About Anna Platz

Anna Platz is the personal finance editor for GoodCentsSavings.com and an editor at the mortgage rate research website, ForTheBestRate.com. Anna is a self-professed personal finance, budgeting, and money saving nerd. At GoodCentsSavings.com, Anna shares ideas and knowledge that help us all live a little better on a little less. Our focus in on cutting spending on a personal and family level, increasing future savings, and living comfortably and realistically on a personal budget.

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3 Great Products That Help Save On Your Grocery Bill

April 30, 2013 By Anna Platz Leave a Comment

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, in 2011, the average American family spent $6,458 on food. More than half of that amount went to food purchased from the grocery store. With food prices rising annually, it’s no wonder more people are trying to find creative ways to cut back on grocery store spending. In addition to clipping coupons and avoiding impulse buys, a great way to reduce your grocery bill is to invest in some money-saving products for your home. Here are three that I think might be worth considering:

1. A Food Saver
Food savers are great little machines that preserve your food by vacuum sealing it to keep it fresh longer. This is great for people who often have leftovers or like to buy in bulk. There are several models of food savers out there, ranging anywhere from around $50-$200. Here’s one I found on Walmart’s website for $139.93. It’s not the cheapest out there, but it’s not the most expensive, either. At the time of this writing, the product had 4.5 out of 5 stars review.

2. Window Sill Herb Garden
Fresh herbs are great for cooking, but can be very expensive in the stores. Why not grow your own? Not only will you save money, you’ll add a little green space to your kitchen! Take a look at this one I found on Amazon for only $16.37.

If you want to save even more money, then forget the kit and just make your own! Grab a few small clay pots from the dollar store, fill them with soil and plant some herb seeds. Herbs are notoriously easy to grow, so they require little attention.

3. Deep Freezer
If you’ve got the extra space, owning a deep freezer can be a great investment, as it allows you to store a lot of frozen food. By keeping a large stash of frozen meats, veggies and other food items, you can reduce or eliminate the amount of food you throw away due to it going bad. And even if you don’t have a lot of space to spare, you can find chest freezers that are suited for smaller areas. Here’s one from Home Depot that got fantastic reviews.

Do you have any tried-and-true products that have helped reduce your grocery spending? Feel free to share!

Filed Under: Featured, Household Savings Tagged With: grocery savings, household savings, products, saving money

A Few Free Ways to Enjoy Spring

April 18, 2013 By Anna Platz Leave a Comment

With the weather getting warmer and the days getting longer, you might be feeling that urge to get out of the house and play! Even grown ups want to be out and about in the fresh Spring air, even if it means fighting a little pollen and hay fever. But for those of us who are trying to watch our pennies, the temptation to spend money when leaving the house is enough to keep us hunkered down indoors, even though we’d rather be out enjoying the sunshine. The good news is there are a number of free or low cost ways to enjoy springtime.

1. Go to the park.
Public parks are free to enter and are perfect locations for walking, jogging, picnicking and playing. Kids and adults alike can take advantage of this admission-free attraction, enjoying anything from a few games of Frisbee to snapping a few pretty spring-theme photos – after all, this is the perfect time of year to see robins, bluebirds, azaleas, daffodils and lots of other flora and fauna.

2. Check out free festivals.
A lot of cities host annual spring festivals that are free to attend. Here in Wilmington, we have the annual NC Azalea Festival, which draws thousands of people from all over the country. A wildly popular weekend extravaganza, The NC Azalea Festival involves several different events (some of which do require admission fees) from concerts to pageants to home and garden shows and more. The street fair is a free family-friendly event that has arts and craft vendors, food, music and more. Check out what’s happening in your city and you’ll most likely find one or two festivals nearby that offer free events.

3. Host a pot luck barbecue.
Spring is a great time to cook outdoors. The weather’s not too cold, not too hot and the mosquitoes and other pesky insects aren’t coming out in full force just yet (especially if you live in the South). Organize a family barbecue or invite some friends and neighbors. Make it a pot luck dinner, so that everyone can help pitch in on the expense. It’ll not only be a lot of fun, it’ll be a whole lot cheaper than dining out!

4. Start an outdoor exercise routine.
Whether you’ve got a bicycle you haven’t used in a while or you just want to rely on your own two feet, getting outside is a great way to get motivated to exercise. When you’re biking, skating, walking or jogging outdoors, there are fewer distractions and therefore a higher probability that you’ll do the exercise longer. Find out if your city has running/walking trails or simply refer back to #1 and head to your local park. Here in Wilmington, we have a beautiful Cross City Trail that is popular among walkers and joggers. It runs throughout the city, taking you past several scenic areas.

Budgeting Tips for Recent College Grads

April 16, 2013 By Anna Platz 1 Comment

Graduating from college is truly one of life’s milestones. It is just unfortunate that so many young adults take this big step into adulthood without a financial plan. All too often, young grads are caught up in their career path and anticipated new earning power. Typically, instead of figuring out a strategy for the future, they are considering how to spend those first few paychecks. Of course, they should be able to splurge a bit on a few indulgences; after all, they worked hard for their money and deserve a little bit of fun spending. However, this reward syndrome can easily get way out of control.

Learning how to manage their finances is something that young adults must put into practice. It will set them up for a more stable financial future and in these uncertain times that is essential. Considering that so many college grads begin the new chapter of their lives in debt is another reason that developing “financial smarts” is a necessity. A January 2013 report from Forbes.com revealed that the average graduate’s student loan debt was $27,253. That reflects a 58% increase from 2005, when it was $17,233. In light of the saying, “people don’t plan to fail – they fail to plan,” here are some budgeting tips for those new sheepskin recipients:

Establish a Budget
Review your entire situation and your goals for the future. That is, record your salary after taxes and deduct all of your fixed and unfixed expenses, such as rent, insurance, car payments, loan payments, gym memberships, and utilities. Don’t forget to include estimates for groceries, transportation, clothing, entertainment, charitable, and church donations. Finally, after you have an idea of what is left over, if you don’t already have one, open a savings account and start a retirement fund. Do not despair if you can only put a few dollars in each-something is always better than nothing and your salary stands to increase over the years. If you need help getting started, there are several excellent online sites such as budgettracker.com and budgetsimple.com. Just look around for one that appeals to you.

Pay Cash
College grads receive a barrage of “Pre-Approved” unsolicited credit cards in the mail. Don’t let this bombardment of free credit flatter you; relying on credit will put you in dire financial straits in no time. Especially avoid store credit cards. Never fall for the line, “Well, did you know you could save 20% on your total purchase today if you sign up for our store’s credit card?” The fine print on these plans usually uncovers a laundry list of stipulations and steep fees for not paying off the monthly balance in full. You’ve been warned – it’s just not worth it.

Purchase with Care
Before plunking down $125 for that cute purse or snazzy jacket, reflect on how many hours you’d have to put in at work to earn that money. Perhaps it’s not really worth all that, hm? Look for sales and don’t turn your nose up at buying items second hand. Whatever it is, never buy it unless you absolutely love it.

Learn to Cook
A 2012 article in the “Christian Science Monitor” noted the following:

“The average American spends $232 per month eating meals prepared outside the home. With 18.2 meals eaten outside the home in an average month, these meals outside the home costs a person $12.75.”

For many young adults, this figure may be even higher.

Planning menus, buying groceries, preparing your own meals, and brown bagging it for lunch can save the average American close to $3,000 a year! Bet you can think of better ways to spend three grand rather than on soggy fries and a greasy burger!

Learning to cook for yourself has never been easier, thanks to the popularity of TV cooking shows and instructional videos online. The library is another excellent resource and has so many helpful choices for beginning cooks to choose from, such as “The Cook’s Illustrated” series and the “5 Ingredients or Less” cookbooks.

Save on Entertainment
The cost of an average date night looks like this:

$20 – 2 movie tickets
$40 to $80 – dinner for 2-hope no one wants popcorn and a drink, because that will tack on another $20!

Learn to make savvy entertainment choices that will help you stay on your budget. Consider free activities, matinees, and discount coupons. How about a walk on the beach, DVD from the library, and a picnic in the park or home cooked meal? Aren’t the “best things in life” free anyway?

Perhaps the most important thing for new college graduates to realize is that their former academic advisers will not be replaced by a team of consultants ready to lead them into life in the “real world.” Getting on the road to financial freedom is 100% up to them!

Filed Under: Budgeting, Featured, Household Savings Tagged With: budgeting, college, debt, finances

Vegetable Gardening on a Budget

April 14, 2013 By Anna Platz Leave a Comment

Planting a summer vegetable garden is a rewarding project that gives back ten-fold. It’s a great way to improve your diet and get a little exercise in the process. If you’re short on garden space, no worries – container gardening on a porch, deck or patio is even easier. Don’t be fooled into thinking that you’ll have to drop a bale of cash at the local garden center. Although it will no doubt be a frequent stop, there are other more affordable ways to plant a thriving vegetable garden.

Second Hand Tools
Before going into debt for a collection of shiny new tools, take a look around the second hand shops. Consider also that yard sales, craigslist, and Freecycle, are excellent places to find gently used rakes, trowels, pruning shears, hoes, and maybe even a fetching garden hat.

Read Up Before You Buy
Avoid the temptation of purchasing those cute little starter pots of tomatoes, peppers, and zucchini. First, make a list of what you’d like to grow and then read up on what it takes. Check into which zone you are in, how much sun, water, and attention each variety demands, and if there are any native pests, including Bambi and Thumper. Next, revise your list.

Start Small with Seeds
It is much more economical to begin your garden with seeds rather than plants. If you start the process early enough, you can save quite a bit of money. Seeds are usually planted indoors to keep them out of harsh winter weather. All you need is some potting mix and something small to sprout them in. Old take out containers and egg cartons work really well.

Plot Preparation
Instead of buying several cubic feet of bagged soil from the garden center, explore other options. Individuals often have “fill dirt” for sale at a fraction of the cost that can be mixed with compost and peat moss. Have you been composting? Here’s the chance to put it to work! Before creating your own soil blend, read up and confirm that your ingredients will be beneficial to your veggies, that is-check for nitrogen and drainage requirements.

Divide and Conquer Creatively
Whether you are planting in raised beds or rows, there are all sorts of creative ways to divide up the plot. For example, look for second hand treated timber, old window frames, used bricks, and ladders. A wonderful resource book for inspiration is; “Square Foot Gardening” by Mel Bartholomew.

Another way to have a stress free garden is with the new “Topsy Turvy” containers. These cool hanging planters keep peppers, tomatoes, and strawberries in the sun and away from plant fungi and pests.

Community Gardens
A new trend that has really taken off is that of community gardens. Many towns throughout the U.S. have recognized the many benefits of gardening and are making it accessible to those who don’t have the space or know how for a home plot of their own. Often, land is donated, a water source is designated, and participants pay a small fee for the plot preparation and plantings. Typically, spots are assigned to individuals and they are then responsible for the upkeep of their little garden space. It is a very pleasant way to get started and provides a wonderful social outlet. Plus, novice gardeners are bound to benefit from seasoned green thumbs! Your local Agricultural Extension Service should have information on any such activities.

Window Sill Gardens
If this all sounds like too much too soon – no worries! A window sill herb garden is small on care, but big on return. Imagine…potatoes with parsley, pasta with pesto, grilled salmon with dill, lemon balm tea, fresh mint for Mojitos, rosemary focaccia….yum!

Filed Under: Featured, Household Savings Tagged With: gardening, savings, tips, vegetables

Low Cost Health Food

April 10, 2013 By Anna Platz Leave a Comment

The obesity crisis in America not only drains the health care system, it also prevents millions of individuals from experiencing the highest quality of life possible. A Gallup poll in 2012 revealed that more than one in four Americans is classified as obese. This problem encompasses all ages, races, sexes, and socio-economic groups. It is no secret that the combination of a poor diet and lack of exercise are the root causes of this epidemic. Even for those not suffering from a weight problem, dining on healthy fare should be a goal, because it is simply the right thing to do. Take it from the “Father of Medicine” – Hippocrates: “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.”
Many often make the excuse that eating healthy is just too expensive. Here are some suggestions that dispel that rumor!

Affordable Organic
No this is not an oxymoron. Now more than ever, it is easier to find locally grown and organic produce. It is still taking some time for supply to keep up with the demand, however, taking the time to seek out produce that is both local and organic should yield some positive results.

Choose Carefully
The idea of a more plant-based diet has really taken off in the past few years with bestsellers like, “Food Matters” and “Forks Over Knives.” Incorporating more fruits, vegetables and whole grains into the diet is always going to be beneficial. If those products are organic – great; however, if that is not a cost-effective option, don’t worry. It is still far better to include them in your diet, organic or not. The annually updated food lists from the Environmental Working Group, known as the “Dirty Dozen” and the “Clean Fifteen,” are helpful resources for making wise choices.

Buy Bulk
The whole foods healthy basics are super cheap, especially when you buy in bulk. Be aware that many of these items keep longer in the refrigerator or freezer, so free up some space. Healthy bulk item suggestions are: brown rice, oatmeal, steel cut oats, quinoa, dry beans, raw nuts and seeds, stone ground grits, cornmeal, flours, dried fruits, and even pasta.

Skip Soft Drinks
Despite the fact that soda has been linked to obesity, diabetes, dental health problems and other health risks, Americans continue to consume sugary carbonated beverages. A recent Gallup poll revealed that 48% of Americans drink soda on a daily basis. A March 2013 article in the Huffington Post reported that sugary drinks are associated with 180,000 deaths around the world:

“As many as 180,000 deaths around the world are linked with sugary drink consumption, according to new research presented at a meeting of the American Heart Association.

Specifically, sugar-sweetened drinks — including sodas, sports drinks and fruit drinks — are linked with 133,000 deaths from diabetes, 6,000 deaths from cancer, and 44,000 deaths from heart disease.”

Why then would anyone pursuing a healthy lifestyle waste money on this liquid poison? Make your own soda with real fruit juice and seltzer water. It’s healthy, natural, fizzy, tastes incredibly better than the artificial stuff, and beats soda every time in terms of a common sense alternative!

Join a Farmer’s Cooperative
In many communities, farmers’ cooperatives exist. They provide the chance for members to buy direct and sell weekly or monthly food boxes of a combination of in-season items. Some may even offer baked goods, dairy products, eggs, seafood and meats. They are all independent and operate differently. That is, some may require a small start up fee in the winter to pay for seeds and plants; others may ask that you pick up, while some may deliver. Your local Agricultural Extension Service should be able to direct you to such an organization.

Grow Your Own-Make Your Own
The rewards of growing your own fruits, veggies, and herbs are priceless. Not only is it an excellent learning opportunity, it gets you outside and is a productive and healthy way to spend a little time. Of course not everyone has a sunny spot for a home garden, which is why growing herbs inside is a nice option.

Learning to make your own food products is another step on the path to maintaining a healthy diet on a budget. Cookbooks from the library and millions of YouTube videos will amp up your cooking skills in no time! Freezing, canning, and using inexpensive appliances such as a slow cooker and dehydrator, allow a home cook to save hundreds of dollars each year – think soups, stews, kale chips, jerky, dog treats, power bars, and so on. Additionally, your end product will be free of bad ingredients and tailor made to suit the tastes of your family!

Here’s a fun idea: With summer fast approaching, why not try making your own popsicles? Read the ingredients in the ones at the super market in case you need a little incentive! Invest in some sturdy molds and blend up some fresh fruit choices like mango orange, pineapple banana, watermelon lime, cinnamon peach, coconut, and homemade fudgesicles – a definite favorite!

Filed Under: Featured, Household Savings, Shopping Tagged With: cooking, food, health, saving

Ways to Force Yourself to Save Money

April 6, 2013 By Anna Platz Leave a Comment

Saving money doesn’t come easily to a lot of people. It’s one thing to open a savings account, but it’s another thing entirely to have the discipline to contribute to it. Likewise, just because you add money to your savings doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll resist the temptation to spend it later. If you’re the type who has trouble saving money, here are a few tips to force you into the habit:

1. Sign up for automatic transfers.
This is probably the most effective method for saving money. Have your savings account linked to your checking account and arrange for a certain amount to be automatically drafted from one to the other every month. Whether it’s $10 or $100, the steady contributions will add up more quickly if you don’t have to think about it.

2. Commit to putting spare change into a jar every day.
Even if it’s only a few cents, make it a daily ritual to add change into a jar. Then, once a month, roll the change and take it to the bank. Some people like exchanging their spare coins for cash through one of those change counting machines you see in grocery stores. While these are great inventions, they aren’t very conducive to saving money. For one thing, these machines charge a service fee, so you’re not really getting all the money you saved. Secondly, you exchange the coins for cash – and having cash in your hand makes it very tempting to spend it. You’re better off just taking the coins directly to your bank and depositing them.

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Filed Under: Budgeting, Featured, Quick Tips Tagged With: budgeting, saving money, savings, tips

Pros and Cons of Joint vs Separate Accounts for Couples

April 3, 2013 By Anna Platz Leave a Comment

When you share your life with someone, you share a lot of responsibility – particularly when it comes to finances. Sharing your money with someone also takes a certain amount of trust. But whether you choose to collectively pool your money together or keep it separate, the choice is ultimately a personal decision that should be made after carefully considering the pros and cons of each option.

The Benefits of Joint Accounts

One of the biggest benefits of sharing a joint account with your significant other, is the ability to compile your money together and (ideally) acquire a larger balance. Two incomes are better than one, after all. So if either of you needs to pay bills, go shopping for groceries or take care of unexpected car repairs, you’ll most likely have a broader base to withdraw from.

The other benefit involves interest. This applies mostly to savings accounts. With two people contributing instead of one, you are more likely to build a higher balance, which will accrue more interest. If you share an interest-bearing account with your significant other, and you’re both responsible about making regular contributions, you could likely double your savings in a shorter amount of time than if you were contributing to it alone.

Lastly, sharing a joint account with your special someone can be a great exercise in sharing your assets equally, which is something every couple has to practice in one way or another. By sharing your money, you’re ultimately saying that there is no “my money” or “your money.” The funds that are acquired are to be used equally. However, this is often one of the hardest aspects of joint accounts. Many couples have a hard time letting go of the idea that their money is “theirs.” This is especially true of couples in which one partner makes more than the other, which brings us to the biggest drawback of joint accounts – the temptation to control the funds.

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Filed Under: Budgeting, Credit & Loans, Investing Tagged With: banking, budgeting, finances

Low Cost Entertaining Ideas

March 30, 2013 By Anna Platz Leave a Comment

Got a family reunion or other large gathering coming up? Why not plan a “potluck picnic,” where everyone brings something to share?

Looking for a way to entertain friends or family that won’t break the bank? Here are some simple solutions to throwing a great bash without spending too much cash!

1. BYO Wine Tasting Party

Have some oenophile friends? Consider throwing a wine tasting party in which each guest (or couple) brings a bottle of their favorite kind of wine to share with the group. This way, the bill for the bar isn’t all on you and you’ll have a great platform for conversation among your guests. Just buy some simple hors d’oeuvres or make your own to give the guests something to pair their wine with. Chopped fruit, wheat crackers, a selection of cheeses and some chocolate would do fine.

2. Potluck

Potlucks are great for large family gatherings, where there’s going to be a lot of people to feed. Instead of burdening the hosts with all the food responsibilities, a potluck encourages the guests to bring something to share. You could create a sign-up sheet ahead of time, so everyone knows what everyone else is bringing so there won’t be too much of a certain thing.

3. BYO Crafting Party

Do you have some friends who love arts and crafts or other DIY stuff? Why not host a laid-back gathering in which you and your guests bring materials to work on a craft project? This can be a fun way to learn new projects, while enjoying the company of friends or family. Invest in some basic supplies that everyone can share like glue, scissors, pencils, a protective tablecloth, etc., and you’re all set.

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Filed Under: Budgeting, Featured Tagged With: budgeting, entertaining, party ideas, saving money

Smart Ways to Drop that C-Note

March 26, 2013 By Anna Platz Leave a Comment

In days gone by, having a $100 bill in your pocket meant something. The prospects for how to indulge just one piece of folding money with Mr. Franklin’s picture on it presented all sorts of possibilities. Today, it may take that much to gas up the mini-van or SUV or barely cover a matinee and fast food dinner for a family of four. So, what are a few smart ways to spend one hundred dollars?

Invest in a water saving shower heads
Not exactly exciting; however, a low-flow shower head can pay you back many times over. The cost for an EnergyStar approved one ranges between $15 and $35. They are fairly easy to install, so the change is being applied to your time. Remember, “time is money.” Look for a shower head that is approved by the EPA’s Water-Sense program. They are designed to produce 2.5 gallons of water per minute less than the standard models. According to the EPA’s representative, Chandler von Schrader, “If there are three people in your house who typically take 10-minute showers, a low-flow shower head could save you up to $170 per year.” OK multiply that by the number of showers you have and check out the return on that investment!

Grow your own
A full-blown garden will cost considerably more than $100, but a small kitchen version can be a surprising money saver. Growing culinary herbs is a fun, easy, and money saving way to amp up your recipes. Especially with spring and summer produce on the way, there is nothing tastier than cooking with fresh herbs. Can you relate? Pasta with pesto~lemon dill sauce for fish~chicken roasted with sage and rosemary~new potatoes with parsley…need more inspiration? Check here.

There are herb garden starter kits available at big box stores and online. Here is a link to one on Amazon.

Chef Robert Irvine of the Food Network’s Restaurant Impossible estimates that if you buy the 1-ounce packets of fresh herbs at the supermarket, the cost for those averages $6 each. That computes to $90 a pound! Even if your tabletop herb garden produces only 3 ounces every two months for six months, the return on your investment is considerable!

Be on the lookout for treasures
There are definitely risky things to purchase with the expectation of doubling your money or better. Let’s not forget about all of of those Beanie Babies, and Hummel figurines! However, there are a few items out there that collectors will pay big bucks for. Some interesting ones are cast iron skillets, vintage children’s costumes, Life Magazines, old cookbooks, automobile manuals, and colored golf balls.

Rick Harrison of the History Channels’ Pawn Stars, suggests that old Zippo lighters are a sure bet. Before the advent of plastic disposable lighters, the Zippo was an iconic fixture throughout the 1930’s, 40’s, and 50’s – think Cary Grant, Humphrey Bogart and Steve McQueen. The old metal ones with the hinged tops have been selling very well on places like eBay and HipSwap. In fact, they are a huge favorite among Japanese collectors and have fetched as much as $5,000!

So before you blow that one hundred dollar bill too quickly, consider how to make it last!

Filed Under: Budgeting, Featured Tagged With: budgeting, saving money, shopping

Low Cost Ways to Exercise

March 23, 2013 By Anna Platz 1 Comment

Walking, jogging and running are great workouts and don’t cost a thing!

If you’re trying to make good on your New Year’s resolution to exercise, but can’t justify those high-priced gym memberships, you should check out these bank account-friendly workouts:

1. Run or walk around your neighborhood. If you live in an area that’s safe, well-lit and low on traffic, you should take full advantage by going for a walk or jog at least once a week. Running and walking are both great ways to get your heart rate going and improve your energy levels.

2. Search online or visit yard sales for used exercise equipment. Fitness equipment can be pretty expensive, and the sad truth is, most people who invest the money in these pricey items end up selling them or letting them collect dust. If you want to start exercising and have the extra space to accommodate the equipment, why not shop for a bargain? Another idea would be to borrow some equipment from a friend who isn’t using it at the moment or work out some kind of trade. It will certainly be cheaper than going to a gym, but you’ll need to be good about disciplining yourself to work out regularly at home.

3. Use steps or stairs. If you have steps or stairs in your home, you can utilize them in your workout routine. Just be careful, especially if you’re exercising alone. A fall on your staircase could cause serious injury. If you don’t have stairs in your home, you might try finding a safe, public place to exercise instead. Remember the famous scene in Rocky, where Sylvester Stallone runs up the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art? Surely you can find a similar place in your city. And what stair-running routine would be complete without playing the Rocky Theme on your MP3 player?

4. Do some “couch crunches.” Just because you’re sitting on the sofa doesn’t mean you can’t work out at the same time! Sit upright on your couch and repeatedly move your legs up and inward, toward your abdomen. This is also a great way to entertain yourself during commercial breaks.

5. Dance! Even if you have to wait until no one else is home, close the curtains and lock the doors, you really should dance. Crank up the music and just dance. Who cares if you look ridiculous? Dancing is a fantastic way to improve your cardio, not to mention your mood. I once heard of a stay-at-home mom who made it a point to dance along with Ellen DeGeneres every time her talk show came on. It not only got her up and moving, it helped her start her day off on a fun note.

6. Spend a day at a local farm. There are lots of cool farms that offer pick-your-own produce or allow volunteers to come out and work in exchange for some of their product. This is great for people who love being outdoors and enjoy locally-grown food. Believe me, after a day of farm work, you’ll be tired, sore and happy – plus, you might be able to score some healthy food for later. It’s a double win!

7. Get paid to work out by taking on a part-time job that involves some physical labor. Whether it’s moving stock in a grocery store, landscaping, house cleaning or dog walking, any job that gets you up and moving can make you feel more productive and help you stay active.

8. Go swimming. Swimming is the perfect workout for people who need something low-impact. If you live near water, great! If you don’t, you may need to check out your city’s public pool facilities.

9. Don’t just drink your milk – lift it! It may sound totally random, but doing 10-20 lifts with your milk jug every morning can help you build strength in your arms. Reward yourself with a nice bowl of low-calorie cereal!

10. Take a hike. No, really. Find out if there are any good nature trails in your area and use them. Most trails are owned/maintained by the city so they’re free to use. Just make sure you wear appropriate shoes and clothing, pay attention to the posted rules and stay hydrated.

Do you have any other suggestions for low-cost exercise ideas? We’d love to hear them! Let us know in the comments.

Filed Under: Budgeting, Featured Tagged With: budgeting, exercise, saving money

About Anna Platz

3 Great Products That Help Save On Your Grocery Bill

A Few Free Ways to Enjoy Spring

Related Topics

Budgeting Tips for Recent College Grads

Vegetable Gardening on a Budget

Low Cost Health Food

Ways to Force Yourself to Save Money

Pros and Cons of Joint vs Separate Accounts for Couples

The Benefits of Joint Accounts

Low Cost Entertaining Ideas

Smart Ways to Drop that C-Note

Low Cost Ways to Exercise

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