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Frugal Health
Save Money on Vitamin Supplements
Health is one of the most important factors in our quality of life. Being wealthy and having lots of friends are great, but if you’re in poor health you can’t enjoy these things nearly as much as you could in good physical condition. That’s why it’s so vital for us to look after ourselves.
Exercise is essential to a healthy lifestyle. Diet is also critically important. But even with the healthiest of diets, it’s difficult to get all of the vitamins and minerals we need. Fortunately, these are available in supplement form.
Vitamins are very beneficial to our bodies, but they can be hard on our budgets. There are, however, ways to save money on them. Here are a few tips:
* Shop around. Prices on vitamin supplements vary somewhat from retailer to retailer, so comparing prices can save you money. It’s generally best to stick with one store if you’re shopping locally to save gas, so try to find the one with the best overall prices.
* Consider shopping online. There are lots of online vitamin retailers to choose from, and you can compare prices without leaving home. Low overhead costs mean that you’ll often pay less than you would at a bricks and mortar establishment. You will have to pay shipping costs if you buy online, but in most cases it will be cheaper than buying gas to drive to a local store. And some online retailers offer free shipping deals.
* Keep an eye out for sales. Both online and offline retailers have them from time to time. If you find a great deal on a supplement you use, stock up on it. Just make sure you’re not buying so much that the expiration date will arrive before you use them all.
* Read up on the brands you’re buying. It’s great to get a good deal, but some vitamin manufacturers make products that aren’t up to snuff. You may have to pay a little more for a different brand, but if it’s better for your health it’s worth the extra cost.
* Find a good multivitamin. Multivitamins cost more than individual vitamin supplements, but they pack most of the vitamins you need into one pill. Buying one bottle of a quality multivitamin is much cheaper than buying a bottle of each of its components, not to mention they’re more convenient to take.
* Know your priorities. Some people take lots of different supplements for various reasons. If you’re on a budget, choose two or three that are the most important to take. If you need help choosing, ask your doctor or nutritionist.
A tight budget shouldn’t stand in the way of good health. By following these money-saving tips, you can get the vitamins your body needs without going broke.
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Frugal Fitness
Getting in shape can be expensive. Just shop around for gym memberships, fitness equipment or a personal trainer, and you’ll see just how much it can cost. But people were exercising long before any of those concepts were ever thought of, and paying little or no money to do so. There’s no reason that we can’t benefit from the same types of exercise today.
Getting a good workout doesn’t require all the latest fitness equipment and training. You can get good results on a small (or even non-existent) budget. Here are some ways to do it.
* Walk, run or jog. These activities do not require any special equipment. You will need a comfortable and supportive pair of athletic shoes, but that’s something you would need if you were going to the gym, too. There’s no need to pay for access to a track, either. Going around the block a few times works just as well.
* Crank up some energetic tunes and dance. Who needs a dance class when you can cut loose right in your own home? You might or might not know all of the latest moves, but just letting the music move you provides a fine workout. And if you’re having fun with it, you’ll be more likely to stick with your workout routine.
* Go to the library. This act alone won’t get you in shape, but getting a library card and borrowing some exercise videos can help. Borrowing videos lets you try before you buy, so you don’t have to worry about paying for a video that’s not your style or is above your fitness level.
* If you want exercise equipment, see if you can find it second-hand. Check garage sales and classified ads. Fitness equipment takes up a lot of room, so those who want to get rid of it are often willing to let it go at a fraction of what it would cost new.
* Find a place to swim for free. If you have a friend who has a pool, you might be able to use it to work out at no cost. Some schools also have pools that the public can use for free during certain hours.
* Take advantage of free fitness websites. One of the most popular is SparkPeople.com, which provides personalized diet and exercise plans and lots of support at no cost whatsoever.
* Play ball, throw a Frisbee or ride a bike with your kids. These activities give you some quality time together while promoting physical fitness for everyone involved.
Fitness isn’t only for the wealthy. If we put aside those notions that we must have the latest fitness equipment or individualized training, it’s easy to see how getting in shape can be cheap or free. So don’t let a lack of funds stop you from pursuing your fitness goals. Just get out and get active!
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