Redefining Frugal: Preventing Financial Disaster

Previously, I blogged about my definition of frugality, where I explored that frugality should not be thought of as getting as much stuff as possible for as little money as possible.  Rather, for me, I defined frugality as “being a good steward to limited resources and making choices that are, for me, long-term sustainable.”  One major component of being sustainable for the long-term is protecting against financial disaster.

In the United States, the biggest contributor to bankruptcy turns out to be illness and injury, with about half of all bankruptcies caused by medical issues.  Both high medical bills and lost income (either through missed work or serving as a care giver) causes multiple financial burdens, and surprisingly affected both insured and uninsured.  Although medical emergencies are difficult to predict, maintaining good health is a good preventive measure against many illnesses.  In this regard, the long-term frugal and prudent thing to do is to allocate sufficient funds toward health and wellness while cutting back in other areas.  When I first launched this blog several months ago, I had intended for this to be the main topic of the blog.  Ironically, I have veered from this a bit, but I intend to write more in this area in the coming months.  The following are steps that I have taken in recent years, aimed at lowering medical costs in the long-run.  (note: the following should not be considered medical advice)

I try to eat and prepare healthy, unprocessed foods — this includes a wide array of fresh vegetables and fruits.  Although I still prepare meat, we eat much less of it than previously using beans, vegetables, and fish more often for protein.  I avoid most of the foods in the center aisles of the grocery store and strictly run away from anything containing trans fats or high fructose corn syrup.  Despite the availability of coupons and discounts on processed foods, I think the long-term toll on health isn’t worth it.

I prioritize exercise several times a week — this is more an issue of time than money, for me, but is an important part of my well-being.

When my doctor recommends medical diagnostic tests, I comply, even though I really hate needles and doctors offices.  This means that I schedule regular checkups, blood screenings, mammograms, etc…Many serious illnesses are more treatable if caught early.

I try to keep up with the latest recommendations on wellness. Although I find the contradictory recommendations (particularly for a healthy diet) to be puzzling, I find that my interest in health issues has led to greater awareness of lifestyle issues.

see more frugal thoughts this week at Green Panda Treehouse