Senior Health Tips That Will Save You Money

Staying healthy is important for living a long, healthy life. Plus, it’s been shown that staying in good health can have a direct, positive impact on your finances.

Staying healthy is always a hot topic, and especially now given public health concerns. Staying healthy is important for living a long, healthy life. Plus, it’s been shown that staying in good health can have a direct, positive impact on your finances. And, experts say that healthcare costs can be one of the biggest expenses in retirement. So, you should do all that you can to remain physically and financially healthy. While you will likely still plan for healthcare costs in retirement, these tips can help you lower your risks:

Take a walk

Going for a walk is one of the easiest, least stressful ways to stay healthy and active. Along with other preventative measures, walking regularly can help extend your life. However, depending on your specific situation, going for daily walks may not be an option for you. If it isn’t, you have other options for staying healthy and saving money along the way.

Prepare your meals

While convenient, packaged food can end up having a negative impact on your health over time, particularly when eaten in excess. Preparing your own meals lets you control each individual ingredient, both for personal taste and health. Cooking yourself allows you to reduce the amount of oil or butter used in many dishes, or sometimes substitute them for alternatives. And, buying ingredients to prepare your own dishes will be far more cost effective than buying prepared meals.

Get quality sleep

We all know that sleep is important, and it only grows in importance as you get older. A good night’s sleep has been linked to improved heart health, reduced anxiety and depression, and overall improved wellbeing. But, sleep can become a bit more difficult for some of us to find as we get older. To achieve regular, quality sleep you may need to adjust your sleep schedule, or maybe change the position that you sleep in. Starting each day well-rested will improve your overall mental sharpness and attitude.

Avoid eating out

Ordering takeout or stopping by your favorite restaurant is a tasty treat, but it can also have its drawbacks. While you can surely find some healthy options, eating out is rarely as healthy as a meal you could prepare yourself. And, regular splurging could slowly derail budgeting or financial planning. This isn’t to say that you should never go out to eat, it should simply be done in moderation. This way, you can save money while making healthy choices.

Keep a food diary

Accountability is one of the most important aspects of maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle. When looking to improve your eating habits, a food diary is a great way to hold yourself accountable. This allows you to keep a detailed record of your meal and snack habits. From there, you can evaluate your habits and see where changes can be made. This will allow you to set measurable goals, and hold yourself accountable by recording what you eat each day. For a financial angle, you can also record the cost of each meal. This may help you identify areas where you could be saving money in your diet.

Start an active hobby

This will depend both on your personal interests and the access your location affords you. There are numerous active hobbies for seniors to participate in, depending on where you live and your circumstances. If you have access to a community or senior center, there may be organized games or activities for you to participate in. Even if the offerings don’t seem immediately appealing, give some of them a chance. You may surprise yourself.

Start a Garden

Spending time outdoors and eating fresh veggies are both good for your health, and starting your own garden can help you accomplish both. If you don’t have your own yard or land to grow on, you may be able to find a community garden in your area. And, there’s a wide range of fruits, vegetables, and plants that will grow in many different climates. So, you’ll have some options depending on your location. Spending time outdoors in the sun and fresh air can also help you set a bit of a routine. Plus, if you’re growing fruits or vegetables, you’ll be able to enjoy your hard work with a snack or by bringing fresh ingredients to the kitchen. Not only is it satisfying to eat and cook with food you’ve grown yourself, it also saves money. Starting a garden is a hobby that comes with a slew of benefits, and it’s another great way for seniors to save money and stay healthy.

Quit Smoking

While this may seem obvious (or completely irrelevant), it bears repeating. Not only can smoking cause cancer, it can be extremely damaging to your respiratory system, even after use of habitual smoking. Plus, cigarettes have only gotten more expensive. While quitting is certainly no easy feat, it is worth giving some serious consideration if you’re looking to improve your physical and financial health.

Get Some Sun (and Sunscreen)

Getting outside and into the sun is good for you. Vitamin D has been linked to improved bone health and better moods in seniors. But, as with any good thing, too much can be a problem. While you should plan to spend some time in the sun for your health, you should also plan ahead with sunscreen.

Remember your Mental Health

Too often when we think about being “healthy,” that thought only extends to our physical health. While your physical health is obviously important, you should remember to never neglect your mental health. Poor mental health can have an immediate reflection on your physical health.

There are plenty of health tips that will save you money as a senior, it’s up to you to determine which will work with your lifestyle. In some cases, you may want to make an overall change in your lifestyle, in which case these senior health tips will surely point you in the right direction. If you’re looking to change your financial situation, you should speak with a financial advisor.