Realistic Habits to Live Well and Save Money

You have financial dreams. You want to eliminate debt, build up a retirement fund, and allocate money to your children’s future. But you can’t escape the thoughts and feelings that you should be doing more to foster your health.

After all, what is the point of strengthening your financial health if you’re not maintaining a high quality of life and lowering your risk of physical and mental health issues?

Fortunately, you don’t have to choose one path or the other. Leading a healthy lifestyle doesn’t mean you have to compromise your financial pursuits.

In fact, improving your health and well-being will help you save money in the long run. Keep reading for some practical information and tips for achieving a healthy life without draining your bank account!

Healthy Living Lowers Costs    

An obvious perk of leading a healthy lifestyle is that you will look your best. But it will also help you feel better day-to-day, meaning you will pay for fewer prescriptions and doctor’s visits.

Giving your body the nutrients and activity, it needs will help you to manage your weight and reduce your blood pressure, stress, and cholesterol. It will also reduce your risk of chronic illness and other health issues that could lead to costly medical bills.

When you learn to shop, grow, and eat smartly, it can save you a lot of money on your food bills. Americans spend an unconscionable amount on dining out; even the costs of fast food can quickly add up and diminish your budget. Learning to grow your own food and make nutritious meals at home will save you a lot of money.

Furthermore, there are plenty of ways to exercise that don’t require expensive gym memberships, programs, or equipment. By going for a walk or a run, or engaging in other at-home fitness routines, you can boost your health while maintaining a healthy budget.

Clarify Your Goals   

The first step to improving your lifestyle is to clearly define your health and fitness goals. It’s similar to sitting down with your budget and establishing realistic goals for improving your finances.

You must clarify what your goals and the strategies you use to achieve them will mean for your life. Just as you want more money for everyday expenses and to build generational wealth, keep the ultimate prize of your health and fitness pursuits in mind as you devise a plan.

A great place to start is with your long-term health. While there is no way to entirely prevent health issues at any age, leading a healthy lifestyle can significantly reduce your risks of serious health conditions and help you age more gracefully.

Also, consider your daily energy levels. Do you wake up ready to tackle the tasks ahead of you and be the best parent possible while improving your family’s financial standing? Or do you feel exhausted and overwhelmed on many days? As you improve your lifestyle, you will notice your energy levels and self-confidence increasing exponentially.

Monetize Your Healthy Lifestyle      

Before you start developing a detailed strategy for healthy living, consider the possibility of turning your passion into a money-making outlet. Many people who get into health and fitness find ways to make money from what they have learned.

For instance, perhaps you acquire a passion for yoga. You may eventually open a studio of your own and become an entrepreneur doing something you love! Maybe you become interested in a particular recreational sport and start an e-commerce business selling equipment and gear.

If you choose to start a business, you will need to make sure you can receive payments securely and quickly. Using an invoice template will help you create professional-grade invoices that represent your brand.

Search for the best invoice template online, and go with a template that allows for customization. And go with a template that will allow you to add pertinent information, brand color schemes, logos, names, and many other elements.

Change How You Buy Groceries    

Despite what you may see on Instagram, you don’t have to spend your life savings at Whole Foods to develop nutritious eating habits. Whether you adopt clean eating or any other wellness diet, there are strategies you can implement to keep costs down and ensure your family eats well.

First, look for non-meat protein sources that do not cost a fortune. Beans, lentils, and nuts may contain less protein than beef, but they are also less expensive and high in fiber, which can help you feel full faster and improve your digestive health.

Also, purchase specialty items in moderation and constantly look for alternatives. For instance, you might see matcha green tea marketed as a superfood everywhere you look, but traditional green tea also has antioxidants and is much less expensive.

Another tactic to consider is purchasing your fruits and vegetables in season, and when possible, from local vendors. That way, you know you can speak with the vendors to learn precisely how the produce is grown and you don’t have to pay as much for shipping costs, which are included in the cost at a grocery store.

If you want to go to the next level, start your own garden to grow organic leafy greens, vegetables, fruits, and herbs!

Choose Affordable Exercise Gear    

Even if you primarily walk or run as your form of exercise, you will need to invest money into gear every now and then. Fight the temptation to make one-click purchases of the latest athleisure clothing on social media and websites.

The truth is that the $80 yoga pants do likely not help you get healthier than a $20 pair. Remember your priorities and look to online discount clothing stores and the clearance aisle in your local athletic store for good deals.

You can start living healthier today. As you adopt a wellness lifestyle, you can gain confidence that you are positioning yourself for long-term health. And by using cost-saving tactics like those above, you can save money in the process. But don’t stop here; keep looking for practical strategies to boost your health and budget!

If you enjoyed this article, you can find much more helpful content on The Dear Felicia Blog

This post was submitted by Julie Morris of juliemorris.org

Image via Unsplash