Vegan on a Budget UK: How to Eat Plant-Based for Under £25 a Week

The biggest myth about veganism is that it’s expensive. The cheapest foods in any supermarket — rice, pasta, beans, lentils, oats, potatoes, frozen vegetables — are all vegan. It’s the specialty products (vegan cheese, fake meats, plant-based ready meals) that cost more. Avoid those and eating vegan is cheaper than eating meat.

The cheap staples every vegan kitchen needs

• Dried pasta — 500g for 50p–80p. The foundation of dozens of meals.
• Rice — 1kg for £1–2. Goes with everything.
• Tinned chopped tomatoes — 35–40p per tin. The base of most vegan sauces.
• Tinned beans and lentils — 40–60p per tin. Protein, fibre, and incredibly versatile. Kidney beans, chickpeas, black beans, baked beans, lentils.
• Dried red lentils — 500g for £1. Even cheaper than tinned and cook in 20 minutes.
• Oats — 1kg for 75p–£1. Breakfast sorted: porridge with banana costs about 20p.
• Frozen vegetables — £1 per bag. Peas, sweetcorn, mixed veg, broccoli, spinach. Just as nutritious as fresh and no waste.
• Potatoes — 2.5kg for £1.50. Jacket potatoes, mash, roast potatoes, chips.
• Bread — most supermarket bread is vegan and costs 50p–£1 per loaf.
• Peanut butter — £1–2 for a jar. High protein, versatile, and filling.
• Bananas — about 15p each. The cheapest fruit and a natural sweetener for porridge and baking.

Sample week for under £25

Breakfast (7 days)

Porridge with banana and peanut butter. Cost: about £2.50 for the week.

Lunch (7 days)

Rotating: beans on toast, peanut butter sandwiches, leftover dinner. Cost: about £5 for the week.

Dinner (7 days)

Monday: lentil bolognese. Tuesday: chickpea curry with rice. Wednesday: jacket potato with beans. Thursday: vegetable stir fry with noodles. Friday: bean chilli with rice. Saturday: pasta with tomato sauce and frozen veg. Sunday: lentil shepherd’s pie. Cost: about £12–15 for the week.

Snacks

Toast, fruit, peanut butter on rice cakes, accidentally vegan snacks. Cost: about £3–4 for the week.

Total: roughly £22–25 per week.

Supermarket hacks

• Aldi and Lidl are the cheapest for basics. Their own-brand Plant Menu ranges are also the best value vegan specialty products.
• Yellow sticker hunting — reduced-to-clear items in the evening. Fresh veg, bread, and plant-based products often get discounted 50–75%.
• Frozen over fresh for vegetables you won’t use immediately. Zero waste and often cheaper.
• Buy spices from Asian supermarkets — they’re 3–5x cheaper than Schwartz jars in Tesco.
• Avoid the “vegan aisle” for everyday cooking. The cheapest vegan food is in the regular aisles: pasta, rice, beans, vegetables, bread. The dedicated vegan section is for specialty products with a premium price.