From Sweat to Savings: How Working Out Can Improve Your Finances

If the only thing motivating you to work out this spring is the elusive beach bod, think again. You can whip your finances into shape when you prioritize your physical fitness. 

You don’t need to go on a restrictive diet, buy expensive supplements, or frequent a fancy gym to make these gains. Simple yet regular movement supports a healthier lifestyle that helps you avoid costly medical expenses. 

Who Stands to Benefit from Exercise?

People with little to no emergency savings or a lot of debt stand to gain the most out of tightening their financial situation. 

Living without an emergency fund is a risky situation. You don’t have any backup to your typical monthly income, so you might not have enough cash to deal with a sudden, unexpected expense. 

Unexpected spending is why many people take out personal loans or lines of credit. These online loans provide safety nets in emergencies, but they create debt. You’ll also pay interest and finance charges on top of what you owe.

That’s just how borrowing works with the typical personal loan or line of credit. However, this debt ties up your cash, shrinking your budget until you pay off what you owe. If another emergency fund comes before you eradicate this debt, you could have to borrow more. 

5 Financial Benefits of Working Out

Reducing your healthcare costs can help you avoid more debt and build a better emergency fund. Here’s how:

1. Get Sick Less Often 

Exercising regularly improves your immune system, which helps you fight off foreign viruses like the common cold and flu. Some research also shows it can even protect against fatal COVID. 

Avoiding illness means you may need medical care less often. In other words, you may avoid expensive tests, prescription medicine, and other treatments not covered by your insurance. You also won’t have to take time off work to recover. 

2. Reduce the Risk of Chronic Illnesses 

Study after study shows consistent exercise — about 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week — can prevent long-term diseases. This includes heart disease, obesity, cancer, stroke, and dementia. 

These long-term diseases promise frequent check-ups, medication, and specialized tests — all of which can cost a lot of money. You may have to pay for these upfront depending on your insurance policy.

Investing in your health can prevent these diseases and avoid their costs. 

3. Pay Less in Health Insurance

Your health plays a major role in the premiums you pay for private health insurance. It may even affect your coverage. By proving you have a clean bill of health, you may save a considerable amount on this monthly bill. 

4. Avoid Injuries 

People who don’t move often are more likely to hurt themselves. That’s because a sedentary lifestyle reduces your muscle strength, balance, and mobility. 

While fit people may still be involved in an accident or hurt themselves in other ways, they are less likely to trip over their own feet. 

5. Earn More 

Lastly, a 2018 study shows fit people earn more than their sedentary coworkers — as much as $25,000 per year. That would give your emergency fund a considerable boost! It could also help you pay off a line of credit faster. 

Get Financially Fit This Spring

Disease prevention, injury avoidance, and higher earning potential — these are some of the financial benefits of working out. Jumpstart your fitness routine to take advantage of these savings this spring.