Category Archives: Health

Stop making excuses & start making progress

weight lossI used to be the queen of excuses and procrastination. Whether I wanted to lose 10 pounds, start saving, or accomplish a lifelong goal, today was never the right day for it. I always made lofty plans for the future, but I didn’t realize that when it comes to accomplishing your goals, tomorrow is no good. The only way to make progress is to start today.

Constantly making excuses for why tomorrow is better is a good way to prevent yourself from ever making progress at all. The day I realized that my temporary delays were holding me back, and setting a goal for tomorrow results in a never-ending delay, I discovered the key to achieving all of my goals.

Here’s how to get motivated if you’re battling excuses:

Tell yourself enough is enough.

Have you been talking about losing that last 10 pounds (or 50) for the past two years, but always have good reason to wait? “My diet starts after this weekend,” or “As of January 1, I am on a diet,” were my mantras for years. One day I finally said enough is enough. My diet started that minute, and 6 months later I was 40 pounds thinner. Enough is enough. It’s time to get started, because there will always be a reason to wait.

Visualize your goal.

Now that you’ve gotten started, you’re at the hardest part: you know what you want, but you haven’t started to see the motivating results. Now is the time when you need to remind yourself of how sweet it will be when you’ve accomplished your goal. It helps me to remind myself with a little symbol for what I want. Whether it’s your wedding photo from when you were at your ideal weight or a picture of the dream house you’re saving to buy, give yourself a reason to push through the tough part before you start seeing your progress.

Track your progress.

Once you do start to see progress, it’s essential that you do whatever it takes to maintain your motivation. When I was losing weight, I weighed myself daily and took pictures in my bathing suit so I could compare and see the changes. If you’re saving money or paying off debt, tally your total saved or paid every week and figure out a percentage for your progress. Seeing that percentage increase with every dollar will keep you going.

Good luck achieving your goals, and remember, the only way you’re going to get there is if you get started right now!

Photo credit: nataliej

Beauty doesn’t have to be expensive

frugal beauty

One of the most frustrating things about the frugal world is while most people acknowledge that everyone is different when it comes to budgeting and spending, the approach to beauty is relatively one size fits all. The consensus seems to be that you don’t need to spend money on beauty products.

But personal appearance is an important part of living your best life. In order to be confident, it’s essential that you feel comfortable in your skin, whatever that means to you. Everyone is different, and you shouldn’t feel guilty for wanting to invest in your personal appearance to ensure your confidence.

That doesn’t mean beauty budgets don’t need limits, though. As I’ve said many times, the trick to living a full frugal life is balance. Here are some tips to ensure you look and feel your best without blowing your budget:

Prioritize.

What is most important to you when it comes to appearance? Do you have sensitive skin that requires specialty makeup or lotion? Are you self conscious about your body and need certain clothes to feel comfortable? Figure out what it is that makes you feel your best, and focus your budget there.

My naturally curly hair is dry, frizzy, and requires a lot of effort to look nice. I spend a little more on shampoo and hair products, but I wash and style it less frequently to cut back on the products I’m using. Look for compromises to reduce the impact of your beauty  needs on your budget.

Try alternatives.

Don’t assume that the most expensive product is your only option. I spent years trying different hair care products to find a balance between quality and price. I’ve settled on some moderately priced hair care products bought in bulk to give me the results I want while spending the least amount possible. Don’t be afraid to experiment with other brands, generics, and even natural alternatives like baking soda and vinegar. If you can get the desired effect without spending as much, it’s win-win.

Go for quality, not quantity.

Find makeup products that work for you, and stick with them. If you have a drawer full of cosmetics, really consider how often you’re using those products. Wouldn’t your money be better spent on a few high quality products that work well for you? Really consider how much you need to look your best. Try to limit yourself to cosmetics that you’ll use every day.

If stylish clothing is important to you, it’s okay to spend a little more on the latest styles, but if you’re buying expensive fashions you’ll have to get by with fewer clothing items. Try to stick with classic styles that are likely to be fashionable for longer than passing trends. You’ll look stylish without having to buy a new wardrobe every season.

Focus on you.

So much of fashion and beauty is based on other people deciding what’s trendy, fashionable, and acceptable for everyone. The problem is that the beauty and fashion industry is focused on convincing you that you have to spend a lot to be beautiful. Do your best to focus on what makes you feel comfortable. The point isn’t to impress the world with a large collection of clothing and shoes; the point is to make sure you feel comfortable and look your best.

Ignoring the world’s perception of beauty is a difficult habit to break, but it’s an important step in looking and feeling confident without putting yourself into debt.

Money saving habits wreaking havoc on your health

Last week I wrote that frugal eating habits are also healthy eating habits. Since Tony and I restricted our budget even more, we’ve experienced a ton of positive health benefits, including weight loss, increased energy, and better sleep. It’s really made me start thinking about the balance between frugality and good health.

The truth is, it’s possible to take it to the extreme and practice unhealthy habits by trying to save money. As with other aspects of frugality, maintaining good health on a frugal budget requires balance. Here are some money habits that may be wreaking havoc on your health.

Cheap processed food

It’s no secret that fast food is cheap and convenient. Sunday paper coupons and sales can help you purchase processed foods at the grocery store for next to nothing. But at what cost? The recent documentary, “Food Inc.,” highlights the dangers of low-cost foods, and why they’re making the nation overweight and unhealthy. I haven’t seen the movie yet, but I do recommend avoiding “cheap” food. Instead, shop smart for fresh foods, buy produce when it’s on sale, and always strike a balance between food cost and good nutrition.

Avoiding health care

When our budget was at its tightest, we did the unthinkable: we lived for a year without health insurance. Dumb. The truth is, private health insurance isn’t nearly as expensive as you think if you’re young and relatively healthy. My husband’s costs $148 a month. Even if you have health insurance, you may be avoiding the doctor to avoid paying co-pays. Skipping checkups, refusing to visit the doctor, or ignoring health problems to avoid health costs is not a smart way to save money. That $20 co-pay could turn into thousands in medical bills if you’re not treated promptly.

Skipping exercise

Don’t make the mistake of thinking you have to pay for a gym membership to get active. I’ve found that $20 a month for gym membership is well worth the cost, but you may not be able to fit even $20 a month into your budget. If that’s the case, check out an exercise DVD from your library, go for a jog, or take a bike ride. You don’t need to spend money to get in shape.

Stressing about money

I’ve said it before: frugality is about improving your quality of life. Putting yourself under constant stress about money can lead to a wide array of health problems. If you find yourself obsessing about money because of your frugal habits, take a step back. Remember that the whole point of being frugal is to live a healthier, happier lifestyle by reducing the amount of stress you face about money.

Healthy eating is frugal eating

Photo by nataliemaynor
Photo by nataliemaynor

One of the biggest myths I hear when it comes to dieting and healthy eating is that it’s too expensive to sustain on a frugal budget. This absolutely isn’t the case. In fact, many of the eating habits that are good for your body are also good for your budget.

Despite being on a limited cash budget, I’ve lost 7 pounds this summer using these frugal, healthy habits.

Eat at home.

It’s a no-brainer, but honestly, the best thing you can do for your health and your bank account is stop going out to eat.

Shop smart for whole foods.

One of the biggest reasons I’m not a big couponer is that we don’t buy processed foods, and coupons aren’t available for things like produce and fresh meat. While we could get processed items for next to nothing with coupons, I compare nutritional value. You’ll get more nutritional bang for your buck by shopping for fresh produce and meats.

So how do you cut costs on whole foods without coupons? Shop in season and shop on sale. Fresh fruits and vegetables can get quite pricey, but each week there’s something on special. Plan your meals around these items to maximize your grocery dollars without eating unhealthy processed foods.

Plan your meals and avoid mindless snacking.

Those snack foods will kill your budget and your waist line! When you’re finished with your menu, take a serious look at your grocery list. Eliminate anything that won’t be used for a meal.

Snacks aren’t off limits, they just have to be planned like meals. I buy fruits that are on sale or sometimes cheese if the price is right to eat in a small portion and keep my metabolism up. But the important thing is these snacks are part of my menu plan, and I buy only what I need for the week. Throwing snack foods into the cart because they look good and snacking throughout the day without thinking about it is a good way to pile on dollars and extra calories.

Buy only what you need.

If you’re throwing away a lot of food at the end of the week, you’re not only spending too much, you’re also giving yourself too many options. One of the biggest mistakes I made is buying a huge variety of foods to allow myself a lot of options. However, studies show that when people are presented with lots of options, they tend to eat more. Eliminate the temptation and the waste by making a menu plan and sticking to it.

Eat less.

Two years ago when I lost 40 pounds, the first big realization I made was just how many extra calories I was consuming each day. The truth is, a lot of people are eating much more than is necessary to stay healthy and fuel their bodies. You may have to spend more on whole foods, but if you’re not snacking on processed foods in between and you’re eating the right amount at meals, it will even out.

A day off from my to-do list

relaxOne of the easiest goals I set when I came up with The List was taking a day off for no reason. At least it should have been easy. Unfortunately, taking time off has always been tough for me.

Like a lot of women, I’m always juggling a million things at once. I’m a wife, an employee, a blogger, a friend, a daughter, a sister, a dog owner, CFO of our household … and my responsibilities continue to grow. With so many things to do, it’s hard to take a break. Even on vacations, I have a long list of what we want to do and see. There’s never time to just sit and be.

My point isn’t to whine. To be honest, I don’t know that I could live any other way. I enjoy being busy, taking on responsibility, crossing things off my to-do list. There’s nothing more satisfying for me, and I wouldn’t continue to add to my list if I didn’t relish in getting it all done. If I had to sit still more than a few minutes at a time, I’d probably go crazy.

I’ve gotten so used to being so busy all the time, though, that I forget sometimes that taking a day off is an option. My days are spent with one to-do list after another, which is fine most of the time, but I need to remember that it’s okay if I don’t get everything done sometimes. It’s okay if I take a little time off.

Last Monday morning after my parents left, I was feeling overwhelmed. We had such a great time with them, but I had a long list of to-dos, and not enough time to finish them. I was exhausted and overwhelmed. So I talked myself into doing something I’ve never done: I called off work.

I’ve never taken an unplanned day off from any job. I’ve worked through fevers, personal crises, and any number of other events when I really just wanted to stay home.

After debating with myself for an hour, I finally called my boss and told him I wouldn’t be coming in. I was stressed about his reaction, but I wasn’t surprised that he was supportive. I’ve been there for a whole year, and this is the first time I’ve called off without requesting the time off at least a week in advance.

In order for this to be a true day off, though, I couldn’t treat it like another busy weekend. I spent a little time writing, but other than that I didn’t cross anything off my to-do list. I didn’t do my laundry. I let the dishes pile up. I watched movies, took an afternoon nap, and spent the day doing nothing.

I would be lying if I said I didn’t feel guilty at the end of the day. I’d taken a full day off, and nothing was done. But it was a wonderful reminder that doing nothing can be an option occasionally. It’s okay to take a day off every now and then. On Tuesday, everything on my to-do list was still there. Slowly but surely throughout the week I was able to catch up.

If you’re like me and you can’t remember your last real day off from your to-do list, I urge you to take one. Call off work if you can. Ask your spouse or babysitter to take the kids for the day or even for just a few hours, and take some time for yourself to do nothing. We all need a mental health day every once in a while.

Photo by fd

Am I sticking to it because it’s costing me?

treadmills
photo by ario_j

It’s been almost three months since I joined a gym. Initially, I was concerned about the 12-month commitment. If my enthusiasm didn’t stick, I might end up stuck with a monthly fee for a gym membership that I wasn’t using.

The good news is, that hasn’t happened. When going to the gym after work became too much of a struggle, I switched to a morning schedule. I’m tired earlier in the evening now, but I love getting my workout out of the way first thing in the morning. I start the day with extra energy, and I don’t have to dread working out after a long day at the office.

This is the most consistent I’ve ever been with a workout regimen. I typically controlled my weight through portion control and healthy eating, but my fitness habits have always been lacking. This is the first time in my life that I’ve worked out every single day for longer than a couple weeks.

I can’t help but wonder if it’s directly related to the $20 being withdrawn from my bank account every month. In the past, I’ve worked out for free either outdoors, in a campus gym, or in an apartment complex gym. This is the first time I’ve paid a monthly fee to work out. Every other time I started out with a lot of enthusiasm, but eventually I started going fewer times per week until I finally stopped going at all.

This time I’ve made it a point to work the gym into my schedule every day. I know I’m paying for it whether I use it or not, and I can’t bear the thought of wasting that money every month.

Tony offered a different theory. My frugality and financial organization have made me more goal-oriented and regimented, he says, which in turn have led me to follow those same principles when it comes to fitness.

I don’t recommend joining a gym just to motivate yourself to work out. If you’re not truly committed from the beginning, all the gym membership will do is add to your expenses. But if you’re like me — strict about money and lax about fitness — and you’re truly committed to a healthier lifestyle, paying for your workouts might just strengthen your resolve.

Losing weight can save you money

Yesterday’s post on how spring cleaning can save you money helped me feel so motivated that I thought I’d try something similar with my other recent goal — losing weight and getting into shape.

I understand the importance of a healthy weight, regular exercise, and a good diet. But I don’t always make the right choices, despite the fact that I’ve been working to lose the weight I gained since my wedding. I’ve only managed to lose 4 pounds in 2 months. :(

Hopefully viewing weight loss from the perspective of how it affects my finances will motivate me to make better choices. So I’ve come up with a few ways that losing weight might help me save money.

Eating healthier can lower your grocery bills.

While healthier foods often carry a higher price than convenience foods, cutting unhealthy snack foods from your budget can drastically lower costs. I don’t go out to dinner a lot anyway, but cutting restaurant meals in an effort to lose weight will also dramatically lower food costs.

Exercise is a cheap hobby.

If you make exercise fun, it can replace expensive activities like movies, shopping, or going out to eat. Instead of spending money to have fun, take a hike, go for a swim, or bike a trail.

Better health can lead to lower medical costs.

There’s a long list of ailments that can be caused or complicated by excess weight — diabetes, heart disease, joint pain, even cancer. Maintaining a healthy weight can reduce your risk for these problems. You might not reap the financial benefits today or tomorrow, but in the long run your health care could cost considerably less if you maintain a healthy weight now.

Anyone else have any ideas? Leave them in the comments. I’d love to hear them!

I’ve got a new attitude

This morning, like every other morning, my alarm went off at 6 a.m. Since daylight saving time began, my morning wake up call happens before the sun rises. Some mornings, it feels like I’m waking up in the middle of the night.

I’ve been getting up at 6 a.m. for the past couple weeks to work out for 30 minutes, but I don’t have to be at work until 8:30. I lay in bed for a few minutes, and I found myself considering staying there for another hour.

What finally motivated me was a compromise. The thought of getting through my whole workout was overwhelming, but that didn’t mean I should skip it entirely. I made a bargain with myself — in exchange for getting up and making it to the gym, I’d shave 10 minutes off my normal workout.

My first thought this morning was that it had to be all or nothing. Either I’d get out of bed and make it through my whole workout, or skip it and stay in bed until 7 a.m. It didn’t occur to me right away that it’s okay to compromise, and it’s okay to do only what you can do right now.

As I pushed myself through my workout, I started thinking about how often the all or nothing mentality interferes with my diet and exercise — and my finances. When a surprise expense forces me to set aside money in the budget that normally goes to something else, it feels like my goals are shot for the month. If I can’t send the usual amount to savings and debt, then I’ve failed.

When I convince myself I’ve failed, then I start to lose the motivation to do it at all.

If I didn’t make it through a 30-minute workout this morning, then I failed. When I start thinking that way, why even push myself to get out of bed at all? If I’m failing either way, I might as well get an extra hour of sleep.

Instead of all or nothing, I’m going to start just giving my all. If a surprise expense reduces the amount that I can send to debt and savings, then I’m going to happily send what I can and praise myself for coming this far. If I can only make it through 20 minutes on the treadmill, then I’m going to be proud that I still got out of bed an hour early and made it to the gym.

Goals are important, and I’m going to continue setting them for myself and striving to reach them. But I think I’ve been missing the point for some time now. Instead of setting a hard and fast rule and beating myself up if I can’t reach it, I’m going to set broader goals and work to do a little more each time.

I’ve realized that my rigid goals are limiting me. If I’m just pushing myself to save a certain amount every month or make it through 30 minutes at the gym, then I’m less likely to do more than that.

Instead of setting a goal to work out for 30 minutes every single day, my new goal is to go to the gym every morning and work out as long as I can. Instead of saving the same amount every month, I’m going to look at my budget, set a number based on my expenses for the month, and make sure I’m saving as much as possible.

Hopefully, this new positive attitude will motivate me to exceed my previous goals. Most importantly, I won’t feel like a failure every time I hit a setback.

Healthy frugal meals for work

Since I’m still working on losing a few pounds I’ve gained since I started by desk job, work lunches are an obstacle for me. Most of the people in my office go out for lunch every day. Since I’m frugal, I obviously bring my lunch.

I often bring leftovers from the night before. Many of our recipes make enough for 4 to 6 people, so there are plenty of leftovers for both of us to eat some for lunch the next day.

Sometimes, though, we don’t have any leftovers. Last night, for instance, we roasted a chicken for dinner. There was plenty of leftover chicken, but it will be used for chicken and dumplings on Wednesday.

I’ve struggled to find healthy frugal meals to take to work on these days. I want something tasty so I’m not tempted to join my co-workers at a restaurant.

For a while, we bought Romaine every week, and I threw together a salad in the morning. Romaine, tomato, a little cheese, and some turkey or chicken with low-fat salad dressing. I brought that every single time we didn’t have leftovers (usually 2-3 times per week) for weeks. Finally, I was so bored with salads that I couldn’t look at them anymore let alone eat them.

I found a solution in last month’s Real Simple that works for me, so I want to share it.

The magazine suggested buying a pound of whole wheat pasta, cooking it up on Sunday night, and then using the plain pasta to make a different pasta dish every day for lunch.

The magazine offers some great pasta salad recipes that I won’t copy here, but I’ve found some other good ones that I’ll share.

It takes no time to cook the pasta, and because each recipe is a little different I don’t feel like I’m eating the same thing every day. If you buy whole wheat pasta and keep your portions to about a cup, it’s a healthy, satisfying lunch option.

Here are some of the recipes I’ve tried. I just use the recipe as a guide and cut down ingredients based on how much pasta I’m actually using for that day (anywhere from 1 to 2 cups depending on whether Tony wants some):

Artichoke pasta salad
Pasta with meatless marinara
Pasta with spinach and tomato
Spinach pesto pasta (Spinach pesto is a much cheaper alternative to traditional basil pesto. Use regular parmesan cheese instead of Romano to cut costs.)
Antipasto salad

Some of these recipes seem expensive and difficult, but the most expensive ingredients can often by omitted. With some creativity you can usually find a frugal substitute for pricey ingredients without changing the flavor of the dish too much.

If you’re worried about adapting full recipes to one serving size and you don’t mind eating the same thing several times in one week, you could always make the whole recipe and try a new dish each week.

I haven’t experimented too much with it yet, but I’d imagine it would also be easy to make a full batch of pasta dishes or sauces like pesto and marinara and freeze or refrigerate them to use the following week. I hope this works for you, too!