Most people set out to save money so that they can better balance their finances. Knowing how to save money means that you spend less of your income. This gives you more funds to save or to set aside for an upcoming vacation.
While saving money is nice, have you ever thought about saving money while also improving your health? No one ever said anything bad about killing two birds with one stone!
Here are 5 clever ways you can save money that will also make you healthier.
1. Eat Healthier
One of the best ways to save money while also improving your health is to be mindful of what you’re eating. While it’s nice to go out to dinner every so often, it’s much cheaper (and healthier!) to eat home cooked meals. Of course, this means setting aside time to plan meals and to actually cook them, but once you get into the habit, it becomes second nature.
Aside from eating healthier, it’s important to practice the art of creating a grocery shopping list. If you’re like most people, when you visit the grocery store, you leave with the essentials but also pick up items that are impulse buys. To avoid buying things you don’t need, create a shopping list and stick to it.
By cooking at home more often, you’ll notice that much less of your monthly budget is going towards restaurant meals.
2. Drink More Water
Imagine the things you could do with an extra $850. Believe it or not, that’s the average amount of money that Americans spend on soft drinks in a year. The amount skyrockets when you add beer and, wine, and spirits into the mix. Though many complain that water is boring, the fact is that drinking water more often not only improves your health, it also improves your bank account.
The more water you drink, the less money you’re spending on soda and other soft drinks. Drinking more water also reduces your risk of weight gain and high blood pressure.
To spice up your water, try adding citrus fruits and even herbs for flavor.
3. Exercise
Exercise offers all sorts of benefits, including helping out your bank account. Staying physically active boosts your mood, improves sleep, increases energy levels, and lengthens your life span. Did you know that exercise can also keep more money in your pocket?
The more you exercise, the lowered risk you have of chronic health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, and even certain types of cancer. By preventing these health conditions, you spend less time at the doctor’s office and less money on prescription medications.
But encouraging yourself to exercise is easier said than done. Not a fan of the gym or traditional exercise? Staying active doesn’t have to be boring. Keep yourself in shape without slaving away at the gym by:
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Swimming
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Dancing
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Yoga
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Martial arts
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Group classes
Find a physical activity you like and you’ll notice that it feels much less like a chore.
4. Quit Smoking & Switch to Vaping
According to the CDC, around 480,000 people die each year because of cigarette smoking. Not only is the habit deadly, it’s also quite expensive. While the $5.50 price tag for a pack of cigarettes may not seem like much in the beginning, when you do the math, someone who smokes a pack of cigarettes a day will end up spending more than $2,000 on them.
Chances are you’ve heard of vaping and may have even considered it as a way to quit smoking. While vaping is much healthier than smoking cigarettes, it’s also cheaper.
Some of the best vape mods cost $100 or so, which means you’re left with paying for juice and any other accessories you may want, like coils, atomizers, and others. While the initial cost is much higher than a pack of cigarettes, mods often last for months and juice should last at least a week, depending on how frequently you vape.
By switching to vaping and leaving smoking behind, you can minimize your health risks while also keeping more money in your wallet.
5. Try Walking or Biking
Depending on how close you live to work, you may be able to ditch your car a few days a week and instead give walking or riding a bike a try. Unable to walk or bike to work? Consider using these transportation methods to get to other places, like the grocery store or a local city center.
You can also find ways to incorporate more walking into your daily life. Park farther away from buildings. Take the stairs instead of elevators. The more you walk, the healthier you’ll be!
Not only does walking and biking keep you active, you’re also able to save money on gas costs and maybe even insurance.
Conclusion
While you may not put the two together immediately, there are plenty of ways to save money while also making you healthier. Keep these five options in mind to reap all of the benefits!
What are some other health and money saving tips that you can think of? Leave us a comment with your best ideas in the section below.