Getting fit and eating healthy food has great physical benefits, but there’s money to be saved too. Find out how to reduce pounds (and pennies) in our guide below.

Healthy eating = healthy wallet

Myth: Junk food is cheaper than healthy eating

While junk food can often seem cheaper at first glance, this doesn’t take into account how filling it is, or the value of the nutrients it contains. For example, it’s all too easy to eat one or more donuts, each containing a hefty 240 calories, without feeling full, whereas a single banana containing 105 calories is much more filling, and comes packed with nutrients. Think about that next time you reach for that calorific glazed donut!

You can also cut down on food costs by spending a few minutes planning weekly meals, buying from your local markets rather than supermarkets, and making an effort to reduce waste.

Working out

Myth: I can’t afford a gym membership

Gym memberships often don’t come cheap but there are bargains out there, especially January deals. It’s also worth considering how your gym activities can replace social activities that cost you money, such as eating out or hitting the town. Investing in a gym membership could just mean spending your money in a different way.

However, if you’ve done your sums and still can’t make your budget balance, there are of course gym alternatives. No excuses!

Cost of commuting

Myth: Investing in a healthy alternative to public transport, such as a bike, is too expensive

Start-up costs for cycling, running or even walking to work can seem daunting. But for many of us, the monthly commute adds up to one of our biggest annual expenses. Set this annual cost, as well as the associated costs of time and stress, against the initial cost of alternative ways of travelling to work, and you may be surprised. You can work out how much money you could save using our Anywhere Working savings calculator.