| Dr. Kestner: Seven living well tips to save you thousands |
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Posted: Sunday, August 30, 2009 8:05 am
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Is money getting a little tight around your house? Looking for ways to reduce spending? Here are a few healthy ideas that might fit your needs.
1. If you smoke, consider stopping.
This is the most obvious tip for smokers, but it may also be the most difficult one. Many smokers really would like to stop, but have found it difficult due to the chemical dependency and behavioral rituals that are associated with smoking. Here is some financial motivation to kick the habit.
If a 16-year-old starts smoking today, chances are 70 percent that he or she will continue throughout their life. Using an estimated price of $4.75 per pack, (average for U.S.), and national average of smoking 1.5 packs per day, and a current life expectancy of 77 years, this means that the teen will spend $158,638 throughout their lifetime just for the price of cigarettes. (Not counting inflation.)
How much could you save if you quite smoking today?
If a pack-a-day, 40-year-old current smoker stopped today and put the money normally spent on cigarettes into a mutual fund that averages 9 percent return, they would have more than $266,000 in the account by age 70. A 30-year-old would have more than $681,000! A 20-year-old could accumulate a whopping $1,698,000!
2. Buy healthier foods.
This is another easy one to figure out, but seemingly difficult to achieve. Let’s face it; if it were easy, we would all be doing it.
Here are some things to consider from a financial view of eating habits. The most expensive items in the grocery cart are often impulse items, convenience meals or snack foods. Next time you get home from the grocery, look through the receipt and add up all of the items that fall into this category. Then add the healthier foods that have more nutrients and less unhealthy additives such as salt, sugars, preservatives, colorings, etc.
3. Use the same principle in restaurants.
Many restaurants make their entire profit on appetizers, drinks and desserts. Those extras add fat to your waist and waste to your budget.
4. Take a walk.
Recreational walking helps you unwind and reduces stress. This means less “stress eating.” Walkers eat less unhealthy food, smoke less, drink less alcohol and live longer than people that do not enjoy recreational walking. Walking is a very beneficial exercise that costs no more than a pair of comfortable shoes.
5. Turn off the television.
There’s a reason advertisers spend billions of dollars each year on television advertising. It is one of the most successful ways to get us to spend more money. People who watch more television spend more money than those who watch less.
6. Lose weight… the inexpensive way.
When you think about it, doesn’t it seem odd that people pay so much money to lose weight? In most cases, the intention is to consume less calories, carbohydrates or fat. So why should it cost more to eat less?
It doesn’t have to.
One of the healthiest ways to lose weight is a carbohydrate restriction (low-carb) plan. It’s simple and inexpensive. Just learn what carbohydrates are (sugars, starches, etc,) and replace them with other foods. Twenty dollars spent on a good book about “glycemic index” could be the best money you ever spend in an effort to lose weight.
7. Buy an exercise ball (“gym ball”).
You’ve seen those big colorful balls in the gyms, rehab facilities and on TV infomercials. This device is so beneficial I wish I had invented it. Using a gym ball is one of the best, low-cost ways to improve your fitness, reduce weight and generally increase energy, balance, flexibility and strength. You will be amazed at how many exercises you can do using your own body weight and a gym ball.
Murfreesboro Post bonus tip: Read the Post each week.
Where else can you find local news, entertainment, commentary and great suggestions for living well… all for free! (Thanks for supporting the advertisers that pay for the Post! Let them know you enjoy it.) Share your copy with a friend.
Next week: A simple invention that could save millions of lives.
Dr. Mark Kestner
mkestner@DrKestner.com
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