People focus way too much on how money affects wealth, but they need to remember that health is wealth. Put simply, a healthier lifestyle is equivalent to a wealthier one. People spend a lifetime working long hours so that they can get promoted, make more money, and seemingly lead a better life. However, iIf you don’t have your health then having money won’t do you any good, and I want to provide some examples to illustrate this.
You’ll find many personal finance enthusiasts tell you that spending money on a gym, or health club, is a complete waste of money. I will admit that some go a little over the top with expenses, but I certainly wouldn’t classify all of them as a waste of money. Studies have shown that when people have money vested in something they tend to use it more. Jogging is nice and provides many health benefits, but it’s also free. If you spend $50 a month on a gym membership you are more apt to go and use the gym, otherwise it’s akin to wasting money.
Medical bills are costly, and sometimes they aren’t necessary either. Obesity, high blood pressure, unhealthy sugar levels, bad cholesterol, can all lead to health complications throughout life. This complications can result in expensive hospital stay, costly prescriptions, and worst of all they result in poor quality of life. By eating right, and routinely exercising you can actually save a significant amount of money in life and live a longer one to boot.
As I stated previously, eating right and exercise can lead to a longer life. A longer life can lead to more years worked and thus more money saved. It used to be that people worked 30 years and retired, but with the phasing out of pensions, and eventually social security, people are being forced to work longer. It’s not uncommon for people to avoid retirement altogether. A healthier lifestyle will help make that achievable.
I like to go out and do a little partying every now and again. But those bar nights can really take a toll on your body. Likewise, eating out a restaurant can be a lot easier than shopping and preparing your own food, but it’s certainly not healthier and it costs a lot more. Sometimes being a homebody is not only good for your pocketbook, but your health as well. So the next time you have the urge to go out and splurge, rent a movie and cook a healthy meal!