One of the BIGGEST wellness myths is that you need to drop serious coin in order to invest in yourself - a $3,500 spin bike + membership, a $700/mo. healthy food subscription service, a $90/session personal trainer. The list goes on and on. The second biggest wellness myth, and arguably the worst, is the assumption that the size of your investment equals the size of your result. I know you're immediately thinking about that time you spent tons of money, just to wind up right back where you started. The good news is there are plenty of ways to invest in yourself for less than $10. I'm not talking one-off self help investments - I'm talking about ones that can have a lasting, long-term impact on your every day life. Let's dive in, shall we?
Financial Investment: Know Your [Net] Worth
Cost = Free
Understanding personal finance is one of the MOST daunting things you deal with as an adult. The economy is always changing, there's a lack of consistency, new products and services, etc. Before you start chasing your tail trying to jump in to this crazy world, there is a foundational element you must have in order to make any financial tool beneficial - you need to know where you are financially right now. Here are 3 things you can do today that will serve as a [free] investment in your financial journey:
Understand Current Spending Habits: pull your last 3 months' credit card statements and review how much you are spending and where
How Much Do You Own? aka: your assets. Add up your bank, retirement, and investment account balances. Tack on the current value of any major hard assets you own, like a car or home.
How Much Do You Owe? aka: your liabilities. Add up outstanding loan balances, credit card debt, mortgages, car notes, etc.
Calculate Net Worth: take your asset total (Step 2) less your liabilities total (Step 3).
If you complete those 4 steps, you will have a jump start on budgeting/cash flow and a snapshot of your personal balance sheet - the 2 foundational elements of personal finance.
Health Investment: Eat Clean, Eat At Home
Cost = *cough* Less Than Takeout
Apologies for the sarcasm - kind of. Focusing the health investment on food consumption rather than fitness is intentional here. Fitness, for most, requires extra time - something you might not have right now. Eating and consumption, on the other hand, is something you are already doing. Being able to replace or sub in something with more benefits is the easiest way to change a habit or improve an area of your life. Follow these steps to ease into eating cleaner:
Step 1: Get a Fresh Start. Clean out your refrigerator and pantry. Throw away or donate expired food, food you won't eat, or food you know is not good for you.
Step 2: Commit To Weekdays. Let's leave the weekends out of it for now. Meal plan 3 full days a week. bonus points: incorporate food you already have into your meal plan
Step 3: Make Corresponding Grocery List. Use your meal plan as a tool to create a grocery list of things you need. Stick to the list when you go to the store.
Listen, I'm not saying we need to strictly be eating plants or something from a garden, OK? I'm saying bring your food consumption "in-house" at least 3 days a week. You'll be eating healthier and saving money in the process.
Mindset Investment: Podcast Podcast Podcast
Cost = Free, Almost Always
I tried to explain what a podcast was to my parents the other day and it was HARD. "It's like a news show meets interview meets self-help book meets school?" Literally, I couldn't define it in one sentence. That right there, is evidence that you can find a podcast for anything that your little heart desires. You can get what you want out of a podcast, so long as you're listening to the right ones. I encourage you to make a periodic pivot from "Murder Down The Street" type podcasts to ones that offer constructive advice or insight. Ask yourself these questions to help narrow down your focus:
What's the top area of my life I'd love to improve?
What topic confuses the hell out of me, that I'm tired of knowing nothing about?
What do I love talking about that genuinely excites me?
In an effort to provide full transparency, here are my responses: I want to grow a business so I can live on my own terms - just don't know how, making money online is something that I'm tired of not being well-versed in, and I genuinely LOVE talking/hearing about other people and their journeys to success. My responses led me to find 3 podcasts that rock my world every time I listen to them:
Trading Secrets with Jason Tartick [not sponsored]
TCS Him & Her Podcast [not sponsored]
The Influencer Podcast with Julie Solomon
Organization Investment: To-Do, Ta-da
Cost = $10
If you've followed S|G for - really just a week - you know that to-do lists run my world and keep me sane. I've tried digital lists, phone reminders... really anything under the sun in search of the perfect system. I realized I needed to physically see, feel and touch my to-do list or else I never seemed to get things done. I found the cutest, inexpensive to-do list pad to test run. If you already have a system OR are about to try this one, follow these tips to get the most out of your to-do list:
make your list the night before
keep it in a high touch, VISIBLE area of your home or office
prioritize or order tasks for the day
be specific (instead of "clean house", try "vacuum bedrooms")
Here is the $10 Pad from Amazon I have been using as of late and love!
Wrap It Up
Main takeaway? You don't have to spend a ton to drastically improve your life in terms of financial, health, mindset and organizational wellness. All you need is intentionality and the will to take action.
Comments