Raising a Healthy & Happy Family Without Breaking The Bank
We all aspire to be healthier versions of ourselves. Whether we want to be more physically fit, more socially diverse or maybe we just want to be a little happier. I can now speak from experience that nothing makes you want to be healthy more than having children. Suddenly you go from a state of “whatever happens happens” to “oh my gosh I have a tiny person completely dependent on me for everything and if I die….” Not to mention, your life is now a daily example. The problem with healthy living these days is that it can come with a pretty hefty price tag. From pricey gym memberships to the latest protein drink/supplement trend, even signing your child up for an extracurricular activity can be outrageous. So how do you keep you and your family healthy while living on budget? Well, for that answer I to turn to the lady that I go to with every question about everything, my mom.
My parents raised four children on a ministry salary. Without getting into too much detail, that’s not a lot of money. While my parents are always a team, mom handled the day to day finances in the home. It made more sense as she was the one doing the shopping, cooking meals and entertaining all four kids every day. It’s humbling now to listen to her talk about how she budgeted while we were young. She knew where every penny went every month. She was the queen budgeter; I’m really not even worthy to discuss budgets in her presence. Over the years, both by word and example, she taught us so many simple ways to raise a healthy and happy family without a lot of money. So, without further ado, here are some simple and effective ways my mother taught me to live healthy on a budget.
At the Store
- Fresh vegetables are cheaper than fruit. I feel like they’re practically giving away carrots at the grocery store. Most other veggies are the same way. You can also grow your own, if your name isn’t Molly VanBinsbergen; no green thumbs here.
- Buy apples and melons. Fresh berries can be really expensive, so can things like mangos, pomegranates, and peaches. Apples are cheap and last forever. Melons like cantaloupe and watermelon are much more affordable per serving and can also last a long time in the fridge. Nothing hurts more than throwing away a container of moldy strawberries. And don’t forget, fruit cocktail is still fruit.
- BUY GENERIC! Our research team here at Raymond James conducts an ongoing study on the price comparison between a branded basket of goods at Walmart versus a “low-priced” basket of Walmart’s private brands (Great Value, Equate and Sam’s Choice). The basket is made up of 50 like-for-like items. In March of this year they found that the price savings between the name brand and private label baskets was 28.82%! In our home that is a significant savings! (“March 2019 Grocery Price Comparison; Walmart’s Advantage Increases Sequentially.” Raymond James & Associates. March 20, 2019.)
- Take your kids to the grocery store. I do recall my mom telling us about a time that she brought all 4 of us along and we behaved so badly that after getting us all back in the car she sat in the parking lot and cried. Sorry about that, mom. Roman has worked hard to pay me back a time or two. Anyways, this one may seem counter intuitive, but taking your kids to the grocery store allows you to teach them a couple valuable lessons. First, it teaches them how to construct healthy, well balanced meals. Involving your kids in the meal planning process helps them understand every step it takes to make a meal. Allow them to pick sides and shop for the ingredients needed. You can also use grocery trips as an opportunity to teach your child how to budget. Go to the grocery store with a budget in mind and teach your child to shop within the budget, saying no to things that don’t fit and replacing them for less costly options
At Home
- Sit down for dinner as a family every night. Ah, my favorite one. I don’t ever remember a time that we didn’t eat dinner as a family growing up. Now this tip may not be about saving money, but it’s about raising a healthy family. The conversations that take place at the dinner table cannot be found anywhere else. It’s where families reconnect and become grounded after the craziness that happens throughout the day. It’s where we are heard and learn to hear others. It’s also where we learn what a balanced and healthy meal looks like.
- Learn to say “no.” Alright, going to need to take my own advice on this one. I STRUGGLE to tell Roman “no” especially when it’s a small ticket item. What’s the harm? Well, the harm is that I’m teaching my child that he can have whatever he wants whenever he wants it. Even a $1 item is a dollar that had to come from somewhere. Someone worked for that dollar. By failing to deny our children (and ourselves) every single thing they want we are consequently teaching them there is no real value in what we work to provide for them. No matter how much you bring home, you worked hard to get it there and no age is too young for your children to begin understanding that.
- Play outside. It’s free. Do kids do this anymore? Growing up we spent hours outside running around the neighborhood with the neighbor kids. It costs nothing to play hide & seek. Even more than the non-existent price tag, the health benefits from exercising outside are incredible.
- Vacations don’t have to cost thousands of dollars for your kids to remember them. Weekend camping trips or even just a night in a hotel with a pool can be just as memorable for children as a big extravagant (EXPENSIVE) vacation. If I’ve learned one thing in my 2 years of parenting it’s that kids don’t care what you’re doing, just as long as you’re all doing it together. Roman loves when we sit on the floor in the evening and zoom cars around. That’s the beez neez as far as he’s concerned. Growing up in small towns we would occasionally spend a weekend in a larger neighboring town. It never entailed anything too out of the ordinary, but we were together and we had so much fun. Those are some of our greatest memories. Doing something special with your kids doesn’t have to mean spending a lot of money.
- Family walks and bike rides. What better way to teach your children to live actives lives than to do it with them. Family bike rides are such great memories for me and my family. We’d take our bikes down the “bunny trail” every evening after dinner.
Now, did my parents do everything right? Of course not! But they did raise 4 fairly well-adjusted children, so I trust them. When you think about how you want to raise a healthy and happy family think back on the things your parents did, the things you loved and the things you didn’t. Even some of the things that I hated as a child have shaped me into the person I am and I will carry them on in my own family. Raising healthy, happy kids doesn’t have to cost a fortune, but sometimes it does take getting a little creative. Your toddler doesn’t care that he’s eating a hamburger instead of a steak, he’s probably just happy you’re all sitting at the table listening to his never-ending story about a Paw Patrol episode he watched a week ago. No? Just mine? I mean, the kid can make the story longer than the episode! In a world of constant financial demands, give yourself a break. Try the generic crackers and opt for a bike ride instead of the waterpark. Your wallet will thank you, and so will your kids.
Any opinions are those of Molly VanBinsbergen and not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James.
