After the holiday decorations are put away, and everyone settles into their normal routines, it can be easy to forget about the New Year’s resolutions made back on Jan. 1. Despite a goal-setter’s best intentions, the work isn’t done once you decide on your resolutions. Whether you’re deciding to eat healthier, exercise more or save money, don’t let those goals end up costing you money. Here are a few ways to achieve your resolutions without spending too much money.
[See: 10 Foolproof Ways to Reach Your Money Goals.]
Eat healthier without overspending. While many Americans could stand to improve the quality of their diet, “eating healthier” is not very specific. If a goal is vague and doesn’t offer a way to measure results, it’s easy to slide off track. Try setting more detailed and measurable goals, such as “eat two to three servings of greens every day.”
If eating more fruits and vegetables is part of your resolution, seek out local produce that is in season. Not only is it more affordable, seasonal produce is fresher and buying it supports your community’s farmers. Each season, change up the type of fruits and vegetables you eat and cook. You’ll save money and add variety, plus avoid boredom — one of the culprits of straying from your plan to eat healthy.
Another common excuse for not eating healthy is a lack of time. Whether your job or commute causes long hours, or a busy family life fills afternoons with extracurricular activities, hitting the fast-food drive-through feels like an easy solution. A key to sticking to a healthy diet is planning and preparation. Set aside a few hours each week to plan your meals and even prepare them ahead of time. There are many free resources online from nutritionists and healthy lifestyle gurus with recipes to prep wholesome meals each week, saving time and money in the process. Often, healthy and frugal meal prep recipes will include ingredients such as chicken breast, beans, eggs and rice. Check your grocery store’s weekly ad to see what is on sale before you shop and plan your meals accordingly.
[See: 20 Tips for Saving Money at the Grocery Store.]
Get more exercise while avoiding a pricey gym membership. Ready to work fitness into your routine? During the cold winter months, joining a gym may seem like the only option. But gyms are busy during this time of year. With high demand, you’re less likely to find a deal on a membership. Fortunately there are other indoor options for getting in shape, including right in your own living room. As long as you have an internet connection and a floor mat or towel, you have access to thousands of fitness routines you can do at home. If you invest in a set of weights or resistance bands, you can amp up your workout and try strength training, which is beneficial for weight loss, heart health and can protect your bones and muscles.
Set a dedicated time each day or week that you want to work out, and even place an alarm or calendar reminder to hold you accountable. If you need an extra push, commit to becoming a friend’s fitness buddy, and text or call each other with reminders to complete that day’s planned activity.
If you benefit more from group activity than solo workouts, check online for deals on packages. Often fitness studios will offer introductory specials on Groupon or LivingSocial. This way, you can try different types of classes, such as yoga, pilates or kickboxing or even a one-on-one with a personal trainer. Learn the basics and get specific recommendations for your own workout routine during these discounted classes.
[Read: How Managing Your Finances Is Like Losing Weight.]
Save more money. If you’re simply looking to save more money this year or reach a particular financial goal, there are plenty of free resources to do so. Audit your past few months’ expenses through bank statements or a digital tool such as Mint to find out where you may be overspending. Common pitfalls include dining out, coffeehouses, shopping for items you may not need, or monthly services you don’t use. Build a budget and monitor your daily spending to make sure you stay on track.
If you have a larger goal to reach, such as saving for a down payment on a house, try breaking it into smaller more achievable goals. Saving $5 a day, or $35 a week, feels a lot easier to accomplish than $150 a month. Checking off these smaller items on a regular basis will feel good and encourage you to keep going until you reach your goal. Create specific, attainable resolutions and don’t forget to celebrate the milestones you hit along the way.
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Take on Your New Year’s Resolutions Without Going Broke originally appeared on usnews.com
