Thanks to my kid, I’m learning more now about living on a budget than I have any time in my life previously. Do you know how much kids actually cost? It’s borderline ridiculous. They need food, diapers clothes, toys, and tons of other stuff. The worst part is my 10 month old totally ignores me every time I ask him when he’s going to start paying me back for all this stuff. Apparently he thinks I’m made of money and that I don’t mind blowing it all on someone else. So until this little guy gets his act together and starts becoming a productive member of our household we’ve had to learn to abide to a more strict budget. Inevitably, this has had impacts on how I go about pursuing my regular fitness regimen.
Several months ago I canceled a drastically underused gym membership and have never looked back. Not only has that saved us $30 a month but I have actually exercised more often once I realized that fitness activities don’t have to be confined to the gym. I have since found tons of great jogging trails throughout my city that are much more pleasant to run on than the gym treadmills.
Another way I have saved is by finding strength building exercises that don’t require expensive equipment to perform. Activities as simple as pushups, pullups and crunches are great for working particular muscles groups as well as strengthening your core.
We have also been eating more of our meals at home. This has helped us save lots of money, and by actually preparing the food ourselves, allows us to be healthier too.
Obviously, the financial sacrifices required to raise a kid don’t compare to the rewards of being a parent. However, the need to live on a budget can sometimes be stressful. The important thing is to remember that being healthy and active doesn’t require much money, just the dedication to find something that works.
