Simple Ways to Save Money and Lose Weight at the Same Time

We’re a little past halfway through the year so now’s as good a time as any to check in on how those New Year’s Resolutions are going. If you’re like most people, there’s a good chance your resolutions involved losing weight, saving money, or both. Well, here are some simple ways to do both at the same time.

1) Share food.  I have a confession to make. I have a huge weakness that impacts both my physical and financial life. That is I love to eat out. Part of it is convenience, part of it is my love of a variety of hard to prepare ethnic foods, and part of it is the social aspect of going out to a nice restaurant.

So what’s the solution? Simple. When I go out to eat with my girlfriend, we often order just one entrée and split it. We started by doing this with dessert, then entrees, and now even drinks. If we’re still hungry afterwards, we can always order more but the funny thing is that we’ve never needed to. (Drinks are another story.) In fact, considering how large the average entrée size is, I’ve become amazed that I used to eat them by myself and that people still do.

Of course, the trick to this is that you have to be eating with someone who’s willing to share and has similar food tastes as you. If this is a problem, another strategy is to immediately set aside half of your meal to take home. This is key because I think most people are psychologically pre-disposed to eat whatever is on their plate. Either way, you can essentially have two meals for the price of one and half the calories.

2) Walk more. In addition to large portion sizes, we Americans love our cars. But try walking more often and driving less. (This one took more convincing for my girlfriend.) Not only can you burn calories but you can also save money in gas and car maintenance (not to mention not having to deal with traffic and parking.)

Of course, depending on where you live, this may be more or less feasible. But next time you’re shopping for a home, consider making a walkable location a key feature.

3) Exercise outside or at home. If you’re like many people, you may be paying for a membership to a gym that you hardly ever go to. Instead, use the warm days of summer to hike or jog outdoors. (I’m still working on prying the girlfriend off her treadmill and elliptical machines.) The varying terrain actually adds an additional component to your workout.

You can also do a lot of exercises at home and save a lot of money in the long run. I purchased a set of barely used dumbells and a never-opened set of P90X DVDs for cheap on Craig’s List and got the Insanity workout program from a friend for free. Best of all, you can save time by not having to “go” to the gym or wait to use equipment.

These steps have saved me some money and probably helped me lose a few pounds too. Skeptical? Give them a try. You have nothing to lose but a little off both your waistline and your budget.

More like this:

What’s Your Plan For a Financial Independence Day?

What’s Your Plan For a Financial Independence Day?

I personally think of financial independence as consisting of three different levels: ...
Read More
Which Federal Tax Breaks Still Apply To College Costs?

Which Federal Tax Breaks Still Apply To College Costs?

When it comes to education, most financial planning centers around saving and investing for college. This focus makes sense because ...
Read More
super bowl party with food

How To Throw A Money-Savvy Super Bowl Party

The Philadelphia Eagles will battle the Kansas City Chiefs for the Super Bowl Championship game on Sunday, Feb. 12th, 2023, ...
Read More

Subscribe

Be the first to know when new resources are published.