Guest post from Pam of Be Healthy, Be Happy Wellness
The start of another New Year is the perfect time to make healthy changes in your life. Most of us start a new year feeling optimistic and ready for a change.
I know thousands of us will include “eating better” and “getting in shape” as some of our New Year’s Resolutions. However, a tight budget may make those resolutions seem difficult to achieve.
To help you out, I’ve compiled five ways you can improve your health and save money!
1. Look for gym deals.
January is the perfect time to join a gym. Most gyms are offering great sign up deals to cash in on the New Year “get fit” resolution.
In addition to traditional gyms, check out your local YMCA, fitness studios, and personal trainers. You might also look into joining with a friend – often a gym will give you a 2-for-1 discount if you just ask.
2. Eat in season.
Just because it’s not the middle of summer when the garden is full of produce doesn’t mean you can’t find seasonal food to enjoy.
When you visit the grocery store, look to see what is on sale in the produce department. Those items are most likely your seasonal ones, and will typically be the best price.
Look for winter markets – more and more cities are starting to add them to entice those of us who love the summer farmer’s market for our produce. Not sure what is local for your area? Check out this great guide.
3. Plan a Menu.
Once you start spending more on those organic food items, it becomes even more important to use them up! Menu planning is a great way to ensure you are only buying what you need (thus saving money).
However, don’t just plan out your dinners. Think about snack foods or breakfast items you can make early in the week and then enjoy all week long.
Plan menus that use that local and seasonal produce. Check your grocery ads to see what is on sale to help you create your menu plan.
4. Use those scraps.
Use up all the food you buy – if you’ve paid good money on that organic, free-range chicken and organic celery, it just makes sense to use the bones and scraps to make delicious chicken stock – it’s healthier and easy in the crock pot.
Have some heels from your loaf of bread? Make bread crumbs. Try to think like our ancestors and find ways to use all the little bits of leftovers. You’ll eat better and save money!
5. Set a savings/health goal.
Set a goal for yourself to find one area where you can save money and improve your health. Don’t overwhelm yourself by trying to do it all at once. Then, when you accomplish one, go ahead and try another.
Some great examples of simple goals: change your coffee routine – learn how to make a delicious coffee at home versus going out; make your own yogurt; start using one homemade “green” cleaner versus the store bought version.
The list could go on and on, but by making one change at a time, you’ll consistently be saving money and taking a small step towards better health.
Pam Howard is a Certified Holistic Health Coach located in Noblesville, IN. She works with busy moms (and others) to help them create a balanced, healthy, vibrant life. You can find more of Pam’s healthy tips and recipes at Be Healthy, Be Happy Wellness.
Marianne says
Eat at home so you can control the ingredients and preparation technique….
Pam@behealthybehappywellness says
So true Marianne – much less expensive to eat at home too!
Melissa says
Great tips. Over the long run you will save money by being healthier, too.
We like to buy frugal vegetable choices such as cabbage and root veggies in the winter.
Also, I walk my son to school every day (1 mile round trip). We each get free exercise, and I we get to spend time together. 🙂
Pam@behealthybehappywellness says
Melissa, I love your suggestions! We try to eat seasonal veggies as much as possible and I’ll be posting many recipes this year using what is in season. I love that you walk your son to school – what a great way to start your day, and what a great example of fitting exercise into a daily routine.
Jamie Rohrbaugh says
Thanks for the balanced and encouraging perspective! I agree with you–trying to do it all at once hasn’t worked for me anyway. I’ve tried that before and have crashed and burned. So this year I’m working (again) on switching over to a mostly-whole-foods diet, but I’ve still eaten the occasional chocolate and raided the Wendy’s for a Frosty once. And was desperate enough to eat while chocolate chips straight out of the bag a couple of times! 🙂 But I haven’t been beating myself up over those things, and the whole foods are really starting to taste better. So one step at a time, and we’ll get there. 🙂
Crystal says
Oh, you might want to check out this recipe: https://moneysavingmom.com/2012/07/good-for-you-peanut-butter-freezer-fudge.html It’s so yummy and it’s good for you, too!
Jamie Rohrbaugh says
Oh mama (no pun intended)! 🙂 That looks awesome! LOL. Maybe it will be a good alternative to eating half of the tin of (non-healthy) Christmas fudge the in-laws give me every year. Fudge is my weakness. I tried to sneak it out of the house and give it away at work so I wouldn’t want to eat it, but my husband stole it back so he could eat it instead! 🙂 Thanks for the recipe!
Pam@behealthybehappywellness says
Here is another “healthier” version of a peanut butter and chocolate treat – I keep it in my freezer and enjoy a piece every once in a while. Luckily a little goes a long way! http://behealthybehappywellness.com/2012/10/how-to-make-a-healthier-peanut-butter-chocolate-treat/
Pam@behealthybehappywellness says
Good for you! Baby steps are the only way to make lasting changes. Keep at it and I’d love to hear how you feel at the end of the month!
Anne says
Get yourself some really good dark chocolate chips and keep them in the freezer for an occasional treat. That way it can also act as an emergency supply for last-minute baking needs too.
Aleah says
For anyone looking to start brewing coffee at home for cheap, my husband and I use the Clever Coffee Dripper (http://www.amazon.com/ABID-CO-LTD-C-70888-Dripper/dp/B0047W70GY). It is very inexpensive and makes an amazing cup of coffee! In fact, your local coffee house probably uses them to brew the expensive cup you buy 🙂 They take very cheap filters and result in a smoother, less grainy brew than the other cheap brewing method, the French press. I prefer this by far and it saves us coffee-addicts so much money!
Pam@behealthybehappywellness says
I will definitely check that out – thanks for sharing!