They said, “Being a vegan can be overwhelming, especially when you are travelling and on a budget”. But who said smart planning can’t make you relish flavourful delicacies and explore new cultures at the same time? That too, while you stay healthy and travel the globe!
Vegan backpackers can budget effectively by researching local cuisines, preparing simple batch meals, purchasing groceries wisely, utilising supplements and supportive applications to track their expenses. Planning for daily needs and occasional treats shouldn’t make you compromise on your taste and beliefs.
With the right hacks, you can save money, eat well, and stick to your beliefs without feeling restricted. See for yourself:
When travelling to multiple countries, avoiding hidden charges is necessary, to stay on your budget. A multi-currency forex card is safer and more economical than using cash, ATMs, or international credit/debit cards.
A secure online platform like BookMyForex can help you with foreign currency exchange at competitive rates, zero markup forex cards, and money transfers abroad.
Understand the food culture of the places you are going to travel. Some places rely on seafood, dairy, and animal fats heavily. Knowing these cooking practices can help you spot hidden animal products and you can ask for vegan alternatives accordingly.
If you travel frequently, you will know that hydration and snacks are essential. A smarter alternative will always be to carry a reusable water bottle. You can refill it to save money and reduce waste.
If you are frequently moving between countries, snacking at train stations and vending can add up to your budget.
Pack non-perishable food and less messy eatables. A few examples could be homemade granola bars, popcorn, roasted chickpeas, nuts, grapes, seasonal fruits, and carrots that you can consume on the move.
Local shopping can be stressful especially when you have to navigate various food choices and choose from lesser alternatives.
Supermarkets offer affordable food like pasta, seasonal produce, rice, spices, and frozen vegetables. Frozen vegetables and fruits along with batch-cooked meals work for days and help in reducing waste.
Don’t shop when you’re hungry. You’re more likely to overspend or pick items that don’t fit your plan. Stick to a prepared list instead.
Opt for branded vegan items to not risk quality. But look for discount sections, preferably before the store closes. Through this, you can find cheaper food prices. Stores often offer lower prices at the end of the day to sell items before they expire. Thus, you can save some money.
Hostels or Airbnbs with kitchens can help you save on meals. Choose your basics like rice, pasta, or canned tomatoes to make curries and soups. Prepare enough for days ahead, when you can just reheat it instead of buying or eating out.
Local markets are adventurous and save your money. Things like spices and sauces can be found for much fairer prices as compared to larger supermarket chains.
Many local vendors like supermarkets offer fresh products at negotiable prices around closing hours. If you are staying for long, go for occasional strolls to local shops, to support their business.
Not everyone would understand ‘veganism’. Western cities like Berlin, London, and New York are vegan-friendly but it is the opposite in rural or non-English speaking regions.
Learn key phrases like “no meat”, “no dairy/egg”, and “vegan” in local languages. Or use a vegan passport or vegan flashcards to politely put forward your dietary needs.
For instance, in South Asian countries, ordering a ‘Buddha Bowl’ delivers the message of a clean and vegan meal without confusion.
If you are invited, explain your dietary intake politely and offer to bring a dish. This can help avoid awkwardness and show respect towards their culture.
Modify local dishes to make them vegan. For instance, you can ask for pasta without cheese. Understand the base ingredients to choose what you wish to eat finally.
Use the right applications and networks to find vegan options easily. Various applications like online support networks and communities built for your specific requirements.
They make your travel easy, help you locate food hubs, translate, and meet like-minded individuals. Thus, chart out vegan-friendly restaurants, supermarkets, and healthy food stores in advance.
HappyCow shows vegan-friendly restaurants and stores worldwide. Couchsurfing local vegan groups and many other digital platforms helps you connect with local vegans. You can use these for tips or shared meals.
Google Translate can help you with menus and ingredient checks, you can download it offline as well.
Sometimes, staying healthy can ask for a healthy investment initially. Pack essential supplements such as Omega-3, Vitamin B12, and Vitamin D. Also carry plant protein powder, and digestive aids like peppermint or ginger tablets.
This is useful for places with limited vegan products and helps to avoid any deficiencies. Pack them in labelled containers to avoid questions from airport authorities, regarding unfamiliar capsules or powders.
Travel insurance covers medical needs, lost items, and delays. Choose one that supports your dietary restrictions and medical needs.
Carrying your snacks would help you avoid food given by the airlines. Also, ensure to confirm the availability of vegan meals with airlines well in advance.
Choose flexibility, some days you'll have to rely on leftovers or snacks. Try cooking most of your meals, but allow yourself some cheat meals once in a while like vegan cheese or something economical that you can get from a sale.
Budgeting doesn’t mean you’ll skip on local vegan treats. Plan for occasional food outings.
Allocate a small part of your weekly budget for local vegan dishes. It could be a spicy tofu dish in Thailand or a vegan sushi in Tokyo. While you savor the new dish, you’ll also support small vegan-friendly businesses around the globe.
Choosing to be a vegan comes with choosing low-waste products, mostly. Pack smart and cut wastes while you stick to your beliefs. Prefer a reusable bag and walk to the market. This helps to cut transportation costs and reduce packaging waste.
Track your daily expenses without failure. You can use free budgeting applications or write your daily expenses manually or use a forex card with app-based control for easy tracking. Set yourself daily allowances and stick to those limits. Choose affordable local shops over supermarkets and expensive restaurants.
With the right hacks, you can save money, eat well, and stick to your beliefs without feeling restricted. See for yourself:
Smart Budgeting as a Vegan for a Multi-Country Trip
1. Sort Your Currency!
When travelling to multiple countries, avoiding hidden charges is necessary, to stay on your budget. A multi-currency forex card is safer and more economical than using cash, ATMs, or international credit/debit cards.
A secure online platform like BookMyForex can help you with foreign currency exchange at competitive rates, zero markup forex cards, and money transfers abroad.
2. Research and Plan Beforehand!
Understand the food culture of the places you are going to travel. Some places rely on seafood, dairy, and animal fats heavily. Knowing these cooking practices can help you spot hidden animal products and you can ask for vegan alternatives accordingly.
3. Prepare for the Travel and Master Budget Vegan Snacking!
If you travel frequently, you will know that hydration and snacks are essential. A smarter alternative will always be to carry a reusable water bottle. You can refill it to save money and reduce waste.
If you are frequently moving between countries, snacking at train stations and vending can add up to your budget.
Pack non-perishable food and less messy eatables. A few examples could be homemade granola bars, popcorn, roasted chickpeas, nuts, grapes, seasonal fruits, and carrots that you can consume on the move.
4. Buy Your Groceries Smartly!
Local shopping can be stressful especially when you have to navigate various food choices and choose from lesser alternatives.
Supermarkets offer affordable food like pasta, seasonal produce, rice, spices, and frozen vegetables. Frozen vegetables and fruits along with batch-cooked meals work for days and help in reducing waste.
Don’t shop when you’re hungry. You’re more likely to overspend or pick items that don’t fit your plan. Stick to a prepared list instead.
Opt for branded vegan items to not risk quality. But look for discount sections, preferably before the store closes. Through this, you can find cheaper food prices. Stores often offer lower prices at the end of the day to sell items before they expire. Thus, you can save some money.
5. Cook Simply If You Have Access to Kitchen Instead of Eating Out!
Hostels or Airbnbs with kitchens can help you save on meals. Choose your basics like rice, pasta, or canned tomatoes to make curries and soups. Prepare enough for days ahead, when you can just reheat it instead of buying or eating out.
6. Explore Local Markets and Non-European Stores!
Local markets are adventurous and save your money. Things like spices and sauces can be found for much fairer prices as compared to larger supermarket chains.
Many local vendors like supermarkets offer fresh products at negotiable prices around closing hours. If you are staying for long, go for occasional strolls to local shops, to support their business.
7. Navigate Culture and Communication!
Not everyone would understand ‘veganism’. Western cities like Berlin, London, and New York are vegan-friendly but it is the opposite in rural or non-English speaking regions.
Learn key phrases like “no meat”, “no dairy/egg”, and “vegan” in local languages. Or use a vegan passport or vegan flashcards to politely put forward your dietary needs.
For instance, in South Asian countries, ordering a ‘Buddha Bowl’ delivers the message of a clean and vegan meal without confusion.
If you are invited, explain your dietary intake politely and offer to bring a dish. This can help avoid awkwardness and show respect towards their culture.
Modify local dishes to make them vegan. For instance, you can ask for pasta without cheese. Understand the base ingredients to choose what you wish to eat finally.
8. Use Helpful Applications and Communities!
Use the right applications and networks to find vegan options easily. Various applications like online support networks and communities built for your specific requirements.
They make your travel easy, help you locate food hubs, translate, and meet like-minded individuals. Thus, chart out vegan-friendly restaurants, supermarkets, and healthy food stores in advance.
HappyCow shows vegan-friendly restaurants and stores worldwide. Couchsurfing local vegan groups and many other digital platforms helps you connect with local vegans. You can use these for tips or shared meals.
Google Translate can help you with menus and ingredient checks, you can download it offline as well.
9. Carry Supplements!
Sometimes, staying healthy can ask for a healthy investment initially. Pack essential supplements such as Omega-3, Vitamin B12, and Vitamin D. Also carry plant protein powder, and digestive aids like peppermint or ginger tablets.
This is useful for places with limited vegan products and helps to avoid any deficiencies. Pack them in labelled containers to avoid questions from airport authorities, regarding unfamiliar capsules or powders.
10. Choose Travel Insurance!
Travel insurance covers medical needs, lost items, and delays. Choose one that supports your dietary restrictions and medical needs.
Carrying your snacks would help you avoid food given by the airlines. Also, ensure to confirm the availability of vegan meals with airlines well in advance.
11. Inculcate a Budget-Friendly Mindset!
Choose flexibility, some days you'll have to rely on leftovers or snacks. Try cooking most of your meals, but allow yourself some cheat meals once in a while like vegan cheese or something economical that you can get from a sale.
12. Don't Forget to Treat Yourself and Enjoy!
Budgeting doesn’t mean you’ll skip on local vegan treats. Plan for occasional food outings.
Allocate a small part of your weekly budget for local vegan dishes. It could be a spicy tofu dish in Thailand or a vegan sushi in Tokyo. While you savor the new dish, you’ll also support small vegan-friendly businesses around the globe.
13. Choose Eco-Friendly Alternatives!
Choosing to be a vegan comes with choosing low-waste products, mostly. Pack smart and cut wastes while you stick to your beliefs. Prefer a reusable bag and walk to the market. This helps to cut transportation costs and reduce packaging waste.
Wrap Up: How to Track Your Spending As a Vegan and Save Money
Track your daily expenses without failure. You can use free budgeting applications or write your daily expenses manually or use a forex card with app-based control for easy tracking. Set yourself daily allowances and stick to those limits. Choose affordable local shops over supermarkets and expensive restaurants.
What about you, how do you budget as a vegan? Feel free to share any tips & advice below! (Image source: Unsplash)
