We all want to live our best lives, feel good, and stay active, right? In order to maintain a healthy lifestyle, it does take money and time. Food, for instance, is becoming more expensive. We may want to eat healthy food, but our bank accounts say otherwise. The good news is that you don’t need a hefty wallet to prioritize your health. We’ll provide a few smart money-saving strategies to help boost your well-being.
First, no, you don’t need to be uber-wealthy to eat healthy; there are always creative ways to manage your food budget and eat healthy. Those pre-packaged salads and fancy superfoods from Whole Foods might look tempting, but you can nourish your body without emptying your wallet.
Plan Your Meals in Advance: Sit down once a week (possibly a Sunday) and map out your breakfasts, lunches, and dinners for the week. Instead of relying on food delivery services, Uber and the like, take time out of your week to plan out your meals. Plan out your shopping list and go grocery shopping once a week (no, don’t rely on Instacart and other delivery services – you need to save money). This helps you stay organized and prevents any food delivery services from draining your bank account. This leaves your wallet feeling a little lighter. Look for budget-friendly ingredients like beans, lentils, rice, and frozen vegetables. Try to cut back on meat to keep your budget (relatively) low.
Smart Shopping: One of the best ways to save money on groceries is to buy in bulk. Look for family-sized packs of meat, grains, and pantry staples. You don’t need to necessarily shop at Costco, but definitely try using coupon-saving apps (Flipp for instance), and do some comparison shopping to save money. The upfront “costs” will really only impact your time, rather than your bottom line. Just try to carve out some time to do this: maybe an hour or so each week?
Keep an eye on your local grocery store’s flyers and take advantage of discounts whenever possible. Be sure to sign up for rewards programs to earn points or cashback on your purchases. This all helps to stretch your dollars.
Exercise: It doesn’t cost much and you don’t have to join a gym. You can run around the neighborhood, go to the park, or just ditch the car in favor of the bike. To make it more interesting, you may want to exercise in groups, join a running club, or vary the types of exercise you do to keep it fun. Join a Parkour or trampoline gym, for instance. Lace up your sneakers and go for a jog or bike ride.
Self-care: Everyone feels stressed in these days of high inflation: high grocery prices, high rent, high mortgage costs, etc. Start by carving out time for yourself each day, even if it’s just a few minutes of quiet reflection. You can set up a quiet place in your home or apartment for meditation with little more than a Yoga mat. There are free tutorials on YouTube to guide you through the process of meditation.
Don’t Splurge to Enjoy Life: take staycations, spend time in nature, mini-vacations to neighboring cities, free festivals, etc., are all ways to enjoy yourself without going in the red. All of this can be done on a minimal budget. You can avoid the trap of overconsumption by surrounding yourself with friends and family. We sometimes overconsume to deal with loneliness and anxiety. Many members of GenZ are feeling lonely. Organize potluck dinners or game nights instead of expensive nights out. You can do things on a budget: bowling or movie nights, for example.
Securing Your Future: While focusing on maintaining a healthy lifestyle on a budget is crucial, one aspect that often goes unmentioned is estate planning. Though it may seem out of context in a discussion about daily budgeting and health, considering how to handle your estate is an important part of securing your financial future.
Estate planning ensures that your assets are distributed according to your wishes, potentially preventing future financial complications for your loved ones. It’s a step that, while often overlooked, can bring peace of mind knowing that your financial affairs are in order, allowing you to focus on enjoying a healthy lifestyle without the added stress of the unknown.
