It’s true that without your health you have nothing. I have a few chronic illnesses, so maintaining the best possible health outcomes is essential. Working out is key to this effort. Unfortunately I fall in to the trap of overly ambitious exercise regimens, and in 2023 I’m going to opt for less strain and more consistency buy taking on easier more forgiving work outs. I plan to walk more, row on my rowing machine more and do simple calisthenics for strength. The CDC supports the notion of consistent activity, and many physical fitness experts stress that consistently doing any activity is more effective at supporting your health than occasionally doing heavy lifting or big cardio days.
Why would I tell you about exercise or mention health at all? After all I’m not a doctor, or a nutritionist, I focus on frugal living. Because maintaining your health to the best of your ability works hand in hand with a frugal lifestyle.
Did you know that in America up to 60% of all bankruptcies are due to medical bills? When my spouse and I were looking for our new home in the Pacific Northwest, we ended up with a home that the owners had to give up due to health issues. They moved to an assisted living facility, so they were lucky, some people will lose everything, and once you become chronically ill your expenses continue to grow year over year, unless you can figure out a way to become healthier.
For me that means eating mostly plant based. I found that nearly all of the chronic issues I have get better when I avoid chicken, eggs, dairy and meat. Of course my example is anecdotal, I don’t have any lab results to show that my plant based diet has made my health challenges less challenging, but I know that my symptoms have been more manageable over the past two years. Consuming mostly plants has the added benefit of cost savings as well. On average a plant based diet will save a person $750.00 on groceries per year. I am not perfect and enjoying a plant based diet isn’t my religion, I eat meat and cheese sometimes, a couple of times per year. When I do, my eczema breaks out and my joints ache. But once I’m back on track I begin to feel better and because I’ve been mostly plant based for a while my recovery period is shorter.
I follow a website called Nutritionfacts.org because I like the way they use well conducted studies for their information. By well conducted I mean they cite studies that are scientifically sound. They state that “Four simple health behaviors may cut our risk of chronic disease by nearly 80%, potentially dropping our risk of dying equivalent to that of being 14 years younger.” That’s great news. The four behaviors are not smoking, eating healthier, exercise, and having a body mass index under 30.
My thought is that if you can achieve the four behaviors listed, you may also be able to save money. Healthcare is very expensive in the United States. The average American spends about $1,600.00 out of pocket before they hit their deductable. What would you do with an extra $1,600.00 this year? Would you pay off or pay down one of your credit cards?
How well are you caring for your dental health? I go to the dentist two times per year and each time they give me a positive report on my teeth. I brush after meals and floss daily. My cleanings are a breeze, and I don’t normally have any problems. I have a friend who had to have a procedure scheduled in December, and then have the rest of the procedure completed in January because of the way his dental insurance works. He needed to get the most out of his plan and he still ended up paying $1,400.00. My advice is to take care of your teeth and avoid expensive procedures.
How about time? Time is money, so the saying goes. The average American goes to the doctor 4-5 times per year. The doctor will spend about 15-24 minutes during a consultation. When you visit the doctor you will normally arrive a bit early, at least I do, plus you have to drive to the office and drive back to where you came from, work or home. Overall every time I visit a doctor it takes 40 minutes there and back, plus the time waiting, plus the visit, often I have labs as well. The overall time I spend is roughly 2 hours. I think I’m pretty average as far as the time spent for a doctor visit. If you are earning money and have to take time out to go to the doctor 4-5 times per year, and you are spending 2 or so hours for each visit, that’s 8 hours of lost wages if you are hourly, or if you are salaried, just calculate the cost for gas and wear and tear on your car, and the loss of productivity that you will have to make up at some point perhaps in working longer days, taking work home, or working over the weekend.
Here are a couple of tips to help you become healthier in 2023
Get your body mass index to 30 or under
Try to eat vegetables at every meal
Brush your teeth two times per day and floss once per day
Go for a walk for 20 minutes each day
Don’t smoke
Meditate or find a way that works for you to manage stress
Laugh
Connect with loved ones in person or via video call
If you are mature, consider taking on balance exercises to prevent falls
I’m excited for 2023, I hope you are as well.
If you want to learn more about my journey and my ideas about paying off a debt and living a frugal life style you can pre-order my book “Never Worry About Money Again: Gain Financial Freedom by Becoming Better at Managing the Money You Have” due out in print and eBook in February 2023. If you aren’t ready to commit to reading my book keep learning more about my experience, and how you can become a ‘frugalite’. You can check out my podcast Paige Power on Spotify, you can also click the link on my website.
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