Watching celebrities and other influencers living a healthy lifestyle makes it seem expensive and unreachable, but you don’t have to have a personal chef or join a celebrity gym to get healthy! You can live healthy on a budget when you follow some basic tips and guidelines from Cash Factory USA. Ready to start a healthy diet on a budget? Check out what our financial experts have to say.
1. Meal Plan
Meal planning is one of the best ways to cut down your grocery costs and save money every week. Instead of eating out for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, cook all your meals for the week in advance. Then, you can grab and go as you head out the door in the morning. Replace your $10 lunch with a salad or sandwich you made at home for just a few bucks. Instead of hitting up the closest drive through on your way home, grab your premade chicken and veggies and heat it up to get healthy on a budget.
2. Forego the Gym
Gym memberships can be an incredibly expensive monthly drain on your budget that isn’t worth it if you don’t go! Instead of paying for a gym membership, work out at home or outside. Head to the local park for a run or bike ride in the sun. If the weather isn’t cooperative, set up a yoga mat in front of your TV at home and bust out some strength training with those weights you got for the holidays and still haven’t touched. You could be saving thousands of dollars a year working out on your own instead of at the gym.
3. Plant Your Own Vegetables
For a healthy diet on a budget, planting your own garden is a big money saver. Most seeds cost less than a dollar for all your favorites and many will sprout produce in less than a year. Some of the easiest produce to grow include:
- Tomatoes
- Bell Peppers
- Squash
- Zucchini
- Cucumbers
- Blackberries
- Strawberries
The best fruits and veggies for you may change depending on your state. Visit your local garden store to discover the best produce to help you get healthy on a budget.
4. Buy Seasonally
While some cities don’t suffer from major price changes due to seasonality, most grocery stores will change prices due to product availability. Produce is especially variable, as it can be difficult to grow many of them during the winter months. Ask your grocer about the seasonality of your favorite fruits and veggies to ensure your grocery list stays under budget each week.
5. Frozen Over Processed
If your main concern is staying healthy on a budget, you may not be able to afford fresh products all the time. When you’re forced to choose between frozen or processed foods, always choose the frozen products. Prepackaged or canned foods have many additives and preservatives that can affect your health, so opt for a bag of frozen peas and carrots instead of the Lean Cuisine.
6. Sleep Comes First
One of the easiest ways to stay healthy on a budget is to make sure you’re getting enough sleep. Instead of heading out to bars every night with coworkers or friends, head to bed to get enough sleep and save even more money. Getting enough sleep reduces stress, improves cognitive function, reduces your risk of depression, and can even help you lose weight. Most experts recommend that adults get 7 – 9 hours of sleep each night.
With these tips for staying healthy on a budget, you can improve your overall wellbeing and meet your financial goals. Introduce these to your lifestyle today to discover the difference.