So, you invested with Uncle Bernie and Auntie Ruth, but you still crave the delectable seitan chimichurri at Candle Cafe and Candle 79. But even if no one madoff with your hard earned dough, now, of course, is not the best time to spend $8 or $9 on an appetizer.

Don't fret however! When $8 or $9 is your budget for a meal rather than just a bite, you can still enjoy Candle's citrus-marinated seitan skewers!

In the prepared foods section of the Whole Foods Market in Chelsea, you can get a vegetarian plate with a main dish and two sides for just $7.99 (or $8.66 with tax included). Candle's seitan will qualify as a main and you can choose two from at least half a dozen other vegan side dishes like white asparagus with wild mushrooms, roasted butternut squash with cranberries, and garlic broccoli rabe to complete your meal.

Unfortunately, this deal is only available at the Whole Foods Market in Chelsea (the deal is $10.99 at other locations) and this location does not have seating. And one more catch, they don't have the seitan every day, but you can call the store's friendly customer service staff to check on availability before you head over.

It's no secret that it takes more than a few pretty pennies to live in NYC. SuperVegan Penny Strategist serves as a playbook to help all you starving vegans/cheap bastards get by with a satisfied stomach as part of our non-court ordered community service. Check out some past SuperVegan Penny Strategist features.

You're budget conscious but don't want to sacrifice chic for cheap - Vegetarian Dim Sum House's crumminess just won't cut it for lunch this time around. So, how about an East Village Thai restaurant with a stylish green, gold and white quasi-minimalist atmosphere?

Whether you have to impress a cheap date (yes, that craigslist date you're meeting for the first time) or hold a business meeting to discuss your next freelance/entrepreneurial project that will be your big break, Pukk's three-course lunch specials make perfect sense for your wallet and palate.

For just $6, you get a brothy vegetable soup with choices of an appetizer like crispy tofu with sweet chili sauce and a Thai summer roll served with tamarind sauce, and an entree like the pad see-ew duck (seitan with broad rice noodles and chinese broccoli in a sweet and savory sauce) and Massaman curry veggies (sweet potato, onion, and veggies in a peanut curry sauce).

Portions can be small, so order a rice dish to fill yourself up better, or splurge by ordering an extra lunch special or a full-size entree. And yes, their prices are also very reasonable for dinner - entrees average $8-$10.

It's no secret that it takes more than a few pretty pennies to live in NYC. SuperVegan Penny Strategist serves as a playbook to help all you starving vegans/cheap bastards get by with a satisfied stomach as part of our non-court ordered community service. Check out some past SuperVegan Penny Strategist features.

This is a sandwich that makes those $2.50 falafels you get seem like a total rip-off.

Across from Wild Ginger in Manhattan on the border of Chinatown and Nolita, Saigon serves famous Vietnamese sandwiches called banh mi in four varieties for $3 to $4.50: lemongrass chicken, curry chicken, house special vegetarian, and plain veggies. (Make sure to say "no mayo" for the ones that come with mayo.)

Each large sandwich makes a full lunch or a light supper and is served warm and made with crusty french bread, delightfully pickled veggies, and a long spear of cool cucumber. The best option is the $4 lemongrass chicken (and say yes when they ask if you want it spicy; you will thank me) - made of grilled firm tofu marinated in a sweet and savory lemongrass sauce. Yum.

It's no secret that it takes more than a few pretty pennies to live in NYC. SuperVegan Penny Strategist serves as a playbook to help all you starving vegans/cheap bastards get by with a satisfied stomach as part of our non-court ordered community service. Check out some past SuperVegan Penny Strategist features.

The competition amongst the many Indian and vegetarian restaurants in Curry Hill can be fierce (damn you, Christian Siriano!!) - either you're in or you're out.

For a simple restaurant like Madras Mahal which has seen better days and been overshadowed by new comers like Tiffin Wallah (which offers better atmosphere at around the same price point), the best way to get customers walking into your doors and spending money is of course to offer deals - really, really good deals.

Through Restaurant.com, Madras Mahal offers a hard-to-resist deal for diners to purchase $25 gift certificates for just $10. The certificates are valid for dinner with a minimum purchase of $35, so it's like getting 40% off your meal! Since Madras Mahal entrees average only about $9 and everything else is priced pretty reasonably, the $15 worth of additional free food that you get with your certificate allows you to eat a full meal and splurge while being on a budget. Additional details and purchasing info are available at Restaurant.com.

It's no secret that it takes more than a few pretty pennies to live in NYC. SuperVegan Penny Strategist serves as a playbook to help all you starving vegans/cheap bastards get by with a satisfied stomach as part of our non-court ordered community service. Check out some past SuperVegan Penny Strategist features.

It's no secret that it takes more than a few pretty pennies to live in NYC. SuperVegan is debuting a regular feature - the SuperVegan Penny Strategist - to serve as a playbook to help all you starving vegans/cheap bastards get by with a satisfied stomach as part of our non-court ordered community service. Maybe now you'll have enough money for a room in ("East") Williamsburg that will actually fit your twin size bed. Perhaps even with a window. Regrettably, we still can't get you laid.

The stock market may be a mess, but Wall Street types can still score a good deal with the no frills weekday vegan lunch buffet at Little Lad's Basket. Located on the lower level of an unassuming office building at 120 Broadway, off Pine Street, this Seventh Day Adventist-owned joint offers simple, homey cuisine that offers the best dining out deal in New York City.

For just $3.99, you get a plate and a bowl to fill up with your picks from its hot bar, salad bar, dessert station, and soup pots. Options change daily, so every visit is a surprise! Some examples of past offerings include: shepherd's pie, veggie meat chilli, lentil stew, mashed sweet potatoes, casseroles, and chocolate pudding.

For best food selection, arrive by 1:30pm. Little Lad's Basket is closed on weekends and public holidays. For details, directions, and more info and to leave a review, visit the restaurant's page in our vegan restaurant directory!