Health and Fitness For Less

Most large companies offer Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs). These plans allow employees to set aside pretax dollars to pay for a variety of unreimbursed medical expenses. If you know that you will be spending $1000 on medication throughout the year, you can set aside that much in your FSA. Just be sure to use all of the money in the account by the end of the year, or otherwise you lose what's left.

Many people start exercise programs with the best of intentions, but don't follow through. You don't want to follow their example, but you can benefit from their lack of willpower. Check out yard sales, Craigslist, or your local Penny Saver or Thrifty Nickel to look for bargains on barely used exercise equipment. Lots of people are willing to part with old exercise bikes or weight training equipment for far less than it would cost new.

Numerous studies have shown that as we age, our metabolism slows down due to the loss of lean muscle. Weight training can prevent, or at least slow this muscle loss. You don't have to spend a fortune on gym memberships, or fancy equipment. For under $50.00 you can get a set of dumbbells and a book of basic exercises. If you follow the instructions and use proper technique, you can tone your whole body doing a variety of exercises with dumbbells.

Walking or hiking is free, doesn't require any special skill, and you can do it anywhere, but it's more enjoyable if you find a scenic state park or trail within a reasonable distance. Get out of the house, and get moving - the only thing you have to lose is a few inches off your waistline.

If you want a larger selection of used sports equipment than you might find in the newspaper or shopper magazines, check out Play it Again Sports. They carry a wide selection of used sports equipment at up to 50% off what you would pay new. They have over 450 stores nationwide and you can search for one near you on their website, playitagainsports.com.

If you have medications that you take on a regular basis, see if your medical plan offers a mail order option to get a three-month supply instead of going to your local pharmacy and getting a one-month supply. This option can often save more than 50% on the cost of medication.

If you have access to a pool, swimming is a great activity because it's one of the best all-purpose sports and doesn't require a lot of expensive equipment. Since it does not stress the joints, it's an activity you'll be able to enjoy all life long, even if you have health problems that prevent you from playing other sports. If you don't have access to a pool, check out ymca.net to see if there is a location near you. They usually offer inexpensive access to swimming and other recreational and exercise facilities.

Instead of buying expensive ice packs at the drug store or sporting good stores, try making your own for lots less. Combine 3/4 cup of water and 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol in a zippered storage bag. Place it inside another zippered bag to prevent leaks and place it in the freezer. Since alcohol won't freeze at that temperature, you'll have a flexible ice pack whenever you are confronted with a sprain, bad headache, or other medical situation that requires ice.

If you are confronted with a medical situation at home that requires an ice pack, don't run to the store and buy one. Run to the kitchen and make your own. Double bag raw rice in zippered bags and place in the freezer until cold. The raw rice will conform to most body parts and will remain cold for about 45 minutes.

Many people are not aware of eligibility for subsidized health care. To find out about low-cost and free health care coverage in your state, visit insurekidsnow.gov and select your state of residence. The site gives state-specific income guidelines and connects you to state program sites and applications, where available. Or you may call 1-877-KIDS NOW (1-877-543-7669) for more information.

Don't justify avoiding an exercise program by saying it will take time away from the family. Instead, designate a family exercise time once or twice a week. It doesn't cost anything to head out to a park, ball field, or playground. Encourage everyone to throw a ball around, shoot hoops, or run laps. Make it a competition by making up some games or challenging each other to races.

Having trouble sticking with an exercise program? Instead of spending a lot of money on an expensive trainer, consider getting a work-out buddy. It's a lot harder to skip your morning walk or work-out if you know there is someone expecting you. A partner can also lend support if you do back-slide or get discouraged about your progress.

If your doctor prescribes medication for you, ask if that is the least expensive option, or whether there is a generic alternative that could save you money. Usually, the only difference is that the drug company spent a lot of money to advertise the brand name drug and you're paying extra for all that advertising.

There are a wide variety of exercise videos available to meet all fitness levels. For about $10 dollars you can get a video that you can exercise along with over and over. Yard sales and e-Bay are a couple of places to look for inexpensive tapes. If you get bored with it, you swap it with a friend. An even better bargain is the library. Visit the video/DVD section and you can usually find several exercise tapes to choose from.

Fitness doesn't have to cost a fortune; the important thing is to get started.There are a variety of exercises you can dowith a set of $10 elastic bands. This type of resistance exercise will help you build lean muscles, which will help you lose weight by increasing your metabolism. Do them every other day combined with moderate calorie cutbacks and some aerobic exercise to get fit quickly and not spend a fortune.

Many national health club chains sell memberships that are "transferable" to another person. Buying one of these second hand memberships is one way to avoid the expensive fees that a lot of health clubs charge. To find one, check the classified section of your local newspaper, the Penny Saver, or even e-Bay. Just be sure to check all the paperwork to see if there are any limitations, and verify with the gym that it is a valid membership before handing over any money.

Don't assume that all pharmacies will charge the same price to fill a prescription. If you are prescribed a medicine, call around to different pharmacies and ask how much it will cost to fill your prescription.

If you are trying to lose weight and don't want to spend money on a gym membership, don't forget that you burn calories performing everyday activities. In order to maximize the benefit, try parking at the far end of the parking lot, or taking the stairs instead of the elevator at work. It doesn't cost anything and you'll be surprised at how quickly these extra burned calories add up.