Posted December 30, 2010 by Rachelle Owen
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Out of allll of the excuses people pull for not going vegan, the one that I hate the most (at least right now) is “veganism is too expensive!” Umm … are you kidding me? Seriously?
Let’s clear this up. Veganism is NOT expensive. Beans, rice, potatoes, and veggies are all some of the cheapest, easiest to find, and healthiest things that you can possibly eat. Meat, dairy, eggs … those things are expensive … and you know what else is expensive? Health bills!
Yeah yeah, I know … we’re not all old and worried about heart disease, cancer, and strokes … yet. But diets high in animal protein, cholesterol (which is impossible to consume with a vegan diet) and saturated fat (aka: meat-based diets) play a key role in the leading causes of death in the U S of A. Yikes. If you’re not payin’ for it now, you’ll be payin’ for it later—that’s for sure.
Even if you’re in college, even if you live with your parents, even if you’re unemployed, you can still be vegan. Pasta sauce with noodles, black beans and rice with your fave spices, vegetarian chili, tofu or veggie stir fry … all things easily found at your local grocery store—and cheap, too! You don’t have to go out and buy extravagant specialty products to be vegan, it’s as simple as checking the ingredients on every day products. It’s never impossible.
So next time you want to pull out your trusty “It’s too expensive!” excuse, think again. Is it really? Or are you just trying to justify your choices to continue eating animals? Go vegan already and stop fibbing to yourself!! 
peta2 Street Team Coordinator + lover of vegan food, cats, animal rights, Dawson's Creek, and Harry Potter.
Too long to explain here, it's long enough for a novel.
Well let's just say life ain't always beautiful but it's a beautiful ride. I love all my pets and would do anything for them. I have one dog, two cats, a ferret and my babygirl shaymin,(the cutest hedgehog alive) I'm into all different kinds of music. I'm a singer myself and love art.
Father loves to farm, be self sustainable, loves to read, he's a antiques/vintage auctioneer, art student, and looks like mr. Rogers. My mother is a Montessori teacher and is amazing with children, all about local organic foods, loves gardening, cooking etc. my sister who is nine years older than me was into indie music and introduced me to all sorts of things at a young age. This all rubbed of on me and from that base I grew into similar things. I'm an INFJ
I love animals about as much as rock, heavy metal, tea, and coffee. Hoping to make a difference and help animals through PETA!!!
I'm tall, a geek, nacho - obsessed, I love sewing and Cath Kidston, also I'm vegetarian (wannabe vegan.)
Jersey girl now I'm all country.
I want to get into marketing but not have to rely on people which have different morals and worldviews than I do to hire me. While I'm figuring this out, I want to show everyone what I believe in and spur them into action against injustices.
Life On A Tour Bus
I am Angela. When I am not helping animals I am listening to music, reading, or playing video games. My spirit animal is a fox and I love nature. What else is there to know? Want to know anything about me, need advice or anything message me :)
Stay loud!
277 days ago
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i am a vegan and i cant believe how dumb i was!!! my parents would complain all the time about how much mony it is to be vegan. They still bought all the high priced fake meat stuff for me but complained a lot! so i read this and told my dad about it and well….he is more ok with me being a vegan!
672 days ago
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I still live with my parents and I really want to go vegan, so far I’ve been a vegetarian for 3 years (almost 4) and my parents had a hard time with that. We eat A LOT of Italian food and finding non egg based pasta that actually taste good is hard where I live. I was anemic not to long ago and my parents blamed it on me being a vegetarian (even though the doctor said it wasn’t because of that) I do plan on going vegan when I move out though. But sadly, I have to wait until then… :/
865 days ago
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My FAVORITE (vegitarian) thing to eat, that is kinda surprising to me is, spaghettios! I’m personally just a pescatarian, so I am working towards being all vegitarian or maybe even vegan, but I still feel WAY better being pesca., I am NOT in anyway skinny but I feel clear-er and lighter not eating the heavy and hard pork and chicken and beef and even lamb products, and another plus (atleast for me) is A LOT of vegtables are watery, I am very drink dependant, I don’t know why but I feel as if I am always thirsty (I’m not diabetic, my mother has me checked everytime I travel to houston) so eating salads and vegtable soups and such are very helpful to me, but hey I’m just weird in that last way
Being only 16 and a sophmore in high school (and in Texas to boot), I DO come across skeptics, but I don’t care I feel better and I know I’m doing better for more than just me, I WILL continue, I WILL raise my future chilren this way, and anyone who wants to chance that can leave, I don’t need them.
873 days ago
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This is one of the most downright factual articles’ I have ever read. I am only vegetarian right now. When I am about fourteen I plan to go vegan. I think the way animals are treated is to cruel to be looked aside. Going vegi has also made a DRAMATIC increase in my health. I think it’s been one of the best decisions of my life.
874 days ago
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I’m an ovo-lacto vegetarian, slowly but surely getting to vegan.
I understand that some vegan foods are cheap, but living in a house full of carnivores, it’s so much easier to avoid temptation when I have those overpriced fake meats.
I know that there are a lot of people that can’t even look at meat without puking, I was like that a little, but I’ve had to be a little more calloused; like I said, house of carnivores.
875 days ago
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It’s very easy to buy vegan foods in bulk too which saves money e.g. bags of dried beans and soya pieces.
875 days ago
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Fave reason to go vegan? Health benefits! My whole family has a huge history of heart disease (all of the women on my dad’s side died of it) and not only that, but if enough people went vegan (or even just vegetarian) we could potentially reverse global warming! Plus, the fact is, that animals suffer for food that my body wasn’t really meant to handle anyway. How are any of those things a good idea? There are several reasons veganism is great. These are my faves.
875 days ago
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Today I went to the supermarket and my mother bought some meat. (I’m vegan)
And I was like OMG! when I saw how expensive it was.
I told her that being vegetarian was cheaper and healthier, but she don´t wanna know about that, everytime I say “I don’t eat meat because…”, she shuts me up, and says ” I don’t really wanna know about it.”.
875 days ago
1
Hello
I love PETA articles, but I don’t exactly agree with this one. I’m from Portugal, and here when don’t have as many vegan/vegetarian products available as in the U.S.A and most are actually expensive here , but that is not the problem.
My problem is that I am the only one in my family that is interested in a vegan diet,so my parents have to buy “regular” food, consisting of meat, fish and dairy products(althought I don’t eat most of these anymore) for the rest of the family(5 more persons).
So in my case, it becomes expensive, buying two “types” of food, buying Tofu, Seitan(Wheat gluten),Soy icecream and other stuff just for one person.
What I try to do,is every time I go out/eat out, I try to eat only vegetarian meals.
I’m dying to be living on my own, cooking just for myself and find a job so that I can live on a vegan lifestyle, because then I beleive it will become afordable.
If you have any tips for me, I would really aprecciate it.
Thanks
675 days ago
1
I agree clarisse I truly want to be all vegetarian but I’m the only one in my family of like 8 so yeah all I really am able to eat is Cereal and whatever snacks we have and when I’m really hungry I might cave and have like a chicken tender or something
296 days ago
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This article is talking about the basics: beans, rice, potatoes, etc.
Of course specialty items are more expensive, thats true with ANY food vegan or not. Those are a treat, but you can make TONS of foods with super cheap produce/rice/beans. You dont NEED to rely on mock meats or soy ice creams, just make things with the simple stuff!