Does a Healthy Lifestyle Have To Be Expensive?

Does a healthy lifestyle have to break the bank?

Initially it might seem like it.

There is some trial and error before streamlining your go-to practices.

One big mistake I see a lot of people making is thinking they need to suddenly a bunch of hyped up specialty items (e.g. coconut oil) to be healthy. Fortunately - overpriced and over-hyped specialty items are NOT necessary!

I noticed this happening a lot when lurking in various healthy/diet/lifestyle Facebook groups. People were spending so much money on juice bar juices and foods like coconut oil and 100% grass-fed beef that they were literally going broke! To those people specifically I'd say: "You don't HAVE to consume coconut oil or grass-fed beef specifically. You can choose other less costly fats/oils and instead of beef which is expensive, choose poultry or wild fish/seafood. Eat more vegetables and chew thoroughly."

You also will save a lot of money by avoiding convenience products that are marketed to people who are living the paleo, Whole30, vegan, or keto lifestyles!

Generally speaking:

- Convenience products marketed to the general public who aren't focused on their health tend to be full of crap.

- Convenience products marketed to people who are looking for healthy foods are overhyped and overpriced!

You may or may not know this about me but I am a penny pincher. I love finding deals and saving money. It's a challenge I REALLY enjoy.

I see finances as an important aspect of overall health. Money is energy and it offers stability. If you're constantly spending beyond your means, waiting for your next paycheck, or behind on bills - that stress WILL affect your physical health. Here are a few of my tips which you might already do yourself. If you have any others to add email me or send me a DM on Instagram! 1. BUY IN BULK WHEN POSSIBLE. This can obviously depend on your living situation. If you're in NYC like me there's a good change you don't have a stand alone freezer or additional pantry space or much extra storage in general. If you DO, however, use it. Items I buy in bulk include meats (including seafood), frozen vegetables and fruits, certain nutritional supplements, canned tuna and salmon (wild, packed in water), and other staples like quinoa and raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar. Other staples you can buy in bulk include nut butters or nuts, and beans. I freeze a lot and buy a lot of frozen stuff. It saves me time and money and it's actually just as healthy since nutrient content diminishes the longer fresh foods are hanging around.

2. PAY ATTENTION TO DISCOUNTS AND CASH BACK PROGRAMS YOU GET WITH YOUR CREDIT CARD.

The Citi Double Cash credit card is my go-to card for grocery shopping.

3. SHOP ONLINE. If you buy in bulk and don't have a car - shopping online definitely works.

Besides food and supplements I also buy feminine products and toiletries/beauty products in bulk. Organic cotton tampons are half the price of what you'd find in a store when shopping on Amazon. Same story when it comes to a lot of toiletries/beauty products. 4. SHOP PRE-OWNED.

Did you know you can buy some unworn workout gear on Poshmark and Mercari?!

As you might know I LOVE Carbon38 BUT sometimes I can find those same brands - unworn, NWT (new with tags) - on Poshmark. If you aren't already on Poshmark, join with my referral code: AMIRAKAI or use my Poshmark links above. We'll both get a little kickback. ;-)

5. PURIFY YOUR OWN WATER.

Isn't it ridiculous how expensive something as basic as water is? I save money by purifying my own with a water distiller. Reverse osmosis filters are also great!

6. WORK OUT AT HOME.

I will always love gyms and athletic clubs. They're basically my second home and they're a great way to meet people. But if you need to save money, you can still get effective workouts at home.

You're welcome to try any of my livestream classes or join My Hot Body Project where I house my workout video library. I also have a few workouts posted to Youtube.

If you'd like to try one of my livestream classes, send me an email (Amira@HolisticHottie.com) for a free guest pass.