This month, HealthCheck360 is focusing on Financial Wellness. In a world where it costs around $500 a year for a gym membership, it is easy to say it is “too expensive to be healthy”. In an effort to prove that there are cost effective approaches to living a healthy lifestyle, I spent the month of June seeking out the best deals and tricks to living healthy while saving money. Here is my advice on getting fit on a budget.

1. Contact your local gyms and fitness facilities. Last month, I contacted two local yoga studios. I had never attended a class at these studios before so one offered me a free week of classes and the other, two free classes. This is a great option if you want to try something new but do not want to commit to a monthly membership.
2. Get outside. The world truly is your playground. If you do not have a gym to workout in, go outside. I found the perfect route in my neighborhood to take a short run to a park and then do push-ups on a park bench, pull-ups on the monkey bars, and run the stairs at a nearby building. This workout cost me nothing. Take a strenuous hike. Go for a walk/run. Play a recreational sport or swim in a lake. It is all free!
3. Use your resources. Don’t have the money to pay for a personal trainer? There are TONS of free apps out there that provide workout plans and instructional videos. A few of my favorites are Nike+ Training Club and Workout Trainer. Prefer a live coach rather than an app? HealthCheck360 participants have free, unlimited inbound coaching available to them. All you have to do is call 866-511-0360 and ask to be scheduled for a coaching call.
4. Treat yourself, and your bank account. Last month, I wanted to de-stress with a massage although, I did not want to pay $75 for an hour. How is that stress free? I looked into our local massage therapy school and found the beginner massage therapists offer an hour massage for only $30. And guess what? It was just as good!
5. Eat real food. It is no secret that grocery shopping can get expensive fast. I learned that our local Hy-Vee offers a discount on healthy food items every Wednesday. I rearranged my grocery shopping schedule to get my favorite healthy snacks for a little less. Another great way to save is to grow your own produce. Or, become friends with your gardening coworkers; they seem to always have plenty of tomatoes to go around.

How do you live a healthy lifestyle while keeping the bank account in check? Let us know at support@healthcheck360.com. You might just see your tips shared on our blog or on our social media accounts this July!