It’s a common myth that healthier lifestyles are more expensive than less healthy ones. People instantly think of high-end grocers, expensive workout equipment, and high-dollar tech devices. You might be surprised, however, that the opposite is true.
Granted, you can go crazy with a stationary bike that has lots of bells and whistles, and you can go to grocery stores that sell products many times more expensive than you’re used to spending, but none of that is necessary. You can actually spend less money getting healthy. Here are some tips and resources to prove it.
Cooking at Home
Preparing your meals at home will almost always be less expensive than eating at seated or fast-food restaurants. When you prepare your own meals, you can use food that you buy in bulk, like dried pasta, peanut butter, frozen vegetables and berries, dried beans, lentils, honey, and oats. You’ll want to avoid buying eggs, flour, and spices. Then buy fresh foods in season since they’re both fresher and lower in cost.
When you cook at home, you control the portion sizes which prevent you from eating more than you should and that helps control your weight. And you can balance the different foods to make sure you’re getting the proper nutrients. Many restaurants go heavy with carbs and lighter on vegetables. Also, you can cook larger meals ahead and freeze them to divide up and eat throughout the week.
You can even prepare your own luxury coffee at home instead of paying those exorbitant coffee house prices. Caffeine is great for boosting cognitive function and has been proven to improve health as long as it’s consumed in moderation. You can control the amount of caffeine you’re consuming by making your coffee at home, too. For instance, Cortado is a drink made with espresso and steamed milk and has a similar taste and texture to a cappuccino or latte and has half the caffeine as ‘flat white” coffee. And it has far fewer calories than drinks you get at franchise coffee shops.
Free and Low-Cost Exercise
You do not have to join a gym or buy equipment to get the exercise you need. There are plenty of ways to get the workout you need to stay healthy for free or at a very low cost.
Running and jogging are great cardiovascular workouts and are excellent heart-healthy exercises. Even walking 10,000 steps a day is good for your heart health. Bike riding is good for your heart health as well as a good muscle workout. And the advantage of bike riding is that there are bicycle groups you can join for group rides which are motivating.
And look for free classes at your community center. Many cities and towns have opportunities for residents to take yoga, Tai Chi, and aerobics classes. If not, look online. YouTube has thousands of different exercise classes you can follow and it’s easy to find one that fits what you want.
Make Money Off Your Healthy Lifestyle
You may find you love your healthy lifestyle so much that it has become your passion. In fact, if you want to find work catering and cooking healthy foods or becoming an instructor in aerobics or yoga, start writing up that resume now because there is definitely a need out there.
You can also start spreading the word about your services via social media, then supplement this with detailed brochures that incorporate eye-catching photos along with a list of your services (as well as testimonials, if possible).
Or, you can even start your own business promoting a healthier lifestyle to others. Whether it’s teaching cooking classes, becoming a yoga instructor, or wherever your passion took you, it can become a source of inspiration and income, a win/win for everyone.
You will probably want to structure your business as an LLC in order to protect your personal assets, such as your home, car, and savings accounts. Look for business formation services online in order to get started quickly without the need to hire an attorney.
It’s not always easy to make these kinds of changes, especially when we’re stuck in our ways. However, a healthier lifestyle – which includes eating better, exercising more, and being more mindful of your choices – is great for the body, as well as your wallet!
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