Think it is difficult to both save money and do things that your health likes? Well, it doesn’t have to be if you know how to plan for these expenses. If you’re trying to bring more frugalness, fruit, and fresh air into your life, then you’ll appreciate the following four healthy tips.
Shop at Outlet Grocery Stores
If you eat a ton of fruits and vegetables, then you know how expensive this can get. However, your local grocery outlet store usually carries fruit at much cheaper prices than your regular supermarket. For example, three pounds of apples at Albertson’s will cost you around $7 to $10. But five pounds of apples at a grocery market will run you between $2.50 and $5. More apples, cheaper price. What a win!
Make a Grocery List and Adhere to It
According to The Simple Dollar, the best way to save at the grocery store is to create a grocery list and stick to it. You can still eat healthy and on the cheap if you plan this trip right.
Here’s how this works. Look through the store flyers for coupons and sales on the items you’ll buy. Also stick to the bulk aisles, where you’ll find such healthy staples as dried lentils and beans, long-grain rice, dried fruits and nuts, and powdered energy drinks. Create a grocery list around the items you have coupons for, or those that will be on sale, and don’t deviate from that list.
Brown-Bag Your Lunch
Most people spend way more than they should on lunches out every day. And a trip to a local fast food joint for lunch can add about 840 calories to your daily calorie count.
Why not save $143 or more per month by skipping lunch out and brown-bagging it instead? You can pack meals that have half the calories, that are healthier than fast food, and that won’t take a big bite out of your budget.
Bike to Work
Heaven knows that you can wind up paying $2 or $3 per gallon (or more) for gas, which adds up if you have to drive any distance to work each day. According to The Balance, the average person will spend $2,600 a year on commuting costs.
You can drastically reduce the cost of commuting by biking or walking to work if you live close enough. This one act alone will save you a ton of money, put some fresh air into your lungs, and give you some time to turn off your head at the end of the day.
Just be sure to ride or walk in areas that are designated for such activities. If you do get injured by a motorist or by another type of mishap on the way to work, be sure to consider a personal injury lawyer. The time you spend out of work can be costly and bad for your health as well.
Taking care of your health and your wallet need not be mutually-exclusive activities. Shopping for your fruits and vegetables at a grocery outlet store or at a store that sells items in bulk will cut down on your expenses. Same goes for packing a lunch for work and sticking to your shopping list.
Finally, be sure to exercise in your pursuit of health. A simple switch from car to bike can reap you plenty of financial and health benefits, and it’s an easy switch to make, too.
