As reported on LifeHacker.
by Alan Henry
Some of the most common New Year’s resolutions people make are to decrease their debt (or get out entirely) and to lose weight or get healthy. Before you embark on either of those, make sure that the other isn’t getting in the way and you’re not spending money losing weight. You can have both, you just have to be careful.
Over at US News Money, Geoff Williams explains that many people, rushing to get to the gym or start eating better in the new year, wind up tiring themselves out because they spend a ton of time and money at the beginning of the month signing up for memberships, weight loss programs, and start buying expensive diet food from expensive grocery stores. While there’s nothing wrong with working out and eating better, one doctor Williams interviewed for the piece put it simply: “Produce is produce, and an apple’s nutritional value doesn’t increase if it’s bought at an expensive grocery store.”
The piece walks through some of the hidden costs and debts you may wind up racking up or adding to your monthly bills if you run out without thinking and start signing up for Weight Watchers or a membership at your local gym. For example, Jenny Craig advertises that you can pay $36 for an eight-week program or $488 for a full year’s membership, but that doesn’t include food or shipping for the food they suggest you eat to stay with the program. Combine that with one USDA study that suggests eating healthy doesn’t have to be expensive, and you can have it both ways: Keep your wallet in your pocket and live healthier in the new year. Hit the link below for the full analysis.