Published: Happy Financial New Year - Blush Magazine, January 2011

Happy Financial New Year
By Lynnley Clark

Happy New Year! May we all be healthy, wealthy, and wise in 2011. About this time we all start to focus on ways to improve ourselves physically  - why not financially?  Here is an idea to multitask both those goals. We all know eating in is healthier for us, but do you know it is healthier for your wallet too?

Think about breakfast. That quick drive-through stop for a biscuit or grabbing a donut could run you anywhere from $1.50 to $5 (average $3.25) and 180 to 1,000 calories (average 590). Trade the baked goods for a cereal or granola bar and you are getting more vitamins and fiber for around 100 calories. Plus you can buy a box in one trip to the store saving time and gas. The individual price of a bar from a value pack is around $0.35. Over the course of a work week you could save on average 2,450 calories and $14.50! Just changing that one mindless eating habit would save you 122,500 calories and $725 over the course of a year!

Now let’s take a look at lunch. If you are hitting a sandwich shop, drive-through, or greasy spoon for lunch you are probably looking at a tab on average of $7.50, and depending on your choices anywhere from 500 to 1,500 calories. Our old friend the brown bag lunch on the other hand gives you a chance to make healthier choices: whole grain bread instead of white, mustard instead of mayo, fresh fruits or veggies instead of fries or chips. And a brown bag lunch can be made for around $2.50 and 300 calories with a microwave entrée or sandwich and side. That $4 turkey sandwich from down the street can be made at home for about $1.25, and that bag of chips for $1 could be substituted for carrots, celery, chips, rice cakes, or broccoli for under $0.50 a serving. If you start to think ahead about your lunches while you are on your weekly grocery run you could save $25 and 3,500 calories in a week!  In 2011 you could save $1,250 and 175,000 calories!

So give it a shot! You may have to start small with once a week or maybe you want to do four days a week and reward yourself on Friday. I hope this information helps you slim down and fatten your wallet in 2011!

Click here to read the article at the Blush Magazine website.

The contents and opinions contained in this article are for informational purposes only. The information is not intended to be a substitute for professional accounting counsel. Always seek the advice of your accountant or other financial planner with any questions you may have regarding your financial goals.