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A Healthy Approach to the Credit Crunch

According to research by pay consultants Industrial Relations Services the gap between average pay rises and the cost of living is at its biggest in almost 20 years.

According to research by pay consultants Industrial Relations Services the gap between average pay rises and the cost of living is at its biggest in almost 20 years. It comes as no surprise then to learn that people are finding it harder to cope financially.

The current economic climate has been well publicised, from rising day-to-day living costs to airlines going out of business; but there are still a number of areas where you can save yourself some money, whilst enjoying a healthier lifestyle too.

It is important to understand how much transport costs have risen across the board due to the rise in petrol and diesel prices, which as a result has affected the public transport companies as well as private car and van drivers. In some circumstances, walking may be a consideration as an option of arriving at your chosen destination. The benefits of walking are two-fold; you could save money on fuel costs, and get yourself more physically fit at the same time. Jumping in your car to nip out to the local shop for a newspaper may be considered more convenient but by walking the same journey time and time again you will feel better - both physically and financially.

The cost of transporting goods across the country has also had an impact on food prices in the supermarkets. You can save money on fresh fruit and vegetables by going to a local farm shop where they grow their own and sell it on the premises. Farm shops often sell organic produce at a lot less than the supermarkets and if your most convenient one is close by then you could cycle or walk to it, since you won’t have a trolley load to take back home with you.

An even cheaper method of sourcing fresh produce for you and your family is to have an attempt at growing it yourself. The cost of seeds is very low and the exercise you’ll get from spending time in the outdoors: digging, weeding and planting in the fresh air, will also do you the world of good.

Being a member of a private gym is far from cheap these days and if for example you paid £40 a month, you could be better off using this money to buy yourself a mountain bike or rowing machine and still have change left out of the £480 you would potentially spend on a gym in one year.

Being more active may help to extend your life expectancy and in these tough financial times, could save you money as well. If you’re thinking more about your health in general you could also cut your costs each month when you compare life insurance policies and consider the type of cover you actually need.

Isla Campbell writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.