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Do Fitness and Frugality Go Together?

April 19, 2021 By MelissaB 9 Comments

Fitness and Frugality

Maybe it’s just because of the impending spring-like weather, but it seems like I’ve seen a large number of fitness-related posts on many of the personal finance sites that I read.  This made me pose the question, do fitness and frugality go together?

Ways Fitness and Frugality Go Together

The answer is complicated.  Fitness and frugality can go together.  Think about this–by its very definition, frugality is the rationing and careful spending of resources.  In being frugal, we carefully budget our money.  We carefully check over the fliers and find the best deals on groceries.  Eventually, as we continue doing these things, they become second nature.  We do them almost without consciously knowing that we are.  It becomes a way of life.

Fitness is very much the same.

Ration Resources

In being fit, we ration our resources, eating only what our body needs.  This can lead to a slimmer physique and a reduced grocery bill.  There are also other ways being fit can help us ration our resources

Not Buying Junk Food

Save on Groceries by Limiting Junk FoodJunk food is expensive, and it also can be a contributing factor for piling on the pounds.  If your fit and healthy, you’ll likely buy more natural ingredients like vegetables, fruits, healthy grains, and proteins.  These can help you stay fit and lower your grocery bill.

Not Going to Restaurants

Even if you eat what you think is a healthy salad at a restaurant, you’re likely consuming many more calories, fat, and sugar than you think.  Plus, restaurant food isn’t cheap!  If you eat at home more, you’ll not only save money, but you’ll eat healthier because you know exactly what is going into your meals.  As a result, you’ll feel better.

Track Our Progress

We frugal people keep close track of how we are spending our resources and are constantly trying to find ways to improve our outcomes.

This skill can easily translate to fitness.  We can keep track of our fitness progress while also trying to run a faster mile, bench press more, and do more sit-ups and pull-ups.  This drive can make us fitter over the years.

Lower Medical Costs

People who are frugal are patient.  They’re used to waiting for a good deal.  They’re used to waiting to see their retirement grow, knowing that each bit they invest will help secure their future.

Likewise, in fitness, each exercise you do and each healthy food you eat helps future you by reducing your long-term medical costs.  Ideally, the more fit you are, the less you need to spend on medical bills in the future.

Final Thoughts

Fitness can be expensive if you let it.  You can pay for a monthly gym pass.  You can buy the latest exercise equipment.  But you don’t have to.

If you are frugal, you can find ways to save money while getting fit and improving your lifestyle.  Simply improve your diet and find frugal ways to exercise like walking, biking, running, or lifting weights at home.

Read More

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Filed Under: Frugality, Saving Tagged With: fitness, Frugality, Personal Finance, saving money

How to Authorize Another Person to Your Costco Membership

April 5, 2021 By MelissaB Leave a Comment

How Many People Can Be on Your Costco Membership?

Costco continues to be a popular chain in the United States, and it’s growing throughout the world.  As of 2020 there were over 550 Costco stores in the United States.  While the vast majority of Costco members renew their membership every year, there are still some Americans who do not want to pay for a Costco membership.  Luckily, Costco makes allowances for that.  If you don’t currently have a Costco account, you’ll want to understand Costco’s guest policy as well as how many people can be on your Costco membership.

Costco’s Guest Policy

Any member can bring up to one guest with them to the store.  However, only Costco members are allowed to make purchases.  If your guest wants to make a purchase, you will need to buy the items, and your friend will need to pay you back.

How Many People Can Be on Your Costco Membership?

Each Costco member who has a Gold Star membership is allowed to have one additional person on their membership.  This person must be in the same household and 18 years or older.

How at Authorize Another Person to Your Costco Membership

Adding an authorized user to your Costco membership is simple.  Just sign in to your account, click “My Account,” and go to “Account Details” to add the person you would like.   Then, that person can pick up their membership card at the local Costco you choose.

You can also easily change authorized users using the same steps.

How Much Is a Costco Membership?

Is a Costco Membership Worth It When Living Alone?
Photo by Henry & Co. on Unsplash

For people who don’t own a business, Costco offers two main membership types:

Gold Star Membership

A Gold Star Membership is Costco’s most basic type of membership.  This membership costs $60 per year, allows you one free household card, and is valid at any Costco worldwide.

Executive Membership

If you shop at Costco frequently or have a large family or hungry teens, you may want to consider upgrading to an Executive Membership, which costs $120.

An Executive Membership also includes one free household card and is valid at any Costco worldwide.  However, it has additional, significant benefits.  These include annual 2% reward on qualifying Costco purchases (this check is sent to use once per year, usually in the month your renewal is due), additional benefits on Costco Travel products and increased savings on other Costco services.

We have an Executive Membership, and each year, our 2% reward check is greater than the additional $60 this membership costs over the Gold Star Membership, essentially making this upgrade free.  Plus, we reap all the other benefits of an Executive Membership.

Final Thoughts

If you are on the fence about getting a Costco membership, try to see if a friend with a membership will let you accompany them to the store so you can see what it’s like, what products are offered, and how much they cost.

If you have a Costco membership, don’t forget to add a household member on to your Costco card for free.

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Filed Under: Frugality, Married Money, Saving Tagged With: Costco

5 Tips for Saving Money on the College Admissions Process

March 25, 2021 By Justin Weinger Leave a Comment

Are you concerned about college admission fees? Whether you are considering two, three, or ten colleges, you need to be prepared for the fees. You do not have to worry as much when you have a plan for success. Fortunately, there are a few options out there that can help you take the load off your back. Consider these five tips to make the college admissions process cheaper.

Plan Ahead

While it may be tempting to wait until the last minute to apply, this can lead to higher expenses and a more significant margin of error. Plan ahead to start the college admissions process early, and set aside some of your earnings to do it. Some colleges offer a free enrollment period for admissions each year if you sign up at the right time. If you start researching your options early, you are more likely to find a school within your budget that still meets your needs and preferences.

Pick a Path To Higher Education

There are tons of colleges and vocational schools out there to choose from, whether you want to go online or offline. Students who are unsure of where to go may spend lots of money and time sliding in applications everywhere they can think of. Suppose you narrow your selections down to the schools that are most compatible with your educational dreams. In that case, you do not have to worry about applying to so many different colleges.

Include Everything You Need

There is nothing like sending in your college application only to realize that it is incomplete. Be sure to double-check your application to ensure that all of your information, essays, and other work is attached. For example, if applying for admission to architecture school, you’ll need a well-composed architecture portfolio in your college application. If you don’t, you may find yourself paying additional fees again to resubmit it. Be sure to double-check each application that you submit to reduce your expenses.

Seek Out Academic Assistance

If you want to save money on college admissions, you can get professional assistance from your current school counselor. There are maybe hidden opportunities available for students focused on education who are not afraid to ask. Many colleges offer financial aid explicitly tailored to the individual student, including the price of admissions. Be sure to ask your guidance counselor or educational advisor what resources are available and how they may help you pay for college admissions.

Consider Public and Government Funding Sources

When it comes to paying for college costs, there are many options open to you. If you qualify in the low-income threshold, you can even get your fees paid for free. There are scholarships available for everything from community service to athletics to ethnicity, and there are grants available to help you pay for admissions. There are grants available in private and public sectors offered by businesses and organizations and grants from the government. Get started and aim to sign up early when savings are provided because resources are used quickly.

Choosing a college is one of the most important decisions you can make, and you do not want an inability to pay to block you from moving forward with your education. The college admissions process can be frustrating, but it does not have to be as expensive as you think. Students who are proactive and take advantage of the resources available can come out ahead with more money in their pocket.

Filed Under: Saving

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