Quitting smoking is hugely beneficial to your health and your budget
The new year is traditionally the time when people make a commitment to take on some healthy lifestyle changes.
However, with a recession looming over us, gym memberships and extravagant purchases of healthy food are most likely to be the first things that are cut from the resolution plan and expense list.
But, just because you are on a budget doesn’t mean you can’t take on healthy changes that still allow you to eat better and exercise more.
Bupa expert Dr Peter Mace provides some simple tips and insight into how making positive health changes can set you up for a healthier start to the year - and save you pounds too.
1) Pounds and Ibs to be saved by planning: Eating healthily should not be chore or cost any more money if you put the right planning into it. Small steps like creating a food shopping list and sitting down to plan your weekly meal helps to cut down unnecessary spending, as well as reducing waste. Why not also make an effort to bring in a lunchtime meal to work instead of buying one? If you make a simple sandwich and include some salad it all counts towards one of your five a day.
Did you know? The average UK household can save up to £29 a week and eat healthier by simply planning their weekly supermarket shop which equates to £1,500 a year (Department of Health, 2011)
2) Seek support to stub out the fags: Make this the year you stop smoking and get some help with it. Five simple steps that could help include:
1. Make a plan of action for stopping smoking – and stick to it
2. Tell your friends and family that you’re trying to stop smoking, and get their help and support.
3. Stay positive and remind yourself of what you’ve achieved when the going gets tough.
4. Get support and treatment from your NHS stop smoking service
5. Don't give up on giving up!
Did you know? People who successfully quit will find, on average, that they are better off by £1,555 at the end of the year (Bupa, 2011).
3) Say no to that extra tipple: Alcohol is an added expense that many of us can do without, especially after the December overindulgence. A simple tip is to try to have at least two alcohol-free days a week and stick to the recommended daily drinking guidelines of three to four units for men and two to three for women. Use Bupa’s calculator to find out how many units are in a glass of wine or pint of lager Alcohol calculator
Did you know? Excessive drinkers who commit to drinking within the recommended guidelines could save an average of £200 a year on alcohol spending (Bupa, 2011).
4) Motivate yourself to move more: Using your two feet is the cheapest and one of the most effective ways to get active. Walking or running cost nothing and don’t require any expensive equipment or costly gym membership to get you going. If you live close enough to work why not try to walk or run in a few days a week. Alternatively, organising a family walk over the weekend is also a great way to keep active and spend quality time together.
Did you know? The average cost of the annual school run by car per primary school child is £367 (Department of Health), if you are able to walk to school this is a saving your family could be making.