Middletown Journal: How to Cut the Cost of Keeping Your New Year’s Resolution

Filed under: Earth911 - January 4, 2010

By Jessica Heffner

This New Year, get more bang for your resolution buck.

The weak economy has had a ripple effect on several industries, making 2010 the year to start easily cutting costs on infamous New Year’s resolutions like losing weight, eating healthier, quitting smoking, going green or saving more money.

1. Lose weight

Gym memberships can end up being a money pit if you don’t use them, but if you’re serious about losing weight, there are some serious deals to be had.

According to a survey by the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association, 49 percent of gyms and fitness centers are reporting year-to-date decreases in membership dues.

Those numbers correlate with a new survey by the American Heart Association that showed 25 percent of respondents with gym memberships have canceled them to save money.

The month of January tends to be the best time of year to sign-up for a membership, according to industry analysts, as most centers offer specials. To get the best deal, analysts suggest checking online message boards to see what rates people are reporting and the quality of the gym. Also, check with employers and schools for any discounts. Visit some clubs, get their rates and compare. Armed with that data, negotiate with gyms to get the best price.

Local YMCAs are waiving the joiner’s fee ($125 for families, $75 for individuals) to draw in clients.

Both the Atrium YMCA and Downtown Middletown YMCA will be running a citywide competition, Choose to Lose, to assist residents with their New Year’s weight loss goals, said Grace McIntosh, membership coordinator.

From Jan. 10 through March 20, residents can get the help they need with weigh-ins and health and wellness seminars. Each participant will receive a T-shirt. The person to lose the most weight at the end of the program will receive a two-month membership to the YMCA and a $50 gift card to Walmart. Second-place receives a one-month membership and a $20 gift card. The cost of the program is $10 for YMCA members and $20 for nonmembers, McIntosh said.

“We are trying to make it a little easier and give a little incentive to start. It’s a great program,” she said.

In the pursuit to lose weight, consider these no-cost options:

2. Eat healthier

According a report by the U.S. Department of Labor, food costs have been rising an average of 5 percent per year. Low-calorie food options also have increased about 19.5 cents per year, according to a report by the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.

An easy way to eat healthy and keep grocery costs down is to focus on vegetables and fruits, said Robert Murray, a faculty member at the Ohio State University College of Medicine.

Buying frozen or canned food can save money. These items are often on sale at the local grocery, and coupons can make them even cheaper. Find coupons in the Sunday newspaper, on Web sites and even on your cell phone.

3. Quit smoking

Puffing on a cigarette can have negative effects on your health and your wallet. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cigarette smoking costs more than $193 billion annually and second-hand smoke adds more than $10 billion in health care expenditures.

Free resources are available. Right now at Walmart, receive a free sample of Nicorette gum on their Web site. For free tips and counseling about how to quit, visit SmokeFree.gov.

4. Financial strength

According to the U.S. Treasury, consumers today have a whopping $2.5 trillion of debt, and the average household in 2009 carried nearly $5,100 in credit card debt alone.

Patrick Harris, spokesman of the Ohio Credit Union League, said a first step to building financial strength in 2010 can be taking control of credit card debt by paying the card with the highest interest rate first. Once paid off, keeping the account open will improve your credit score.

Also, create a budget to know where your money is going.

“Tracking your spending identifies unnecessary expenses such as excessive cell phone usage, eating out, movies and other forms of entertainment. After tracking a month’s expenses, most people are shocked by where there money is going,” he said.

For a free resource on tips for saving money and avoiding debt, visit www.moneyandstuff.info.

5. Go green

Balancing a budget and going green really goes hand-in- hand. In fact, simple tricks like buying in bulk, using less paper towels and installing a programmable thermostat can save $762.30 a year, according to Earth 911.

For more ways to save the environment and money, visit www.earth911.com.

Article available at: http://www.middletownjournal.com/news/middletown-news/how-to-cut-the-cost-of-keeping-your-new-years-resolution-474645.html

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