Staying within your budget can be difficult, especially when you are trying to eat well, consume more fresh fruits and vegetables and adopt a fitness routine. We all want to be healthy, but not all of us can afford regular gym memberships and organic produce all the time. By cutting costs here and there in small ways, your savings can add up in substantial ways. Staying within your budget and still living a healthy lifestyle is possible.
Step 1
Buy healthy foods in bulk if you plan on eating them often. Food such as granola bars, dried fruit and nuts, protein bars and cases of water can all be purchased in bulk. When bought in larger quantities, rather small amounts, you can often save money.
Step 2
Call your insurance company to see if they offer any deals that may cut costs for gym memberships or appointments with a nutritionist. Some health insurance companies offer partial or full reimbursements for gym memberships or nutritionist appointments to promote healthy lifestyles and prevent obesity, which can lead to more health problems and costs.
Step 3
Take a walk or go for a run outside; play tennis at a local park; or join a local intramural league. Staying physically active does not have to mean belonging to a gym. Take advantage of outdoor sports facilities that are open to the public to get exercise and stay healthy. Staying physically fit can also save you money in the long run: regular exercise can help reduce your risk of heart disease and other chronic diseases.
Step 4
Split the cost of a Community Supported Agriculture, or CSA, box with a friend. CSA boxes are full of local, organic fruits and vegetables from area farmers. A healthy diet emphasizes consumption of fruits and vegetables, but this can get expensive, especially for organic produce. Sharing the costs of a CSA box with someone else can help you buy fresh produce at a cheaper price.
Step 5
Regular checkups by your dentist, general practitioner or gynecologist can help keep you healthy and find any medical problems before they get out of control. Preventive care may cost money, but it is cheaper than paying for serious medical problems and subsequent treatment that may not have been necessary if it was caught earlier.
Step 6
Get discount membership cards at your local health food stores and supermarkets. These cards, which you can attach to your key chain or carry in your wallet and swipe electronically at the checkout counter, entitle you to special deals and savings on your order.
Tips and Warnings
- If there is an organic co-op store near you, they may offer memberships in exchange for a set amount of monthly volunteer hours. Memberships typically provide you with discounts on products, which can further cut your costs.
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