by Moe Zilla

Created on: March 16, 2009   Last Updated: December 16, 2011

Exercise can give you the energy to survive difficult economic times, and it also helps relieve some of the stress. But what if it's your fitness program that's causing your economic stress? Staying healthy can get expensive - but it doesn't have to be. Here's some tips on how to stay fit without breaking your budget!

1. Cancel your gym memberhsip

That's right - gym memberships are your biggest health-related expense. Just multiply your monthly dues by 12, and you'll realize it costs hundreds of dollars a year. Put that money in your pocket, and then find alternate ways to exercise. If you're desperate for a gym's equipment, make fewer visits each month and just pay for them individually.

After all, do you really need to pay a gym just for walking and bicycling? The gym's "value add" is the ability to monitor your heart rate while performing these activities - but if that's important to you, you can buy a cheap, wrist-mounted heart monitor for less than $30. Performing exercise at regular intervals is more important for staying fit than the specific form that the exercise takes. My roommate even tried to devise his own weight training once - just by lifting up heavier and heavier pieces of furniture!

2. Healthy but cheap

You may be surprised by the second biggest health-related expense: diet foods! These are always more expensive than regular foods because they cater to a smaller audience and have been specially developed by nutritional consultants. But in most cases, the healthiest foods are also the cheapest: fresh fruits and vegetables. Preparing your own meals is always cheaper than buying pre-packaged items. With a little extra work, you can create meals that are just as healthy - and because you know what you like to eat, they'll even be tastier!

3. Mini Work-outs

There's a secret tip for exercising and saving money that is terribly underappreciated: drive less and walk more. Regardless of the price of gas, driving will always be a little more expensive than walking. Get in the habit of parking a few blocks away and then walking the extra distance. (And if you've got an errand to a nearby store, don't take the car at all!) This trick burns extra calories to help you stay fit - and over time it will add extra dollars back into your budget!

4. Work-out tapes

Aerobic workouts became popular for a simple reason: they work. (They strengthen the heart and improve circulation through the body, and they've been proven to reduce stress and even depression!) There's literally thousands of aerobic work-out tapes which you can watch in your home. One advantage of a home work-out is you know exactly how long the exercises will take. And it doesn't even involve a trip to and from the gym.

5. Re-negotiate your Insurance

I have a friend who lowered their blood pressure to normal levels through careful dieting and exercise. Their insurance company agreed to lower their health insurance rates - since they no longer fell into the "high blood pressure" demographic. If you're really able to attain a healthier physical state - see if your health insurance will give you a financial reward!

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