I recently went vegetarian for a few reasons: ethical, environmental, and even health reasons. However, there is another reason that a lot of people don’t talk about: financial! There is a common misconception that to fit in with the “vegan lifestyle,” you have to be upper middle class, and able to afford shopping at expensive health food stores. But it’s simply not true! Some of the most frugal foods you can buy are vegan/vegetarian friendly, like rice, beans, and canned/fresh produce. And yes, while some meat substitutes can be quite pricey, not all of them are. A one pound block of tofu at my local Kroger is $1.88: compared to the absolute cheapest ground beef they have, which is $3.50 a pound.
However, whether you’re vegan or not, your enjoyment of tofu completely depends on how it’s cooked, and it can be difficult to master. I stopped eating meat about 3 months ago, I’ve cooked tofu at least 10 times since then, and I’m still trying to get it just right. If you’re trying to save money and switch to tofu every now and then, here are some tips I’ve picked up along the way:
-Always buy extra-firm tofu; it’s more solid and meat-like.
-Drain the package of water, then press the block of tofu between two paper towels and put something heavy on top of it- for about 20 minutes.
-One method of flavoring it is to marinate it in sauce for a few hours. Then, cook it however you like- baking, frying, etc.
-Another method is to toss the tofu in a small amount of corn starch and then pan-fry it to crispiness!
I’ve always thought that buying soil is really stupid. I mean, why should I have to pay for dirt? It’s everywhere, and it’s already free. I realize that regular dirt isn’t ideal for growing most plants, and what you are really paying for is the nutrients in the soil, but still. It’s like buying bottled water when you have a perfectly good faucet at home, or going to an oxygen bar. Being the cheapskate that I am, I’m always looking to save money in the kitchen as well. That’s why I love this post by 
Saving money is never a bad thing; if you have a steady, livable income, you should still never let anyone shame you for using coupons or looking for other ways to cut costs. If you don’t have a reliable income, it becomes even more important to pinch those pennies. Check out this awesome list by 
Almost everyone tries to save money where they can: by using coupons, cutting unnecessary expenses, refinancing loans, and comparison shopping. But, if you don’t have an ultimate goal in mind, what’s the point of hoarding your money? You can’t take it with you. Are you trying to save for a down payment on a home? Putting more money towards your retirement? Or trying to pay off your mortgage faster and become debt free? According to this article by
Creating a budget is hard enough, but sticking to one can seem impossible at times. Even once you run the numbers, and find out how much you should be spending/saving each month, it takes a huge amount of will power not to spend any extra money on impulse buys. For tips on keeping your good habit and sticking to your budget, check out this post
The next vacation I’m planning will be for this Summer. I’m going to Michigan for a week with my boyfriend to visit his family and friends. We went last year, and I had a great time! What’s more, it wasn’t terribly expensive, since we had places to stay the whole time and transportation. But, we still had to pay for plane tickets (not cheap) and food for the week. That can add up! So, I figure it’s time to start saving a couple hundred “vacation dollars” now. That’s why I love 
