Hello. I'm Cheap. I'm Vegan.

I'm starting this blog not only to fulfill a requirement for class, but also to dispel the myth that it's expensive to maintain a healthy, vegan lifestyle (i.e., not consuming animal products). Honestly, the opposite is true. As Frente says, all you have to do is "Stop buying things."

Everyone eats vegan food, and they rarely even notice it. You can cut out meat and dairy, and see your grocery spending drop. Or make your own household cleaners for pennies instead of using harsh chemicals that have been tested on rabbits. You can observe free-living animals in the park while saving zoo admission. Or swap leather shoes with synthetics to have more money in your pocket (although buying organic, sweatshop-free clothes is another story).

For me, veganism is about compassion—for animals, the environment, and other people, too—and I try to live as consciously as possible. I do this by carefully discerning how I'm going to spend my money. Every dollar is a vote. But I'm not perfect, and sometimes I buy Coca Cola products, or leave the water running when I wash the dishes. Yet, I think together, we can give each other ideas on how to make the world a better place for everyone to live.