Best Health Resolutions to Save You Money
If saving money and getting healthy are on your list of goals in the New Year, keeping your resolutions in 2016 may be easier than you think. The truth is being healthy - both physically and financially - go hand in hand.
There are several changes you can make to your personal habits that will improve your health and pad your savings account. It's a single effort with a double benefit. That's a win-win in my book.
Here are five ways to save money and get healthy in the New Year:
Quit smoking to save on insurance premiums
If you've ever filled out a health insurance application, you know one of the first questions they ask is if you're a smoker. It's not a secret that smoking cigarettes is harmful to your health and decreases your life expectancy. Therefore, your insurers might see a point to increasing your health insurance premiums since they are based on your personal heath risks.
According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario, "Smoking and exposure to second-hand smoke have many negative health effects that increase your risk of developing heart disease and stroke." Needless to say quitting smoking reduces these health risks and therefore your health insurance premiums. Make this one of your health resolutions, and you could save money on cigarette costs and insurance premiums.
Get an annual check-up and save money in the long term
Making regular visits to your doctor can help spot any troubles early on. Doctor visits, annual check-ups, and tests can be expensive, but when it comes to your health you want to keep on top of things. Women have additional health risks that men don't have, such as breast and ovarian cancer. That's why it's important to get checked regularly.
It's better to pay a little bit of money now to prevent any issues rather than be stuck with a hefty medical bill later to fix a problem. While we have a good health care system here, there are some issues that you have to pay for, and that you don’t want to need to deal with. You can reduce the chances of some of the problems by your healthy habits.
Get active but skip the gym membership
If you’ve made health resolutions in 2016, but don't have extra room in your budget for a gym membership, take advantage of all the local freebies in your area. You can start walking or running outside: it costs nothing and you get to enjoy some fresh air.
Check with your local YMCA to see if they offer any free community group fitness classes. Active lifestyle stores like LuluLemon and Lole also offer free yoga classes in select store locations. So check your local listings, you may be surprised how free fitness can actually be.
Stop eating snacks and spending money
Think about how much money you spent yesterday. Was a portion of it on coffee and snacks with friends? I love nothing more than to take a 3 pm break with co-workers and grab something to eat or drink at Starbucks. However, this is a costly and unhealthy habit. Keeping snacks at work can help you adopt healthier eating habits and save money at the same time.
Start cooking at home to save money and calories
Take out portions of food are big, they're much more than we actually need to survive. The truth is cooking at home isn't for everyone. However, it's a real money saver and a much healthier option when it comes to your daily calorie intake. Canada's Food Guide has tips on how to make smart food choices as well as maintaining healthy habits.
You might be surprised at how a few gradual changes with your health resolutions can make a difference in your health as well as your budget.