4 Guidelines for a Healthy Budget and Healthy Lifestyle

Follow these rules, whether or not you're a fixture at the gym and health food store

1. Think First, Pay Later
"One of the mistakes people make is thinking, If I buy this, then I will use it," says Gretchen Rubin, author of The Happiness Project. "You have to realize that buying something is not the same thing as using it." Instead, she says, be sure your purchases reflect your values or your past healthy behavior. If you love a head-clearing run, signing up for indoor surfing classes might not be for you (even though it's super-trendy right now). Or if you eat tons of veggies but never cook at home, consider whether you'll really benefit from that produce-delivery service.

2. Deploy Your Friends Effectively
Whether you invite a friend to join you on morning runs or in a "bring lunch to work" endeavor, the result is the same: There is a person waiting for you to show up. You either make good on the commitment or let them down. "You can't underestimate the value of social interaction when it comes to getting the most out of your health-care dollars," says Ryan Howell, an associate professor of psychology at San Francisco State University. That social pressure means you'll fit in a workout or make your own lunch, no matter how much you're dragging—which keeps the cost of the gym or groceries from going to waste.

3. Try Before You Buy
Test workouts before loading your credit card with monthly fitness passes. One free option is YouTube, which is chock-full of exercise classes, both full-length and teaser versions. Want to check out one of those cardio-ballet classes everyone is talking about? Do it online and save $35. Too embarrassed to bring your two left feet into Zumba? Give it a try at home first. For more high-quality versions, you can purchase a DVD workout for less than $20. (You can also borrow from the library for free!)

4. Log It
Keeping a journal of your progress is a way to stay on track with fitness or diet regimens, but it also helps you save money. You'll be able to see where your cash was put to the best use. You'll easily pinpoint the value of that monthly yoga pass, for example: If you dropped $150 on it but went to only four classes, you should pay the $15 drop-in fee instead. Or if you find that you ate only one of the Greek yogurts in the 12-pack you bought, maybe it's time to find a new (and possibly cheaper) snack. Make tracking simple with an app like MyFitnessPal.com.

Categories: Budget , Guidelines , Healthy , Lifestyle