Getting Fit is Expensive! what do you do to save some $

Im lucky, we have a garden and our own mini farm. Also I prioritize - I do my own nails and go to the college for my hair cuts and highlights... $15 instead if $100. Hell I even turned off the cable at one time! (Football season- I gotta have it- lol) Remember YOUR health is worth the trade off! =]

Sierratradingpost.com is a great place for running shoes. I got 2 pair of my favorite shoes for the same price as one pair at the store. And they often have free shipping

Don't skimp on your shoes. I buy the best fitting ones I can find regardless of the price. Makes a huge difference!!!

There is something of a learning curve to it. Also remember that a lot of stuff is a one-time expense; dumbbells aren't going to go bad and require replacing, for example. When I started out, I got an exercise mat, a set of resistance bands, and a pair of running shoes. My boyfriend got one pair of 60 lb dumbbells and we already had a Swiss ball as well. This has worked really well for a wide variety of exercises and probably cost less than $150 (about the cost of a one month gym membership for one person around here).

Also, get creative when you don't have something. For example, I've been doing a program that involves using a medicine ball for ab exercises but have had absolutely no money to buy one. So I grabbed one of my heavy casebooks and use that. It works just fine since I'm new to the exercises, and now I know that it'll be worth investing in a real medicine ball when I get the funds. Or I'll do dips that I see demonstrated on a low box; I don't have one of those, but I have a folding chair that is perfectly fine to use instead.

When it comes to food, I won't lie, organic is often out of my price range. But you can still get fresh produce and healthy foods within a tight budget rather than relying on prepackaged foods as people often feel stuck doing. One thing I've noticed when I visit people who claim that fresh fruits and vegetables are just "too expensive" and "not worth it" is that they'll have a fridge crammed with rotting produce. It's too expensive because they buy it and don't eat it. That means they've got to be spending even more money on the food they do eat, so it's no surprise that the bills go up. (And admittedly, I have been guilty of this behavior in the past.)

Now, I'll buy fresh fruit to eat but don't buy the other snacks I used to eat as well (only have so much money to go around). And we actually eat it all; the only thing that usually goes bad are fresh herbs when we can't use the giant bunches fast enough. When it's actually making up your diet, it doesn't seem like an extraneous expense; it's just food.

When it comes to vegetables, frozen can be even better than fresh, nutritionally-speaking, since it's frozen right away while the vegetables in the produce section might have to travel thousands of miles before you get your hands on it. I always keep bags of frozen broccoli on hand; they're an easy way to get vegetables into any meal (as a side, in a stir fry, as baked potato stuffing, lots of ways).

Finally, shop sales. I'll look up my grocery store's ad online before I go and make the list based on what's on special. So this week, stone fruit was on sale for less than $1.50/lb. We've been eating fresh peaches and plums every day for a grand total of about $5. I'll also buy chicken breast in bulk (it's on sale about half the time) and cook off five pounds or so in the oven at once; then I always have a healthy option quick and ready to throw into any meal. I also always keep a few staples on hand, like dry black beans (much cheaper than canned by volume, without all the sodium) and potatoes.

I'd spend my money on good shoes first!
I always by good supportive comfortable shoes for workout and work. Buy the best you can afford! Your body will thank you.

THEN go to consignment/thrifty shops for clothes. This year I didn't buy any "new" summer clothes and just worked with what I had then about 2 weeks ago I went and got a bagful on clearance for $50, including new running shorts. :happy:

Now with food, we eat a lot of peanut butter, beans, chicken, ground turkey, milk, yogurt, tuna and fruit. Try to buy things that are versatile. I try to shop with a plan based off the sales folder or what coupons I have. And stock up when there's sales. Also I think it's the mornings (not sure?) when they mark down the meat. Inspect it really good and check the date (which sometimes I've found doesn't expire for a couple of days) then throw it in the freezer. Try not to be brand loyal, but on certain things like cheese I refuse to compromise.

I try to buy organic fruits and veggies but if it doesn't happen all the time, I don't sweat it. Oh I didn't catch your location, but some stores match sale prices of competitors so I take advantage of that too.

For exercise, instead of buying a DVD, I get a free apps for my phone or go to youtube. It's not real interactive but it's cheap.

Hope this helps! :happy:

Depending on where you are, see if there is some "community supported agriculture" farms near you, in addition to your farmer's market. These are a little less expensive than buying "organic" produce at the grocery store, especially if the grocery store is considered a "health food" grocery store. Some CSA's let you *work* for a portion of your share of food.

I buy everything as local as possible. The term "organic" doesn't matter so much ... the small time farmer may well be doing everything organic but chooses NOT to pay for the certification (I imagine it is not cheap!) and then have to pass off those fees to the consumer. *shrug* I also started buying all my meat from a local rancher ... and the beef is 100% grass fed. The feed he uses for his chickens, lamb and pigs is certified organic and non-GMO. There is a small dairy ranch just up the road from me where I buy all my dairy (from Gurnsey and Jerseys cows, not a Holstein in the herd ... good health benefits there, but long explanation) including raw milk.

None of this is cheap, but I find myself needing LESS food (we were all overeating!), and there's a lot less waste. My food budget is straining a bit, but there are other budget items I can cut to make it up. I quit buying wine and beer for one thing! LOL The raw milk is $8/gallon and will be going up to $10 the first of September. But I used to easily spend that on wine/beer each week. Oh, and no more Starbucks! Well, except for their whole bean Kenyan coffee which I brew every morning (did you know that coffee has a good amount of potassium??).

I agree with the poster who mentioned the cost of medications. You are probably young enough to not have that looming in your very near future, but trust us olders one ... you do NOT want to have to stay alive on prescription medications. Especially if you live in the US.

Oh, and one other thing, have you tried growing some of your own produce ... even in containers? A lot of folks can keep a good supply of salad makings even in their apartments, if the have a sunny spot on a balcony or something. If a sunny spot is not available where you live, look around at friends' homes and see if there is potential there. There are some good magazines devoted to urban vegetable gardening.

Best wishes! And like every one said, pay good money for good shoes, but don't pay premium $$$$. Depending on how much mileage you are putting on them, they wear out within 6 months, on average. I ignored my shoes and ended up with a royal case of plantar fasciitis. Ouch.

It's expensive when you ramp up. And, you buy all the wrong things in the beginning, so, later you re-buy the right things later. Yes, that is expensive. But, once you get rolling, it's cheap as hell, and if it's not, you're probably doing Cross Fit or something.

I can't afford to buy organic. Where I live, I can get enough fruits and veggies to get me through the week for probably ten dollars. I don't eat a TON, but I think I get enough.

free pass to test drive a gym - free

this. i worked out in my neighborhood gyms for about a month for free just trying them all for a free week each. they should be having fall sales coming up soon.

I don't save really--I try to find good deals by keeping tabs on what things are cheaper at the various stores I shop at but good food/workout gear is one thing I won't compromise on.

So my feet keep going numb in my work out shoes - esp as/after I do my JM-30 Day Shred, so I figure I reaaaallly need some new workout shoes! (&& would love some new gear too! lol)

Went online looking & HOLY POO, all the workout stuff I love/want/need is so expensive!!! ...and not only workout stuff - I would LOOOVVVEEE to buy more organic foods, but I hardly ever have money in my budget after all the other necessitites....

Im thinking there has to be a way around some of this stuff or maybe a place to buy stuff cheaper that I am not aware of...or something! lol

What do you do to save money now that you are being/eating healthier?

I bought myself an exercise machine - the Bodyworks 5000 - for around $150 about 3 years ago. Still use it to this day and it's infinitely cheaper than a gym membership (and I don't have to wait to use it or shudder because the last person hasn't wiped it down).

As for food, my wife and I shop at places like Aldi's and Save-a-Lot since they have some good options for not much money. It may not be strict organic food, but I can honestly say that I have never felt better physically than I have once we started buying lower calorie foods from those places.

I buy my workout clothes at Target, Kohls (on sale only), and the Goodwill or ARC (you have to dig, but you can often find good quality, name brand stuff for super cheap--I've bought shorts and a bathing suit for $2 apiece in recent months.

I also joined a couple of free running groups through my local specialty running store and they do drawings on store merchandise--I've won a number of dri-fit technical shirts, vests, socks, hats, etc. (and a few gift certificates towards shoes).

I am trying to be smarter with my grocery budget and frequent sales and buy produce that is in season. Sometimes you can find good deals at local farmers' markets. I eat out less and try to use coupons when I do...

The only thing I haven't skimped on is good running shoes.

most of my workout clothes are from target, tj maxx and old navy. i don't belong to a gym, so that saves me a ton right there. the one thing i spend a lot of money on is shoes, because i run, and i need proper support.

For food, I only buy certain things organic. We have our own organic garden, and that helps, too. I buy a lot of frozen veggies in the winter to save costs.

old navy and target have good options for workout clothes - target especially.

as the other posters said, you just got fork out the cash for good shoes, especially if you're a runner. totally worth it though!