Exercising on a Budget

I've been reading and hearing a lot lately about the effects of the economy on people's exercise habits. The gist of most of the stories seems to be about what gyms are doing to attract and retain customers when people are cutting their budgets to the bone. My first reaction is that it makes me sad to think that people have to sacrifice their health and fitness because they can't afford to exercise. But there are other alternatives for exercise that don't cost a lot of money.

I've never been a big fan of gyms for my own use. I certainly wouldn't say that belonging to a gym is a bad idea for everyone. But I've never been very comfortable exercising in front of lots of other people, many of whom are intimidating to me because of how good they look and how much they obviously work out. Another thing about gyms that doesn't appeal to me is that many have way too many mirrors, not to mention the big windows at the front so that everyone driving by can see me sweat. Fortunately for people like me, there's another option: walking outdoors on my own. I don't have to pay a monthly fee to lace up my shoes and go walking; all I have to do is walk out the door. I chose walking as my preferred form of exercise for a number of reasons, and high on that list is that I'm a cheapskate. I've always loved the fact that the only thing I really need to spend money on to walk is a good pair of walking shoes. That's it. No membership fees, no fancy equipment; just a pair of shoes a couple of times a year. Heck, I'd probably have to spend money on shoes even if I was going to the gym. Sure, there are always things I could spend money on to make my walking experience more fun: walking socks (what can I say - I'm a sucker for comfy socks) and an iPod are two of my favorites. But those are luxury items, not necessities. So at a time when lots of people are paying more attention to dollars and cents, it's nice to know that walking provides a budget-friendly exercise option. And that's something that will lead to a better bottom line (pun fully intended) for all of us.

Saving Calories, Not Dollars?

In addition to eating better, this month I'm trying to keep an eye on my grocery budget (like many people, I'm sure). I'm starting to wonder if following a healthy diet and spending a reasonable amount on food are mutually exclusive goals. I bought a bunch of produce (fruit for snacks and salad makings), and that alone was about half of my weekly budget, which didn't leave a lot of room for anything else. It's frustrating to think that I might be able to eat more cheaply off the dollar menu at the fast food joint than I can at home or by bringing my lunch to work.

I think part of the problem is that I don't always buy seasonally. What I mean is that, according to what I've been reading anyway, I should buy the fruit that's in season right now (say, citrus) rather than the grapes and cherries I love. But it seems like whenever I buy the things I think I should be eating rather than what I want to be eating, I end up not eating the "shoulds" and going back to the store for the "wants." And clearly that's not saving me any money, not to mention it's incredibly wasteful.

There has to be a compromise somewhere. First off, I'm not advocating visiting McDonald's for lunch and dinner every day (although I might be tempted). I'm willing to perhaps pay a little more to be healthy. I do think there's a way to buy the things I know I'll eat and be smart about it. Buying on sale is a good start, and trying some seasonal produce can't hurt now and then. It seems to me that it eventually comes back to moderation (there's that word again). I can splurge on a healthy item or two I want and know I'll eat, while being careful about my spending on the rest of my groceries. Life's all about trade-offs, I think, and I'm willing to give a little on the grocery budget here and there if it means I'll make good choices about what I'm putting into my body.

Walking for Transportation

As gas prices hover at levels I've never seen before in my driving days, I'm finding that I'm more and more interested in finding ways to get around that don't require me to use my car. Several days a week, I drive to a park and ride lot and catch a bus to work, saving me nearly 60 miles a day of driving. I deliberately chose my neighborhood to live in so that I would have the option of walking to stores and restaurants. But the thing is, giving up the car means giving up convenience, and I still struggle with sacrificing ease of use for a cheaper (not to mention more eco-friendly) method of transportation. The reality where I live is that public transportation is not the most efficient way to travel. We rely on buses here, because the funding for high speed rail hasn't garnered enough public support to get off the ground. Buses are okay, but they have to fight the same traffic I do in my own car, plus the schedules don't always make sense when you're trying to get from Point A to Point B. Then there's the functional aspect: if I want to go grocery shopping, for example, it's going to be tough to carry several bags plus cart home a gallon jug or two of milk, and juggle it all on the bus. It's a whole lot easier to just hop in the car, pile it all in, and drive home.

But I've been thinking more lately about whether it's possible to accomplish some of these errands on foot. Probably the biggest obstacle remains, though, how to contend with getting the items I've purchased back to my house. I've been exploring the idea of getting a personal shopping cart, which would help immensely in transporting the merchandise home. If it's a collapsible version, then I can take it on the bus. I've seen a few around town, and they look pretty useful to me. Problem is, does getting one of these make me a bag lady? :-)