Quick guide to staying healthy on a budget

It’s often thought that being healthy is an expensive affair. But, we’re here to show you otherwise. This guide is here to prove that being on a budget doesn't mean that you have to compromise on nutrition. With proper planning, you can have a healthy balanced meal even on a budget. Here are some tips on how to stay healthy on a budget. 

1. Have a plan

Your planning should start with your meals for the week or however long you are planning to shop for. Planning your meals beforehand will help you to take a look at the big picture and make sure all your meals are healthy. Once you decide on your meals you can plan the recipes for those meals. This will help you to only purchase the ingredients for the meals that you’re planning to cook and not waste anything you buy. Another important thing to remember is to check your fridge before you start planning your meals. Take a look and see if there are any unused ingredients or leftovers you can incorporate into your meals for the upcoming week. 

2. Make a shopping list

The greatest thing about having a shopping list is that it helps to make your shopping quick and efficient. This will ensure that you will only purchase the ingredients you need and reduce impulse purchases. It will also help you buy everything you want in one go and avoid extra trips to purchase things that you forgot. 

3. Cook at home

 Takeaway/eating is one of the most expensive items on anyone’s expense list. When you crunch the numbers it shows that you can generally feed a family of four for the same amount it costs for two people to eat at a restaurant. So, by making it a habit to cook at home, you can both save money and eat healthily.

If you’re not a big fan of cooking at home, try cooking all your meals for the week in one day so that you don't have to look forward to cooking every day. 

4. Don't shop when you're hungry 

No one makes good decisions when they’re hangry! This applies to shopping as well. When you’re hungry you’re more likely to buy unnecessary things and veer away from your plans (i.e. shopping lists). Another thing is that when you're hungry, you're more likely to buy junk food. This will end up costing you money and ruining your healthy diet.

5. Buy in bulk

It is a well-known fact that items are generally cheap when you buy in bulk. When you want to be healthy on a budget, you can use this to your advantage. Even if you can't buy everything in bulk, identify the items that you use regularly and purchase them in large quantities. This can also save you a lot of trips to the grocery store which can be a money saver in itself. But, be sure to only buy the quantity of produce that you can use before it goes bad. 

 You don't have to break the bank to be healthy. Once you identify your routines and plan well, you can easily maintain a healthy lifestyle on a budget.