This post is sponsored by SingleCare, however, all opinions are my own.
Lately I’ve been more mindful of our expenses and rediscovering some of my favorite frugal living and debt-free journey blogs. Following someone else’s journey to being debt-free is motivational and inspiring, so it definitely pushes me to make changes because I know that with some serious willpower and dedication, we could be debt-free in just a couple of years. With the help of those blogs, I’ve been looking at things we can do to reduce costs and to save money on various expenses. One of those would be health and fitness expenses.
We don’t have a gym membership and as much as I’d love to have something like a YMCA membership for the whole family – it’s expensive! Then, of course, would we actually use it enough to justify the cost? Who knows.
To combat that, there’s a lot of free or less-expensive options for physical activity.
Our own neighborhood has sidewalks, which is so great for going on walks as a family.
The family membership for the local pool is WAY more cost effective than a Y membership. Yes, it’s seasonal, but it also means keeping the kids busy with friends who may not have a Y membership.
Also, there are plenty of places for hiking and different terrains! We are pretty lucky that we have some local options as well as some within 30 minutes that are worth the drive.
A way to save money on health expenses is to use coupons when shopping for over-the-counter medications and vitamins. Not to mention all of the apps out there for cash back offers and digital coupons! You don’t have to use scissors to clip coupons anymore, it can be all digital if you want! Keep expiration dates in mind, but you can stock up on some things to help lower your costs.
For things that require a prescription and aren’t covered by insurance (or if you don’t have insurance, you know how your costs are much higher), you have to check out . In just seconds you can search for your prescription and can see which of their partner pharmacies in your area offer the best pricing for your medications. With this they allow you to compare pricing so you can see where you save the most! I thought I was paying a decent price for one and when I plugged into SingleCare, I had even MORE savings! It’s worth checking out since it’s free to sign up for and use.
That’s not all it does though, can help you save on dental and vision visits. For anyone struggling to afford medical insurance, it definitely takes the sting out of medical costs.
SingleCare also brings medical care to the comfort of your own home by utilizing video doctor’s visits. No need to load everyone up for an appointment and deal with unnecessary exposure to everyone else’s germs. A great bonus to help reduce catching something else!
When you do encounter a larger medical bill, see about any discounts they may offer for paying in cash, or if they offer an affordable payment plan. I have had payment plans set up before and paid them early due to unexpected income or better budgeting. It’s worth asking about if it means you don’t have to fork over a full payment and if it means avoiding late fees, interest, or collections.
Health and fitness costs will vary by family and individual, but you have the power to make adjustments to your spending and find ways to save. Look at your spending, see if there are available discounts through , and put those savings towards something good (debt? Vacation? retirement?)!