This post may contain affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a qualifying purchase.
If you’ve implemented your monthly budget and are now looking for ways to cut costs, you’ve come to the right place. Trimming your budget may seem overwhelming at first because you’re just not sure where you can actually cut costs in all of your budget categories. Especially in all of your “Necessities” categories, like “Health and Fitness.”
Note: This is part of my “Saving on Necessities” series of posts. If you’re unfamiliar with the 50/20/30 budgeting rule and what a “necessity” budget category is, read my post on that here. If you just want the cliffsnotes, the “necessity” budget category includes the stuff you’ve gotta spend money on to live each month. It’s necessary. It should account for 50% or less of your take-home pay. And budgeting for your health and fitness definitely falls under the necessary.
“An Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away” should not be your health and fitness budget plan.
If only it were that easy! Sure, apples are a healthy addition to any diet, but there’s usually a little more than an apple required for most of us to stay healthy and fit from day to day.
Saving in the health and fitness budget category can be tricky, but it doesn’t have to be.
There are lots of ways to save in this category, while still properly taking care of your health. That is key. Cutting corners to save a bit of money while being sickly is not an option here. In many cases, for this budget category, it’s a matter of determining what you already need and pay for in this category (or need to consider buying for your health) and then looking for cheaper options.
Note: This is also one of the few categories that I personally splurge a bit in because I want to live my best life. To me, health is a big part of that. I was diagnosed with a thyroid issue in 2017 and discovered a few “health and fitness” costs that I can use to help keep it under control, so I have made room for it in my budget and pay up for that. It’s worth it. Take care of yourself too. There are always other budget categories that can be finagled to compensate for this if this category needs to be bigger.
If you spend a bit more now to stay healthier, then you’ll be spending less on health issues when you’re older. And you’ll get to be older in the future. Plus, you’ll have all that time in between that you’ll be feeling healthier!
There’s a reason they say, “Your health is your wealth,” after all!
Frugal Rule of Thumb: Health insurance is a must-have to properly take care of your health. It will allow you to afford checkups and help you in the event of any unexpected health issues. Don’t skip on health insurance! If you need health insurance, read my post about saving on Health Insurance. It is a necessary foundation for a healthier you.
So what can you do to take care of your health and fitness while minimizing the costs?
I have quite a few savings ideas for you in the health and fitness budget category so I’ve split them into the following health and fitness subcategories for easier digestion:
- Doctor Deals and Discounts: 11 ways to save at the doctor’s office and the pharmacy
- Food Fixes: 10 ways to save on healthier foods
- Fitness / Physical Health: 11 ways to save on exercise and equipment
- Self Care / Mental Health: 13 ways to save on stress relieving activities
Your health and fitness budget should cover the things you need in order to be both physically and mentally at your best. I’ve shared 45 ways to save money while working toward your best self, physically and mentally. However, listen to your body. Remember that you may need more or less than I do to stay healthy and plan your budget accordingly.
Phew! I hope this has given you some good ideas that you can start implementing right away to start saving in your health and fitness budget.
Please feel free to share other ideas in the comments section below!
You are beautifully frugal and fantastic,
Joni