This Couple Saved Enough Money by Going Vegan to Afford a Vacation to Greece

Whenever the subject of vegan food comes up around friends and family, it always seems like one of the biggest talking points is how expensive it is. However, this is a huge misconception. Of course, with all the shiny new vegan products that seem to hit store shelves every week and tempt us with their delicious allure, sticking to a budget when you’re eating more plant-based foods can be tough. Yes, we’re looking at you, So Delicious Salted Caramel Ice Cream Bars and brand new Tofurky burgers. This can be even harder if you live in a city that happens to be one of the most vegan and vegetarian-friendly cities in the world. Because really, why ever get up when you can have Toad Style’s vegan coconut crusted Oyster mushroom banh mi delivered to your door without even having to speak to another human on the phone?

Saving money is tough when you stick to prepackaged foods or takeout – but that’s true for any diet. It turns out, eating a diet that is abundant in whole, plant-based foods can save you a decent sum of money. According to a story in CNBC, Massachusetts resident Andrée Pagès revealed that six months after she and her husband switched to a plant-based diet, they had saved enough money to afford a two-week vacation to Greece.

Originally, they had planned to remain vegan from Thanksgiving to Christmas but later decided to stick to the diet. Considering that the couple went vegan for environmental and health concerns, the money-saving was just dairy-free icing on the vegan cake. How did they do it?

Andrée says that they were able to save $1310 to $1470 in groceries buying organic, plant-based proteins such as beans from Costco. On top of that, they were able to save more money by never having to throw away food that was too “old.” Compared to the frozen meats and deli slices that the Pagès never got around to using, dry grains and canned plant-based proteins have a much longer shelf life — plus, she could easily make plant-based soups and stews in bulk and then freeze them for later.

They also saved money by dining out less or by choosing cuisines that offer more affordable plant-based options, such as Chinese or Middle Eastern food. They also managed to save a lot on medical costs. According to Andrée, after a month of switching to a plant-based diet, she was no longer suffered from arthritic swelling in her joints and her seasonal allergies seemingly disappeared.

In just six months, the Pagès saved enough to afford a trip to Athens, Crete, and Rhodes. Their story just goes to show you that eating a diet of primarily whole, plant-based foods is not only good for our wallets, it can also have positive effects on our personal health. The results of one study conducted by researchers at  University of California Santa Barbara showed that participants placed on a diet rich in legumes, grains, fruits, and vegetables saw a reduced risk of several types of disease and were able to save money on health care.

If you’re interested in trying more whole, plant-based foods, we highly recommend checking out the Food Monster App, available for both Android and iPhone that makes cooking at home easier than ever. On the Food Monster App, you’ll find 8,000+ vegan recipes with 10+ recipes added daily. Not only that, the app has cooking tips, how to’s, and more. What are you waiting for? Give it a try!

Need tips on sticking to a budget on a plant-based diet? Check out the following resources:

• 9 Hacks to Shop at Whole Foods as a Health Conscious Eater on A Budget
• How to Eat a Healthy Whole Foods, Plant-Based Diet on $50 Per Week
• On a Budget? Here are Some Healthy, Filling Foods Everyone Can Afford
• How I Maintain a Very Humble (Low) Budget Eating Vegan, Without Any Sacrifice

Lead image source: Dina Saeed/Shutterstock