Save Money with Vegetarian Alternatives

Save Money with Vegetarian Alternatives

by | Dec 10, 2019 | Coupons and Rebates

Although many people see their grocery budget go down when they decide to eat a plant-focused diet because they are not spending money on expensive meats, there can still substantial costs with a vegetarian lifestyle if you are investing in meat alternatives. Here are four ways that you can save money on vegetarian options.

Meat Replacements

While today’s meat replacement options taste better than ever before, they are also getting more costly. Limiting your intake of meat replacement options can save you a lot of money in your food budget. Instead of focusing on pre-prepared meat replacement for your main entrees, be sure to consider options such as seitan, soy options like tempeh, lentils, and beans to replace premade meat replacements. While meals do not need any dish to mimic a meat to be filling, it is a popular option for those going veggie for ethical and environmental reasons.

Adding More Veggies

The cornerstone of any solid vegetarian diet should be an abundance of fresh vegetables. Buying seasonal vegetables enables you to get many fresh ingredients for a low cost. Making a conscious effort to add more vegetables to your diet will increase the bulk and help you to get in crucial nutrients. You can save money by growing your own garden. It does not have to be anything large or elaborate. A little bit will go a long way when you are planting your own food.

Specials When Eating Out

While eating out can be a budget buster if you are not careful, there are also a host of deals to be found if you choose wisely. There are many veggie options at fast food popping up with the ongoing race between brands to have the best plant-based burger, but these are often several dollars more expensive than traditional burgers. Be sure to check out the daily specials when eating out at restaurants. These are often where you can find the most affordable options. You can also be creative with your meal choices to save money. Not every restaurant has specific vegetarian options, so you may have to adjust existing non-vegetarian options to fit your dietary needs. For example, while not everyone likes vegetarian burgers, pizzas have a multitude of vegetable topping options that make it easy to find something.

Buy in Bulk

Buying in bulk can be easier as a vegetarian than a traditional omnivore because you do not have to worry about as many expiration dates or about meat cross-contamination while cooking. Staples that you should buy in bulk so that you always have on hand include rice, pasta, beans, and lentils. Other things you may consider always keeping on hand is nutritional yeast, and frozen and canned vegetables. Once you learn that it is easy to cook creatively with these options, you will find that you are saving an abundance of money. Warehouse stores are a great resource for good deals on these types of products.

Being a vegetarian does not have to be an expensive lifestyle choice, in fact it is often much cheaper than an omnivore diet. With the right choices, you can improve your health while also boosting your budget. Look at our grocery deals to start stocking up on the dry goods veggie essentials today.

First Time Vacationing Far Away From Home? Here’s How to Save the Most

First Time Vacationing Far Away From Home? Here’s How to Save the Most

by | Oct 31, 2019 | Blog, Coupons and Rebates

Taking your family on vacation takes a lot of planning and may be hard on your budget. However, by planning to go in the off-season and figuring out the cheapest mode of transport, you can plan a trip that’s both fun and frugal.

Time It Carefully

A trip to a national park can be both fun and thrifty, but you’ll need to schedule it carefully to avoid sharing your vacation time with everyone else’s vacation times. Additionally, many people want to avoid weather extremes. For example, a trip to Yellowstone may be private in the winter months, but you will be facing snow and hazardous driving conditions. If you need to travel when the kids are out of school, you’ll find lower rates on rental spaces if you avoid summer holidays such as July 4th.

Rent Smart

How will you get to your destination? Renting a car or van is a thrifty way to travel with many kids, but not all rentals are family friendly. Some rental companies, such as RV rental companies, won’t rent to you if you’re under 25 years old. When setting up your budget for travel and affordable family fun, be sure to check any age restrictions to get your rental vehicle scheduled. If you’re young there will be a surcharge to rent a vehicle, while or you may not be able to rent at all depending on the state.

Put Your Club Memberships to Work

If you’ve got a Costco or Sam’s Club card, you can get competitive car rental quotes from either of these entities while saving money on bulk purchases. If you want to fly, check out credit cards from Delta and American Airlines. If you have a large purchase to make with money in the bank, you can capitalize on bonus credit card miles, pay off the card and use the miles. Be sure to study the fine print on miles blackouts or limitations. Some mile bonus plans only require a one-way trip, so if you want to rent a car when you reach your destination for a return trip, you can get the best of both worlds. 

Family travel is always memorable and a great way to spend both quantity and quality time with your family. Can you invite another adult along on your family trip to help defray costs and control kids? Having another adult on board gives you another driver as well as more company.

Looking to save more money every day? Check out our coupon stash here!

How to Get the Most Out of a Loan

How to Get the Most Out of a Loan

by | Oct 30, 2019 | Coupons and Rebates

While you may not like the concept of owing money to a lender, a loan may be the only way to pay for school, buy a house, or repair your car. However, there are many strategies that can help you keep your borrowing costs and loan terms to a minimum. Let’s consider a few of them.

Don’t Be Afraid to Shop Around

There are numerous financial institutions that offer auto, home, or other types of loans. Quicken Loans says it is a good idea to talk to multiple lenders before agreeing to borrow money from anyone. Doing so can help you learn about the different loan products that are available, which ones could best meet your needs, and how to repay the loan balance in a timely manner.

Know Your Worth

The thought of making loan payments for months or years at a time is a common fear among those looking to borrow money. However, you are more likely to get the best possible terms by understanding what lenders look at when making a loan decision. According to Visible Equity, many environmental or qualitative factors can apply to individuals even under the new model of loan evaluation. These include credit information, the nature of financial assets, lending staff, general market conditions, and so much more. 

You should review your credit score, income, and assets prior to filling out a loan application. Doing so can help you better understand how lenders see you and make it easier to find a product that best meets your needs and budget.

Consider Why You’re Borrowing Money

Before you start shopping for a loan, it is important to analyze precisely why you are borrowing the money. This can help you to determine which type of loan is best for you as well as whether you need to turn to a lender at all. For instance, LawDepot recommends funding the company with personal savings if you are planning on using the proceeds to start a business. It could also be possible to ask friends or family members to help repair a vehicle instead of taking out a loan to do so. 

When you agree to take out a loan, it is your obligation to repay it or face serious negative consequences. Ultimately, borrowing money today could have an impact on your finances both now and in the future. Therefore, it is important to take your time looking for the right lender and loan product.

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