6 Ways to Save on your Weight Loss Journey

Guest post from Jessica.

Have you ever set out to lose weight and get into shape, only to find out that, while your pants might be feeling bigger, your wallet isn’t?

Did you end up crashing and burning after adding up the costs of gym memberships, fresh fruits and vegetables, workout clothing, and fitness gear?

My name is Jessica Bowman, and I am a failed dieter! After trying about every diet under the sun, I finally figured out how to lose 50 lbs the healthy and happy way, all while remaining frugal.

Here are 6 ways I have saved money while on my weight loss journey:

1. Make a meal plan.

I have experimented with pre-made meal plans in the past, but now I make my own each week.

First, I look to see what I have in my kitchen. Then, I search some of my favorite healthy food sites and cookbooks for recipes using these ingredients. This helps me use what I have in my pantry, saving me money while still getting to try some new and exciting dishes.

I cook or pre-cook everything on Sunday mornings, and this makes weeknight cooking a breeze.

My husband and I used to be so tired after working and then working out; we’d be tempted to get a pizza or fried chicken from the endless supply of restaurants nearby. But thanks to meal planning, we can save money and calories by just heating up our healthy dinner!

2. Shop at big box stores.

I LOVE Sam’s Club when it comes to buying healthy foods! I’m sure the other big box stores like Costco and BJ’s have great healthy items as well.

Not only do they have excellent buys on meat, but Sam’s Club also has amazing buys on produce and individual-sized snacks, too!

Some of my favorites are the Hormel fully-cooked Black Label bacon, the Planters individual size peanut packs, and giant bags of Mandarin oranges. You can even order your groceries online and go pick them up. Which brings me to…

3. Buy groceries online.

Did you know that some grocery stores will let you shop for your groceries online and then pick them up either inside or curbside? This can save you a lot of time when it comes to shopping for healthy groceries!

A frugal friend of mine and I disagree about this money-saving tip because there is a $5 charge for this at my local grocery store. However, I usually only shop on “free” weeks or can justify the $5 very easily. For one, that’s at least an hour of time I will not have to spend at the grocery store, and my time is valuable to me. However, the main money-saving feature for me is I don’t get distracted by impulse buys.

Last week I created my meal plan for the week and saw that I only needed to buy $8 worth of additional items to complete my grocery list. With some breakfast items it grew to $22, but that still wasn’t enough to justify an online shopping trip to me. I asked my husband if he could pick up these items in the store instead so we could save our $5. He came out with over $50 in groceries! We definitely save time and money on our healthy groceries by shopping online.

4. Make a thrifty home gym.

Whether you turn your laundry bag into a punching bag or find free workout videos on YouTube, it can actually be pretty easy to give yourself a space to workout at home.

You just have to have enough literal space (and don’t forget that cleaning burns calories, too!)!

5. Take advantage of the outdoors.

Did you know there is a free gym that everyone can join? It’s called nature!

When the weather is nice outside, nothing can keep me indoors! I want to be out in it as much as possible, whether it be walking, jogging, hiking, swimming, or even playing a sport or game like Pickleball or Disc Golf.

If you’re good at sports, you can check out some sites like Meetup or Facebook for some fun intramural sports activities in your area. If you aren’t, you might find lots of great walking or hiking trails or parks in your area.

Most high schools have walking tracks around their football fields you can go to for free!

6. Make money with your big-purchase items.

Did you know you can make money with FitBit?

I used yard sale earnings to buy my Fitbit Flex two years ago, but it still felt like a huge purchase to me. I was determined to make my money back on it! Little did I know, having a fitness activity tracker is actually an awesome way to make some extra money and earn prizes and rewards.

No, you’re not going to get rich, but being able to earn money just for walking is a great motivator, and your Fitbit will at least be able to pay for itself! I have paid for my FitBit many, many times over!

By making small changes, I was able to change my bad habits into good habits and lose 50 lbs without hurting my wallet!

How have you managed to save money on your weight loss journey?

Jessica Bowman is a weight loss blogger who loves to eat and hates to exercise. In 2014, she decided to stop dieting and start living a healthy lifestyle and managed to lose 50 lbs in the process. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and two dogs. Her favorite pastimes include watching 80s new wave music videos, creating lighter versions of Southern comfort food, and putting Lisa Frank stickers on everything! You can find her at The Failed Dieter.