40. It's generally somewhere in between that. My groceries are mostly fresh fruits and veggies, then grains and legumes, then usually cereals or breads. It'd be less if my bf didn't drink like 8-10 litres of seltzer a week... but we're working on that (he started on Mt Dew, so it's a pretty big step down to flavored seltzer).

[Tearza]

ALL great suggestions!
I agree:
1-rice and beans-you can prepare this so many ways with different kinds of beans and spices
2-frozen veggies
3-make stuff yourself (hummus, nutbutters, flours, "milks", guacamole, etc.)
4-ethnic shops
5-farmer's markets
6-stick to fruits, veggies, grains, nuts, legumes-avoid processed pre packaged stuff as much as possible
7-get some indoor vegetable/fruit plants so you can have tomatoes or other veggies in the winter!

[dirkduck]

As most people have said, avoid Whole Foods. If you must go, then at least avoid their produce (which has EXTREME markup) and stick with the bulk foods...though these will still be cheaper at any other natural grocer/ethnic market. I'm on a pretty tight budget so I pretty much stick to non-prepared foods. My staples are:
Brown Basmati Rice
Dahl (Lentils)
Quinoa
Oatmeal

In addition I buy a lot of veggies, usually most are organic, but sometimes the organic-markup is too high so I opt for conventional.
Finally, I will buy a couple things that are in the "isle's" of the store, such as coconut or rice milk and sometimes chips/salsa. But in general you want to stick around the edges, as the further you venture inwards, the worse/more expensive the food!

[dirkduck]

As most people have said, avoid Whole Foods. If you must go, then at least avoid their produce (which has EXTREME markup) and stick with the bulk foods...though these will still be cheaper at any other natural grocer/ethnic market. I'm on a pretty tight budget so I pretty much stick to non-prepared foods. My staples are:
Brown Basmati Rice
Dahl (Lentils)
Quinoa
Oatmeal

In addition I buy a lot of veggies, usually most are organic, but sometimes the organic-markup is too high so I opt for conventional.
Finally, I will buy a couple things that are in the "isle's" of the store, such as coconut or rice milk and sometimes chips/salsa. But in general you want to stick around the edges, as the further you venture inwards, the worse/more expensive the food!

[Will Penguin]

What I've done the last few months is go to Trader Joe's and buy a whole month's worth of canned/jarred/dry-type stuff, then (their produce is iffy) go to the farmers market every weekend and buy fresh yummy local produce.

I only have to deal with grocers shopping every four weeks or so, I'm eating better and healthier, and spending less.

[Will Penguin]

As was already mentioned, skip Whole Foods and shop your regular old grocery store or an ethnic market.

Whole Foods actually has a lot of cheap basic stuff... the trick is to have a LOT of discipline when you go there.
:whip:

[nicolettebeach8]

If you have farmer's markets in your area, hit those up for produce. I live in Philadelphia and go to Reading Terminal Market. I can come out with 2 or 3 big bags of veggies and fruits for less than $25.

Also, if there's an Aldi's near you, sometimes they have good deals on canned beans and bulk rice.

[maresicle]

I'm budget obsessed and if not restrained tend to spend a TON on food (I can walk to my local WH...ugh!!!):

1. Go to Trader Joe's first!!!
2. Fid a reasonable health food store and buy "bulk" beans, legumes, rice, TVP, nutritional yeast, even cereal :)
3. Stock up on canned goods, rice, etc when on sale
4. Make bread!!! I bought a bread machine at a yard sale for $5. Love it :) I veganize all the recipes andneach loaf costs cents to make!!!

[jenni-anti-fur]

As was already mentioned, skip Whole Foods and shop your regular old grocery store or an ethnic market. I have been vegan 5+ years and only shop at Whole Foods once or twice a year as a treat. Basic, non-processed, non-packaged "whole" foods that you prepare yourself will be the cheapest.

There are a lot of "budget shopping" threads here on VB if you search..

thats what i was gonna say...I go to Whole Foods Once or Twice a year....I shop reg grocery stores and shop sales and use coupons....yes they have them sometimes for produce too....and make stuff from scratch...home cooking always roxx!!:guitar:

Have a Hippie Weekend:cool: