Living on Less –Well Being

If you are one of the 15-20% that does not have health insurance, you are living on less at much risk, whether voluntarily or involuntarily. No matter if you have an insurance safety net or not, you want to stay as healthy as possible to keep the good well-being you will always want to enjoy. Some tips are common sense, some are easy and others are easier said than done.

• Basic hygiene – Keep the colds and flu at bay, wash your hands, cover your mouth when you cough, blow your nose, brush your teeth, and keep clean.
• Prevention – Exercise and eat well. This can be as simple as parking far away from the door or running every morning. Eat as little junk food as possible and eat all the good stuff you hated when you were growing up. Also quit doing the stuff that is bad for your health…. Live long and prosper!
• Low Cost Clinics – This can be anything from health fairs that you hear about on the local news to medical/dental schools or doctors/dentists that have a sliding fee scale. My best advice is to be wise, sometimes you can get what you pay for, if it doesn’t seem right, walk away.
• Buy Generic– When you can ask if you can get the medicine in generic or find out from your doctor if they can note the prescription for generic.
• When you feel sick – Take care of yourself, dress properly, get your fluids so you are dehydrated and can flush out the gunk from your system, get sleep as much as possible. Basically, do everything you would tell your kids to do!
• Watch out for Snake Oil Salesmen – Since you have access to the internet, check things out before you jump ship to something new. Ask around, get the good and bad information with an open mind.
• Practice makes perfect – If you can’t cut your own hair, check around with who can do it for you for a trade of services (An hour of house cleaning for a hair cut) or find out from friends/family that can assist. Check with local schools in the are for hair cuts, manicures, etc.
• Stretch the toiletries – If you can stretch the bathroom items, do so, it may not be a lot, but if you can’t buy shampoo this week, the added water and smaller amount may get you to next week when you can. Just don’t skimp on using it (see #1)
• Take things slow – This includes walking on ice, driving safely, over working yourself. Accidents do happen, but let’s keep that to a minimum as much as possible. Thanks.
• Laugh - “Laugh as much as you breathe and love as long as you live.”
• Remember to relax – Stress alone can do a number on our body/mind/spirit and that will certainly not help matters. Remember to take a breather for 15 minutes or a full day and do what helps you relax (sit in the dark, pray, meditate, work on a hobby, sit outside in the sun, etc)

What other Tips do you have for good well being while living on less?

Additional reading: LBYM: Healthy Habits

Fruits and Vegetables Save the World

Beauty
Natural Healthy Remedies
review: Health Care on Less than you Think
Frugality and Soda Pop
Secrets of Cleaning and Beauty