Many little habits we develop today can save us tens of thousands of dollars down the road. I’ve listed 5 things that, done regularly, will help achieve a happy, healthy, and wealthy life.
1. Wear sunscreen
Every article I’ve ever read about skin care and every dermatologist I’ve been to have said the same thing: (1) sun ages your skin (think wrinkles, discolorations, loss of elasticity), and (2) one bad burn significantly increases your chances of skin cancer later in life. Instead of spending big bucks for laser refinishing or wrinkle remover creams later on in life (or worse, have to suffer through the pains of skin cancer), spend some extra time taking care of your skin now.
2. Take care of your teeth
Dental care can add up to thousands of dollars, not to mention hours of discomfort or pain (I don’t know anyone who actually enjoys a dental procedure). By taking care of your teeth now with regular brushing and flossing, you will prevent gum diseases and tooth decay. As an added incentive – if you have healthy teeth, you’ll be more inclined to smile. And smiling, as everyone knows, is a good for your health. 
3. Invest
Small amounts of money today can grow into a big pile over a lifetime. Every $100 I can put away now will be working for your financial future. Every $100 I spend on clothes or a new car payment will not. That doesn’t mean we have to live like paupers, but it’s a fact that all things being equal, the dollar that we invest when we are 25 will work so much harder than the same dollar we invest at 40. Compound interest is a powerful thing, so get started investing as soon as you are able to. Educate yourself on what investments are appropriate for your goals and risk tolerance, then let your money work hard for you.
4. Exercise
Regular exercise can not only help strengthen our immune system and help us fend off illnesses, it also gives us happy endorphins. Participating in a wellness program can get you decreased medical insurance premiums. Taking part in a physical hobby (say, running or dance), can help you meet new friends. Sad people are bigger spenders, so being happy and healthy not only improves your mood and help you achieve a more attractive physique, it will improve your bottom-line as well.
5. Don’t smoke
Using tobacco products can cause or contribute to many diseases. But the benefits of not smoking isn’t just limited to the health realm. Cigarettes are expensive! Which means that when we light up a cigarette, we are literally burning money. Legislation has made tobacco products increasingly expensive over the recent years (and all trends point to higher taxes on tobacco products in the future), so in 5 years, it wouldn’t be surprisingly if the same smoker will be paying thousands of dollars for the habit. Even leaving the health effects out of the equation, smoking is a financially costly habit.
Do you have anything to add to this list?
A version of this article was originally posted via BlogHer
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Anne
One habit that I have been doing for YEARS is saving my change. I have two containers; a glass milkjug for pennies and a Crystal light container for everything else. When the Crystal Light can gets full, I roll my change while I'm watching tv, and once I get a large Scrooge pileful, I take it tothe bank and splurge. It's an easy habit, and it's surprising how much change you accumulate. I can't move my milkjug of pennies, so who knows what is going to happen with that. I'm a penny hoarder.
I just bought a silver piggy bank from Target so now I have one place to keep all my change. I had one professor who has a big wooden chest (like a treasure chest from Pirates of the Caribbean) in his living room FILLED with pennies. It looks like a chest of gold.
I think this is a great list. I like how must the suggestions are good for your body and your finances. They do quite often go hand-in-hand.
If I were going to add 'little things', I would probably add the following:
*Try to eat at home whenever possible. (That's cheaper and healthier.)
*Plan your grocery list to maximize saving and minimize impulse shopping
*Don't drink (much…)
Eat real food, not edible-food-like-substances (as Michael Pollan calls them). I think this can save you money now (as prepared foods are so much more expensive), and later, as you likely won't need as many pills (blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes) and additional health care later on.
One of my favorite things is to cook at home as much as possible, instead of eating out. Not only do you save a ton of money (especially if you bring your own lunch to work as well), but you also have a practical life skill, should money ever get tight at another point in your life. I happen to love cooking and baking, so it works out well for me!
That's really something I need to work at. I like cooking – but I like what I think of as "leisure" cooking or "luxury" cooking as opposed to "maintenance" cooking. i.e. I prefer to plan for a nice little dinner, or a brunch party, once in a while (i.e. once every month or so). It's the day-to-day cooking that gets me down.
Great list! I really love posts like this that highlight "unconventional" ways to think about saving money. Totally agree with Lindsey's comment as well – cooking at home as much as possible can save you tons & keep you healthy (thus potentially saving you medical expenses down the road).
Another thing I would add is to maintain your investments. My husband & I bought our first house a little over a year ago and keeping up on all the little things has definitely been more important to us now that we're no longer renting. The same goes for car maintenance. I have a 2005 Jetta TDI – which is a diesel. I plan to drive that thing for 300,000+ miles in order to avoid a new car payment. The key to the longevity of that investment is maintenance!
Although I knew my husband smoked when we first got together, it still drives me nuts — especially now that a pack of cigs in our area costs $8!!! That's $8 a day, and $3,000 a year! I've been telling him that he's smoking away our future children's college funds!
Not to mention smoking his own life short.
Bike or Take the bus to work!
Good for the earth. Good for yourself (healthy and less stress). Good on your wallet.
I like this list! You know what's interesting? These are ALL things that my parents taught me to do while growing up. And I can't thank them enough for instilling these habits into me! Plus, cooking at home. Like others have said… it's healthy, cheaper AND a great skill to have!
Your post highlights a convenient way of saving money .All habits that you declared to save money is not that tough .The habits like to skip smoking is the best way to save money .Suppose you spend $2.23 per day on cigarette and now calculate for month so u spent approx $60 per month and in an year you spend $750. So it's an big amount to save .and now calculate for others .u can save more than $1500 in a year.
Great post. I think a key theme here is the idea of taking care of yourself. You spend a little bit on important things like sunscreen and dental care now and you won't spend a ton later to fix problems. Preventative medicine and spending. I lik it.
ABSOLUTELY!
I'd like to add:
6. Learn how to make great meals at home, on the cheap
Going to a restaurant shouldn't be a everyday or even a weekly thing — it loses its charm pretty darn quick.
Cooking at home makes you really appreciate it when you do go out. Plus it's healthier..
Carry a water bottle and drink water. It's healthier and saves you hundreds every year.
Good post
Austin @ Foreigner's Finances
I wish they'd given me this list when I graduated from High School. I just had four fillings, it hurt more in the wallet than in the mouth… Needless to say my oral hygien is impecable now!
Plan potlucks w/ ur friends, so everyone contributes while not spending a whole lot of $$!
Buy things that you really must have… or can't live without. If you stop and ask yourself, do I really need this? or will I use it for a while? etc. etc. Also shop for quality though it may cost more it will probably last you longer.
Kelly @ sourtang.com
Always make sure to be nice to strangers. It will always pay off. =)
Kinda related to exercising is eating right. That should keep doctor's visits to a minimum, help fight off many illnesses, help you sleep better, and is usually cheaper than eating junk food.
Great post!
Make your own coffee. It's soooo much cheaper:)
Sunscreen isn't that great of an idea. It can give you cancer (see the EWG's report on this) and your body needs the Vitamin D that the sun's rays can produce.
I so agree with the sunscreen one! Such a simple fix with such lasting health benefits. All the others we have been pounded as children to follow, such a simple list yet important reminders for everyday health!