10 Cheap Ways to Live a Healthier Lifestyle
By Kim Thomas, US Health Corps
You envision living a healthier life, and you want to start today. The only problem is you don’t have an unlimited budget, and the changes you have in mind could quickly add up and cause financial stress. That would be counterproductive!
Fortunately, getting fit doesn’t require you to spend a lot of money. In fact, it’s quite practical and simple to stay healthy on a budget once you create a routine that works for you. From creating a home exercise space to meal prep to establishing a bedtime, My Gut Instinct has shared 10 budget-friendly strategies for getting healthier!
1. Boost Your Income
As any financial advisor will tell you, making more money will leave you with more money to save. It will also provide more cash to spend on things that enrich your life. In other words, it can help you to improve your financial standing and provide you with more freedom to lead a healthy lifestyle. And in turn, your daily choices can bring the cost of medical bills, insurance premiums, transportation, and other expenses down.
Take time to discover your passion and develop a plan for making money from it. You may already have an idea of a healthy activity or mindset you could monetize, but it’s OK if it takes time for you to find something you enjoy enough to devote time and energy to making it into a business.
For instance, maybe you could launch an affiliate marketing blog about the tips and strategies you’ve used to achieve financial wellness. Or, perhaps you could open a fitness center or sports equipment store in your small town.
If you choose to start a goods-based business, consider how you can brand your products to stand out from competitors and build recognition for your company. You might be surprised by how much an attractive and engaging product label can move your business in the right direction. And you can speed up the label-making process by using free online tools.
2. Walk More
If you want to improve your cardiovascular health, going for a walk is a surefire way to do it. Consider waking up 20 minutes early for an early morning walk or taking a midday stroll during a work break. You could even replace some of your hangouts with friends with a walk to save money and stay active.
3. Workout from Home
If you don’t want to pay for a gym membership or simply don’t feel like working out in front of other people you still have plenty of options for staying physically active. There are plenty of exercises you can do from home. Take time to explore the wide range of free home workouts, including Zumba, yoga, Pilates, HIIT, and more.
Running is an excellent way to get in intense physical activity at no cost. Besides investing in decent shoes and clothes, you could go for daily runs around your neighborhood without accruing any costs.
4. Use YouTube
One excellent resource for free workout tutorials and videos is the internet (eg YouTube). There are countless yoga classes, weight training plans, HIIT workouts, and more that you can access through the video platform, some of which are free and others that come at an affordable price. Some people even enjoy dancing to music videos, which can also be classified as exercise!
5. Plan Active Trips
Other than strictly working out, you can still stay active by rethinking your daily activities and vacations. For example, try taking the stairs each time you would normally take the elevator. Offer to take over more household tasks like putting the laundry away and vacuuming the floors. Engaging in more lawn and landscaping tasks can keep you physically active while also providing you with the additional benefits of vitamin D.
When you plan your getaways and vacations, think about how you can incorporate fun forms of exercise. For example, maybe you can add hiking (or camping that requires hiking) to the itinerary. Perhaps you can go canoeing, rafting, or participate in a friendly volleyball tournament.
6. Drink Lots of Water
Water is essential for our bodies, and many of us don’t drink nearly enough each day. Consider investing in a reusable water bottle that can serve as a visible reminder to hydrate throughout the day.
In addition to boosting your health and well-being, drinking more water means you are paying less for sugary beverages from convenience stores and restaurants. While bottled water is great, using a reusable bottle will help you reduce your plastic use and keep track of your ounces consumed.
7. Shop Smartly
It’s no secret that eating nutritious foods can be expensive. But the truth is unhealthy foods can also add up on your grocery bill, and it all depends on the markets you purchase from. Retailers like Aldi, Costco, and Walmart have some excellent options, many of which are allergy friendly.
What’s more, you can save even more money by buying in bulk. In fact, buying your vegetables, fruits, meats, and non-perishables in large packs is one of the most effective ways to save money. The key is to store your food well, whether that means freezing items or cooking in batches.
8. Meal Prep
There is a good reason batch cooking is so trendy: it ensures that you eat nutritiously, and it is affordable. If you’ve never tried meal prep, consider designating a couple of hours this weekend to do it. Download a free meal prep plan from the web and choose some healthy meals that you can put together for the next few days (or even a week).
Meal prep allows you to determine your portions and the ingredients you consume beforehand and reduces your risk of decision fatigue regarding cooking. After a long, hard day, you might be tempted to throw in frozen chicken tenders or fries instead of a nutritious meal that takes twice the time to cook. But when you have a healthy meal ready to go, you don’t have to make that decision!
9. Simplify Your Meals
Too many people make the mistake of complicating things for themselves when they choose to start eating more healthfully. However, this can eventually become overwhelming and deter you from maintaining healthy eating habits. Try to keep your meals as simple as possible.
Make sure there is a source of protein, healthy fat, and some fruits and vegetables in everything you eat. You might be surprised by how affordable it is to eat a healthy portion of whole foods for every meal when you mix and match the ingredients.
10. Foster Your Sleep Routine
There is not enough room to list all the benefits of a good night’s sleep here. But suffice it to say that it can significantly improve your overall health and well-being, from reducing your stress and blood pressure to lowering your risk of heart disease and other chronic health conditions. It will also help you stay productive and help you make better decisions throughout the day.
Do whatever is necessary to get into a steady sleep rhythm. Establish a strict bedtime for yourself, turn your bedroom into a peaceful atmosphere, and find relaxing activities that can help you unwind. Many people also find that staying off electronic devices in the hour leading up to bedtime can help them fall asleep and stay asleep through the night.
Hopefully, you see that you don’t have to drain your bank account to start living a healthy lifestyle. By incorporating the ideas above into your daily routine, you will realize how simple and affordable it can be to lead a healthy and happy lifestyle. And as you improve your health and well-being, you can lower many different life expenses in the process!
Would you like to read more helpful content or learn about our holistic wellness resources? Visit MyGutInstinct.org today!
Kim Thomas’ mission is aligned with that of US Health Corps, and that is to triumph over chronic disease. Her mission is to advocate for those suffering from chronic disease and she enjoys writing about maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
