You work out, you try to eat right, and you want to buy the healthiest stuff, but, boy, this healthy-living thing can really hit you in the pocketbook. The money flies like it’s got actual wings—to your gym membership, running shoes, that fancy juicer, the organic meat at dinner—and that’s just on Monday.
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Use this guide to save on the products you need and see which ones you can live (healthily) without.
Vitamins
Worth it? Yes, if your food choices aren’t cutting it.
Most experts say you don’t need to take vitamins if you eat a diverse mix of fruits and veggies, lean meats, legumes, and whole grains. Problem is, if you don’t eat well, are a vegetarian, have a food allergy, or are pregnant (or hope to be)—categories that include most of us—you might not be getting the nutrients you need. In that case, an inexpensive multivitamin may give you peace of mind. Look for a brand that has 100% of the daily recommended values of vitamins and minerals and has the USP seal, which means that U.S. Pharmacopeia, the organization that verifies the ingredients and quality of dietary supplements, has given it a thumbs-up. Store-brand multivitamins go for about $3 to $6 for 100 tablets, compared with about $8 to $10 for brand names. Don’t spend money on additional supplements (fish oil, vitamins D and C) unless your doc has ID’d nutritional gaps. For instance, if you aren’t getting enough calcium from dairy (1,000 milligrams for 19- to 50-year-olds), pop a daily Tums with calcium (150 tablets cost $5 to $6).
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Cost-efficient exercise without the ratty sweats or laps around the basement—here’s how to save on a first-class workout.
Expensive sports bra
Not all women need a crazy-supportive sports bra. “If you’re small-breasted and doing low-impact activities, you can go to almost any retailer and buy a comfortable seamless bra that’ll be absolutely appropriate,” says LaJean Lawson, PhD, an adjunct professor of exercise and sports science at Oregon State University. “But women with a full C cup and up can’t get by with a less-structured bra.” That’s when it’s wise to spend $30 to $50 for support; test it by jumping up and down in the dressing room. For the best fit, get measured by a pro at a bra shop; then head to a sports or specialty-running store for a large sports-bra selection. If you don’t have a good retailer for sports bras nearby, try TitleNine.com, which has a great return policy.
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As long as healthy food costs more than junk, we’ll seek the best choices for both your belly and wallet.
Organic food
If you’re tossing organic produce into your grocery cart with wild abandon, the final bill might be wince-worthy—you’ll typically spend 30% to 50% more than you would on the conventional type. But there’s a real difference: About three-quarters of traditionally grown produce show traces of pesticides, while only one in four organic fruits and veggies do, according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest. Splurge on organic produce with soft skin or that you eat skin and all (like apples, peaches, bell peppers, strawberries, pears, and lettuce), but save on foods that are fairly pesticide-free thanks to their tougher outer layers (like bananas, kiwifruit, onions, mangoes, pineapples, and broccoli). Wash all items well with soap, water, and a brush, but skip the fancy veggie and fruit washes; the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) don’t recommend them.
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You shared your best ways to stay healthy for less.
$5: Pedometer
My healthiest bargain was an inexpensive pedometer. It was the easiest way for me to start moving. My goal was to reach 10,000 steps a day. It helped me know when I was being active and when I needed to move more. I started parking further away so I could get in my steps. Soon, I started to lose weight and felt better about doing other exercises in addition to walking.
—Stacey Copenhaver; Stevens, Pennsylvania
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