Okay listen… money-saving plant-based hacks literally saved my broke ass when I decided to go mostly plant-based last fall.
I’m currently sitting cross-legged on my kitchen floor in Faridabad—no wait, scratch that, I’m pretending I’m in some random US apartment right now because that’s the vibe I need to channel for this post. Actually I’m in Haryana but whatever, the struggle is universal. My floor is cold, there’s a bag of yellow split peas ($1.19 equivalent energy) staring at me judgmentally, and my hands still smell faintly like turmeric even though I showered. This is adulthood apparently.
So yeah. When I first tried to switch most meals to plant-based (I still eat paneer sometimes when I’m emotionally fragile, don’t @ me), the grocery runs were giving me heart palpitations. ₹500+ just for almond milk, fancy tofu and one sad avocado? Nope. I needed money-saving plant-based hacks stat or I was going back to dal-chawal full time and calling it “cultural”.
Here’s the real, messy, sometimes embarrassing stuff that actually kinda worked for me (and the disasters too because transparency).
Bulk Beans & Lentils Are Cheaper Than Therapy Money-Saving Plant-Based Hacks
I used to buy one tiny 200g packet of rajma and feel accomplished. Then I discovered the loose bins at the local kirana/whole-sale market. Dry chickpeas, masoor dal, moong dal—₹60–90 per kg. That’s basically free food if you ignore cooking gas.
I bring old jam jars now so I don’t pay for plastic bags. One time the uncle at the counter watched me struggle to scoop moong dal with my shaky hands and just quietly handed me a bigger spoon. I almost cried from kindness. Anyway—bulk is the move.
Good beginner guide if you want one: here’s a solid post from Pick Up Limes about pantry staples on a budget
Oat Milk That Costs Almost Nothing (and Sometimes Tastes Okay)
Bought oat milk is expensive here too. I started making my own: 1 cup rolled oats + 4 cups water + tiny pinch salt. Blend 30 seconds, strain through an old (clean) cotton dupatta because I lost my nut bag. Done. Costs maybe ₹15–20 for half a litre.
Sometimes it’s slimy if you blend too long. Sometimes it separates and looks like science experiment. Add a drop of vanilla essence or cardamom powder and suddenly it’s drinkable in chai. I’m not saying it’s barista-level. I’m saying it’s not ₹120 a carton.
Decent tutorial: Oh She Glows basic oat milk method
Frozen Veg = Zero Waste Godsend Money-Saving Plant-Based Hacks
I would buy fresh palak, use four leaves for palak paneer, then find green slime in the fridge a week later and hate myself. Now I buy the big frozen mixed-veg bags or frozen peas—₹40–70 for 500g–1kg. Straight into sabzi, pulao, soups, even smoothies when I’m feeling unhinged.
Last Tuesday I made a giant pot of veg curry with frozen cauliflower, frozen green beans, one tired onion and the last of a coconut milk tetra-pack I found behind the ketchup. Total cost under ₹150. Ate it for four meals. I felt like a financial genius and also like a raccoon.
Spice Mix Hacks Because Plain Food Makes Me Want to Quit Life
Cheap rice + dal gets old fast. I started making my own masala powders. Just toast cumin, coriander, dried red chilli, little fennel, grind. Or cheat and mix store-bought garam masala + chaat masala + smoked paprika (if you can find it). Instant personality upgrade for ₹10 instead of buying ready mixes at ₹80.
Also—buy the big bottle of green chilli sauce or sriracha knock-off. Turns any boring bowl into something exciting.
My Biggest Face-Palm Moments (Learn From My Pain) Money-Saving Plant-Based Hacks
- Thought “nutritional yeast” was optional. Spoiler: everything tastes like sadness without it.
- Let a block of tofu sit in the fridge so long it became a science project. Smelled like divorce.
- Tried homemade seitan. Ended up with gluey dough and a sink full of dishes I still haven’t forgiven myself for.
I’m still not perfect. Yesterday I ate half a pack of dark chocolate because opening a can of chickpeas felt like too much effort. That’s real life. Money-Saving Plant-Based Hacks
If you’re just dipping your toes into money-saving plant-based hacks, start stupid simple: one big bag of dal, frozen veg, whatever random spices are already in your masala dabba. You’ll screw up. You’ll laugh. You’ll eat better than you think.
What’s your laziest/cheapest plant-based meal right now? Tell me in the comments (or just think it aggressively in my direction, I’ll feel it).
Stay thrifty, stay green-ish, and forgive yourself when you accidentally eat dairy at 2 a.m. We’re all just trying here.
— me, still figuring it out in 2026 Money-Saving Plant-Based Hacks
