As promised, I spent this last week reflecting on (and engaging in!) activities and treats that can be enjoyed while being poor. I thought about titling this post, "Be Poor, Feel Rich," but that's actually the exact mentality I'm trying to avoid. I don't want to feel rich; that brings with it the awful sense of entitlement which, as I mentioned last week, causes financial binging.
Instead, these are ways of enjoying the simple things in life, accepting that they're simple, and enjoying them for it. Luckily, simplicity and a return to a less-complicated lifestyle are very much in vogue right now, so we cheapies can maintain our social credibility while keeping a lid on our wallets.
I've categorized these into groups based on their wealthier counterparts, and will post one a day for the next week. Feel free to share your own tips for alternatives in the comments section!
1. Going to the gym
So, SO many great options here! I'm not going to lie, the idea of having a gym membership appeals to me a heck of a lot. Especially one of those "VIP" memberships that include tanning and (sound angelic chorus here) included child care. If there was ever a motivator to get in shape, the idea of having a break from watching my kids while doing it IS THAT MOTIVATOR. So, yeah, maybe when I'm not dirt-broke it's something I'll look into.
That's later.
For now, I can still enjoy a gym's health benefits without having to visit one. For starters, parks and nearby neighborhoods offer exciting sights for my baby to look at, while giving me ample room to walk and/or run. But that's obvious already.
One slightly less obvious option is to combine workout time with play time by organizing a running group. The couch to 5k program is a great one for beginning runners, and includes abundant breaks for walking and talking. Three days a week for eight weeks will take even the fitness flunkout to the point of running, non-stop, for thirty minutes or 3.1 miles. Productive, social, and actually secretly fun, this program is an awesome way to make up for the lack of gym time!
But fitness doesn't always have to include running, and if you know you are not a runner, it's something that can often get brushed aside. Expecially since we know that obesity rates are much higher among lower-income populations, this to me is an area where a little splurge might be worth it if it will make workouts a more regular part of your day. For example, a gym membership in my area would cost me about $20-$40 a month, or $35-$80 for both my husband and me. In contrast, a cheap set of weights and a well-reviewed workout dvd in a fitness area that interests me or fits with my schedule could cost as little as thirty. Even better, I recently discovered on hulu.com that they actually have some workouts available to watch for free online, so if things are really tight you can skip the cost of the dvd altogether!
One other secret along those lines is craigslist. Ever seen an infomercial for the Power 90 workout program? Expensive-looking, right? Well, there are plenty of people willing to part with their used dvd sets for significantly less than retail value. That's not the only one; many other dvds can be found this way.
Or, if you just HATE exercise but want to be in shape, you can buy a used treadmill or elliptical on craigslist for as cheap as 80-100. Granted, it won't be a fancy model, but anything that will work can be set up in front of a television or computer (or laptop!) to allow the viewing of all your favorite, free cable shows while you gradually grow numb to the pain of having to exercise while doing it. It's a big up-front purchase, but it's significantly cheaper than a gym membership and has a decent resale value, especially if you buy from the bottom end of the spectrum.
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