Written by Cody Ellis
Taking care of your health is one of the best investments you can make. But between gym memberships, healthy groceries, supplements, wellness activities, and being a parent, it can also be an expensive endeavor. When money is tight, health goals often fall by the wayside. However, with some planning and budgeting, you can find ways to prioritize wellness without breaking the bank.
Take Stock of Your Current Spending
Before making any changes, take some time to analyze where your money is going each month. Track every expense, including bills, debt payments, entertainment, dining out, etc. Look for areas where you may be overspending on non-essentials. Even small cuts here and there can free up cash to put toward health and wellness expenses.
Set Specific Wellness Goals
Decide what aspects of health are most important to you right now. Do you want to improve your diet and nutrition? Join a gym and start strength training? See a therapist or life coach? Make a list of 2-3 specific wellness goals to focus on. This will help you determine where to allocate any extra funds. Having clear goals makes it easier to prioritize spending.
Take Advantage of Free and Low-Cost Options
Fortunately, many dimensions of wellness don’t have to cost much, if anything. Reflecting on some insights from the BuzzRx blog, simple lifestyle tweaks like drinking more water, getting better sleep, reducing stress, and walking daily can boost health at no cost. Public parks offer free access to trails, sports fields, and green spaces. Libraries loan out exercise DVDs, meditation guides, and healthy cookbooks. Support groups and community centers also provide free resources for improving well-being.
Seek Out Discounts and Membership Deals
Don’t pay full price if you can avoid it. Search for discounts on supplements, gym memberships, fitness gear, and health services. Buy store brands instead of name brands. Look into insurance discounts for things like gym memberships and weight loss programs. Some employers and health plans reimburse wellness expenses or offer discounted gym access. Memberships like Costco and Groupon can yield major savings on health products and services.
Cut Expenses in Other Areas
If there’s no room to trim your budget, look for expenses you can temporarily cut out. Dining out, entertainment, shopping for non-essentials, and premium cable are common areas of discretionary spending. Downgrading your phone and internet plans can also save substantially. Use any funds from these reductions exclusively for health and wellness purposes.
Save Up Over Time
Some wellness goals require a larger financial investment. Putting a little money aside each month into a “health savings” fund can help cover bigger expenses when they arise. Automate transfers into this account each pay period, even if it’s just $25 or $50 to start. Small amounts add up over time into a decent wellness budget.
Take a Whole-Life Approach
The ultimate goal is to make self-care and prevention central to your lifestyle. This means building healthy habits that you can sustain long-term. Quick fixes and fad diets are expensive and often ineffective. Focus on sensible strategies that balance your physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual health. With the right priorities and planning, you can invest in your overall well-being without going broke.
Conclusion
Investing in your health is the best gift you can give yourself. By taking a strategic approach, tracking your spending, and looking for savings, you can find room in your budget to support wellness goals. The payoff is reduced healthcare costs over your lifetime, improved quality of life, and priceless peace of mind. What matters most is consistency and persistence. Start with small steps today to build healthy money habits that will serve you well into the future.