Tips for Making Healthy Living More Affordable in Retirement
In 2017, it was reported that roughly 90 percent of Americans do not eat the daily recommended number of fruits and vegetables. Adhering to the 1.5-2 cups of fruit daily minimum, and the 2-3 cups of vegetables daily minimum, is especially important for older adults. Why? Dozens of studies have linked the consumption of fresh produce to a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, and numerous types of cancer. However, for those on a limited income in retirement,stretching the monthly budget is also of top importance. Explore top tips for making healthy living more affordable during one’s retirement years.
Take advantage of senior citizen discounts
Maintaining your health in retirement should always be a top financial and personal goal. However, it can be a challenge for many to balance both.
One excellent way to receive a discount on groceries, gym memberships, and other healthy living establishments is by asking for a senior citizen discount.
Depending on the establishment, senior citizen discounts can start as early as age 50. By the time an individual reaches age 65, he or she is eligible for the discount at nearly all places that offer it.
The majority of discount offers range between 5 percent off and 20 percent off purchases. Although this may not seem like that big of a savings, these discounts can quickly add up over a short period of time.
Eat more whole foods
Healthy diets often get labeled as being expensive due to the high prices of organic packaged foods, or pre-made cuisine.
However, the cost of eating unhealthy remains relatively high. In fact, Harvard researchers found that the healthiest diets only cost $1.50 more (daily) on average than the unhealthiest diets.
When purchasing whole, minimally processed vegetables, fruits, and meats, you can expect to save the most on your grocery budget.
Fill your weekly menu plan with items such as carrots, whole chicken, sliced cucumbers, berries, fish, and potatoes to get the most for your money.
As you follow this strategy, you can expect your bills to drop, and the number of nutrients you consume to increase.
Use the outdoors as your gym
The average cost of a gym membership (as of 2018) is $58 per month. This equates to $696 each year.
In addition to the monthly membership fee, new gym members are often required to pay hefty joining fees.
If these costs are too much for your budget, there are other options for staying fit.
More specifically, the outdoors is an excellent place to achieve a wide range of workouts.
For low to no cost, you can take long and short walks, go for a run, play tennis, bike through local trails, swim, and more.
If you live in a cold weather climate, you can still participate in multiple outdoor activities throughout the year.
Buy generic organic food items
If you want to make the switch from traditional processed food items to organic, there is a way that you can do so affordably.
Whether you choose to shop at a health food store or a major retailer, most places now offer a private line of healthy snacks and packaged foods.
Quite a few of these generic brands have even gone through the process required to obtain USDA organic certification.
When buying generic organic items versus brand name organic items, it isn’t uncommon to save between $1-$5 per product.
After multiplying this by an entire cart worth of food over several trips, the savings are massive.
Even though many individuals must stick with a limited budget as they age, there are still affordable ways to eat healthy and stay fit. B
y getting savvy about the best ways to find deals at local grocery stores, fitness centers, and the like, you can experience better health and wellness during your retirement.
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Category: Health
