Healthy, Money Saving New Year’s Resolutions

Now that 2012 is here, you probably have some resolutions in mind to better yourself in the new year. If you’re still looking for ways that you can change how you live this year, consider trying one that will benefit both your health and your wallet. Check out these New Year’s resolutions that help you be a better you.

Gardening

If you have a yard where you live, try taking up gardening. There are plenty of books and online sources that can help you learn how to garden. You can also visit a local store like Lowe’s to talk to someone to get more information on how to get started. Gardening is a fun, relaxing hobby that can save you money since you can avoid buying produce at the store. You can rest assured knowing that your produce will be 100% fresh and pesticide free.

Bike instead of Drive

Gas prices are outrageous, and they’re just going to get higher. To cut back on gas, try biking to local places instead of driving. Biking is a great way to get some exercise and enjoy a nice day. Plus, biking in place of driving will cut down on the pollution which will benefit everyone.

Ditch a Bad Habit

A great way to start the new year is to kick a bad habit. Smoking, excessive caffeine consumption, and impulse spending are all little habits that can out your health and your money at risk. Cutting back on your bad habits can save you a ton of money, and you’ll feel better too. To ease your way out of it, look for healthy solutions, such as an apple in the morning in place of coffee.

Recycle More

If you look carefully, you will probably find that there are many ways you could recycle if you took the time to do so. When you go shopping, take your own bag to avoid using paper or plastic. Give your kids reusable lunchboxes instead of bags to keep paper out of landfills. Just be conscious of what you’re throwing away and you’d be surprised what you can salvage.

Remember – these resolutions are meant to last a lifetime, not just a couple of months. When you put these into action, keep a positive mindset and try to keep them up for as long as possible. Good luck in 2012 and beyond!

About the Author: Kiley Theiring is a film student at Chapman University who also loves to write. She writes about saving money and living frugally for Coupon Mountain and also maintains her own personal blog.