A healthy life is a core human necessity, but staying healthy also means spending a shitload of money. Whether it’s healthy foods or exorbitant gym fees, the financial factor sometimes doesn’t give a hoot about our desire to be as fit as a fiddle on a shoestring budget ─ You either go big or go home.
But nobody’s going home anytime soon, and neither is anyone going “big” just to pass the healthy lifestyle test. With the right tips and tricks, we can conveniently maintain a healthy life on even the most limited budget. Still skeptical? Why don’t you read along and see for yourself!
Planning honestly makes everything easier, and when it comes to meal planning, it also doubles as a “penny saver.” Planning your meals ahead of grocery shopping is a surefire way to reduce costs while getting all the essential nutrients your body requires.
Buying foods on impulse often means settling for cheaper alternatives such as junk foods, because at that point, all you care about is the figures in your bank account. But with a good meal plan, you can strategically tailor your budget to accommodate healthy but cost-effective options like fruits and vegetables, which are great for boosting immunity, among other health benefits. Meal planning is also a good way to map out your calorie intake.
A healthy lifestyle is incomplete without a regimented exercise routine. To incorporate this into their health and wellness plan, most people rely on fitness instructors or gyms who usually charge lofty fees. But with the myriad of free workout videos scattered along the length and breadth of the internet, you don’t have to invest in a pricey fitness instructor or pay an exorbitant gym membership fee ─ to get your daily dose of exercise.
Also, if you don’t have the time or convenience to do lengthy workouts, you can key into High-intensity interval training (HIIT) workouts from the comfort of your mobile device or computer. These do not take as much time as regular gym routines but are just as effective. All you need is an internet connection and access to an app like YouTube, and you are ready to roll.
The advent of smart technology came with a lot of perks, and fitness apps are one of them. There are tons of health apps you can download and use without a subscription. These apps are loaded with juicy features that can make your fitness journey smooth and bump-free; they can track your workout metrics and give you a ton of dietary and lifestyle advice. Talk about your personal health coach!
On the surface, eating frozen foods may seem like bad news for your health. But guess what? They are just as good as their fresh counterparts. Contrary to popular opinion, keeping the heat away from foods won’t detract from their nutritional value, instead, the exact opposite happens. And the best part? They are sustainable. They will retain their freshness for a long time and will save your bank account a couple of figures in the process.
No doubt, grabbing convenience foods or takeouts as opposed to spending hot hours in the kitchen to cook a meal is more convenient. But this supposed “convenience” comes with a high price. For one, takeouts aren’t all that healthy, and secondly, your bank account won’t be smiling for too long. Preparing your own meals gives you the power to dictate the content, which is a better option than ready-made meals that are often packed with unhealthy preservatives and other components that may be injurious to health. You can also prepare your meals in bulk and store them for later. Plus, storing different meals in your freezer slams the door on takeout trips.
Stock up on healthy food staples so you can have a constant supply of healthy food options to throw together when you run out of food. You can also start a little garden to grown your own staples and vegetables, which helps in limiting supermarket and grocery costs. Also, canning your foods to prolong their shelf life is another good economical way to eat and stay healthy. Got overripe fruits? Processing them into smoothies is a lot healthier and more budget-sensitive than throwing them out.
Your mental space is a crucial element of your overall well-being and should be treated as such. And maintaining a good mental balance doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. In fact, it is the cheapest of all; Spend quality time with your friends and loved ones, maintain a healthy sleep pattern, engage in creative and therapeutic activities like painting and meditation. Listen to music, watch comedy skits, and read good books. And yes, drink lots of water. All of these go a long way in boosting immunity and promoting your overall wellbeing.
Conclusion
More often than not, we make the wrong food choices and ignore healthy lifestyle practices because of financial constraints. But this shouldn’t be the case. While it is difficult to access healthy lifestyle resources on a limited budget, you can make simple lifestyle adjustments like those listed above to attain your fitness goals. Conclusively, a healthy life does not equate to having deep pockets!
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