Top 5 Ways To Stay Healthy On A Budget
Time,
health, and money are three of the most fundamental components for us to enjoy
life to the fullest. In an ideal world we wish we could have unlimited amounts of all these three
in every stage of our life. However, real life it is not that ideal, leaving us wanting for at least one of
these factors as we move through our life:
Youth:
have the health and time, but not the money
Working
adults: have the health and money, but not the time
Old age:
have the time and money, but not the health
Anyway we have to keep ourselves balance, be happy with what we have and make full use of it. Always remember that money can always be earned, but lost health will be hard to regain, and lost time can never be recovered.
Anyway we have to keep ourselves balance, be happy with what we have and make full use of it. Always remember that money can always be earned, but lost health will be hard to regain, and lost time can never be recovered.
Well, I
beg to differ. I believe that with the right planning and practical methods, we
can achieve all three. Taking care of your health does not necessarily have to
be expensive or time-consuming.
Here, I
share with you 5 quick ways to stay healthy on a budget:
1. Grow
your own produce
Planting
allows you access to technically “free” food. You can keep them organic and
pesticide-free.
Allocate
an area in your yard for plants or even trees. However, if space is a problem,
you can designate a small countertop space near the window to place small pots
of leafy vegetables or fruits. Or, if you live in an area where urban farming
is encouraged, you can join the community to help plant different produce.
2. Buy
smart
Fruits
and vegetables can be expensive when bought off-season. Buy them in season;
they aren’t just cheaper at that time, they also taste better. For quality
(though not necessarily less expensive food), choose to buy from local farmers
if you can. According to some buyers, the best time to go to a farmers’ market
is about an hour before closing time. That’s when the vendors lower their
prices even more.
For meat
items, choose less expensive cuts. Instead of chicken breasts, try chicken thighs.
They are tastier and cheaper. The same goes for pork belly, organ meats, and
other parts. Don’t be afraid to buy parts with bones. They only look more
expensive because the bones add to the weight, but they are also full of
flavor. The bones can also be used to make stock soups, which means it can be
made into another meal the next day.
3. Buy
vitamins and supplements in bulk, sunscreens and lotions in big sizes
Vitamins
are consumed every day, and so it just makes sense to buy a big tub of them to save
money. Buying vitamins and supplements in bulk is cheaper. And since you take
them daily, you will be finishing them before their expiration date.
The same
concept is applied when buying lotions and sunscreens. We need these to nourish
our skin and protect it from the sun’s harmful rays. Big sizes of these mean
cheaper than regular, personal sizes. And again, you use them every day, so you
are likely to finish the bottles before their best-before dates.
4. Go
online to work out
Gym
memberships are expensive, as are Pilates, aerobics, and Zumba classes. If
budget is tight, however, you don’t have to spend a lot just to keep your body
active. Look for free videos online in which you can join dance, aerobics, or
other fitness program classes. YouTube has a lot of such free videos.
But if
you want to stay offline when working out, walk or jog around your neighborhood
every morning if you can. That would also give you a nice cardio workout. You
can also do push-ups or squats while watching TV.
5. Do-It-Yourself
with natural remedies
For
minor aches like simple sore muscles, practice DIY techniques. Keep your
muscles loose by applying simple self-massage using back massager. Set up your own relaxation time
in a bathtub using essential bath oils instead of going to a spa. Do you need
to get rid of toenail fungus? Try using over-the-counter topical ointments made
specifically for nail fungi treatment rather than expensive prescription pills
or surgery. Have a cold? Drink lemon tea.
The
point is you can do all those things by going natural, which costs very little,
and doing them yourself, which costs nothing at all. Keep in mind though that
the aforementioned are only for minor ailments and everyday wear-and-tear
physical conditions. If you feel that your condition is worse than normal,
getting worse than before, and/or is better looked upon by a physician, go to a
doctor immediately. Consult a professional as soon as possible. You cannot put
a price on medical health.
Bonus:
Do a mind-stimulating hobby
This
might seem out-of-place here, but the truth is it’s important that you find
something to do that would stimulate your mind. Some people take really good
care of their physical health, but seemingly neglect their mental health. It’s
unfortunate because mental health can drag your physical health down more
effectively than anything else.
Pick a
hobby that you enjoy. It can be playing a musical instrument or reading a book
of any genre just anything that would get your mind working on your
downtime. Avoid picking a hobby that is just an extension of your day job or
something that would just stress you more. The idea is to do something you
don’t really have to but you enjoy doing it anyway. If solving crossword
puzzles or doing coloring books is what stimulates you, then go for it.
Always
remember that money can always be earned, but lost health will be hard to
regain, and lost time can never be recovered. If you think taking good care of
your body is costing you financially, just compare it to the worries, headache,
downtime, stress, and bills associated with dealing with health problems.
There is
no better time than the present to be proactive and to use your available
resources to achieve your optimum health. Do these steps now and look forward
to many, many years of good health, time, and money to enjoy all the best
things in life.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please Leave a Comment to show some Love ~ Thanks