Healthy doesn’t have to mean wealthy. Photo: Shutterstock.
Living a clean lifestyle can be a serious drain on your wallet. Between shopping at Whole Foods, sipping on pressed juices, and signing up for yoga/workout classes, the costs add up pretty quickly. It’s one thing if you’ve got cash to spend. In that case, I can think of no better way to invest your money than into your health. Those returns are invaluable; there’s no point having money to spend if your body won’t let you enjoy spending it. However, if your bank account isn’t burgeoning with cleanse cash, that doesn’t mean you can’t still implement a couple healthy habits into your lifestyle. Your body is always worth the effort. Here’s a handful of ways to stay healthy that don’t require an overweight checking account.
Go Surf
Alright, provided you have the board on this one as decent surfboards are definitely an investment. If you do own a board or can borrow a friends, surfing costs next to nothing. At most, per session, you’re looking at spending maybe a couple dollars of gas money and a couple quarters for the meter. You’ll get outside in the sunshine, you’ll build strength, and on days that require enough paddling, you’ll even get some cardio in too. Thanks, Mother Nature, for the world’s most beautiful gym.
Along that same line of thinking, use the beach and the outdoors to your advantage. Go for a run on the sand: it’s a little softer than hard pavement. Go for a swim or a hike. These are all wonderful things for your body that don’t cost a dime.
Cost: < $5
YouTube Yoga or Library DVDs
Online yoga: it’s your friend.
As a recent college grad, the memories of trying to stay in shape on a budget are still very fresh. One of my favorite ways to sneak in a workout without spending $100/month plus was using the wonder that is YouTube. You would be surprised how many 30 minutes to an hour yoga classes are available on the site. As long as you can find a quiet, clear space with wifi, you too can stretch out, find some peace, and improve your flexibility. For this reason, I try to share as many high-quality routines as I can here on The Inertia Health…like this one, this one, or this one.
Public libraries sometimes offer yoga and workout DVDs as well that you can check out at no cost as well. They’re a great resource for full-length classes. Additionally, a lot of yoga studios and instructors are offering online memberships for a fraction of the cost of a normal class pass. Keep this variety of options in mind if you can’t quite afford the real deal.
Cost: < $5
Shop Seasonal and Shop Sale
It’s not about eating perfectly; it’s about eating better than you used to. Photo: Shutterstock
Eating organic is a great thing to do for your body, but it definitely isn’t cheap. Even though you might have a little sticker shock when browsing through organic produce, that doesn’t mean you can’t afford to buy some things organic. Try shopping at Trader Joe’s or local farmers markets, as these places can be ever so slightly more reasonable. When browsing the grocery store, look for organic items that are on sale (which usually coincides with being in season). Incorporate some of these items into your basket of absolute necessities that you may or may not buy organic. Healthy eating is about making progress, not being perfect, so eating some things organic is better than none at all.
Cost: Varies.
Do Guided Meditations
Breathe in, breathe out. Photo: Shutterstock.
Looking for a little me-time? A couple minutes to calm the brain and body so you can unwind? Some people prefer a yoga-class type structure with an instructor leading the meditation, but if you’re looking for wellness on a budget, try a guided meditation. Download one on your phone or computer, and you can pop in ear buds anywhere, anytime to find your center. All you need is a quiet space. Meditation is an excellent tool for calming yourself down, taking care of your mind, and boosting your energy and mood.
Cost: $3.99.
Substitute Tea
Swap that afternoon coffee for some green tea. Photo: Shutterstock.
Simply put, we live in a world that drinks a lot of coffee. Some people rely on the toasty beverage for their caffeine fix, but others drink it just to have something to sip on, be it at work or at home. There’s nothing wrong with coffee, but overloading on caffeine isn’t great for your body, and if your coffee habit involves a couple trips to Starbucks each day, it isn’t great for your wallet either. If you love coffee, don’t cut it out, but if you drink more than a cup or two a day, consider swapping a few for an herbal or green tea. Green tea has a little bit of caffeine, but not as much as a cup of joe. Plus, many teas offer health benefits like antioxidants as a bonus.
Cost: $3.42.
