3 Things To Stop Buying For Your Health And Your Wallet
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What is worse than buying something that is unnecessary? Buying something that will damage your health and cost you even more money in the future. All the things on the following list are obvious to everyone buy I find that we must continuously advocate for the non-use of these things to get the point across.
To compound the situation, they’ve been increasingly accessible to the younger generations. Quit buying (or buy less) of these items and it will mean major savings in medical costs in the long run.
Cigarettes. Without a doubt, cigarettes is the #1 most useless thing you can buy. You’ve seen the TV campaigns and they really have had an impact on the tobacco industry. Shelling out upwards $5 per pack for something that does nothing but harms your body makes no sense. At a pack a day, it’ll cost $1,825 for a year of smoking. Don’t forget the higher insurance premiums, teeth bleaching, and the medical costs when all those chemicals have finally screwed up your health.
Coffee. Sorry to the Starbucks fanatics but it had to be said. Did you know regular coffee drinkers can suffer from withdrawal when they stop? That is a clear sign that coffee can take control of your body and mind. Whether you brew it yourself or you visit the local coffee house, many people with find that they spend hundreds of dollars on coffee. And, those coffee stained teeth are truly going to make your dentist happy when you go in to get them whitened. Cheaper and healthier alternatives are tea, ice or sparkling water, and juices.
Alcohol. Wow, this coming from a recent college graduate! I see firsthand what happens because of this magical liquid that makes everybody “more fun”. Hey, let’s spend $50 tonight on alcohol and barf my guts out 2 hours later ($50 down the toilet?). The long-term effects include liver and kidney damage and weakening of the heart. But the most costly effect of alcohol is the dangerous activities that one would engage in such as drunk driving which results in even more costs and harm to health.
This small list contains the typical must-have’s for the busy, corporate personnel in the high stress business world. They wake up and drink a cup of coffee, take a smoke during breaks, and end the day at happy hour.
The amazing thing is that everything listed above can be replaced by dihydrogen monoxide – WATER. Yes, $3.99 for 24 bottles of Poland Spring is healthier for you and your wallet than any beverage or drug you can buy.
Photo credit: devlon duthie
9 Comments on this post
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traineeinvestor said:
Alcohol? I thought there were plenty of studies showing that alcohol (especially red wine) taken in moderation was beneficial?
July 6th, 2009 at 7:48 pm -
Simon said:
Red wine was shown to be beneficial because it contains antioxidants. It has been shown in a better light compared to other alcoholic drinks which do not provide these nutrients.
Grape juice has the same benefits without the effects of intoxication and of course, is much less expensive.
July 6th, 2009 at 9:17 pm -
Scott Lovingood said:
I agree wholeheartedly with cigarettes. Without a doubt they cause a significant strain on current finances and future health costs.
I disagree on coffee. I do think buying it from Starbucks may not be the brightest financial decision but I am not sure there are many studies that show caffeine has any long term health costs associated with it. I think you could easily replace coffee on your list with diet drinks. They have the same issues with caffeine that you mention but also contain artificial sweeteners that have a long history of causing health issues.
Alcohol – yes in excess it is both a bad idea long term and short term from a health standpoint and financial standpoint. From a moderation standpoint, a single glass of red wine can be beneficial. It has other effects besides the antioxidants. It doesn’t have to be expensive wine either. Some very good ones exist at economical prices. Now if you don’t drink, don’t add win just for the health benefits. There are other ways to get it without the potential risk of alcoholism, excess consumption, etc. I would suggest replacing alcohol with cable tv. We spend far too much time sitting on the couch and watching tv. Obesity is a far greater long term risk than a glass of wine every night.
July 7th, 2009 at 1:49 pm -
Simon said:
@Scott: A sedentary lifestyle certainly plays a major role in obesity these days. It made me think of adding junk food on the list but food prices are so high that we spend a lot of money no matter what we eat.
Cable television would be a great addition to the list. One could save at least $30/month if they cut cable TV service and it would [hopefully] get people outside and exercise.
July 7th, 2009 at 6:38 pm -
Studenomist said:
Quit smoking, love coffee, and drink rarely. Fast food definitely belongs on that list. Thanks for stopping by Studenomics and I hope to see you around in the future!
July 9th, 2009 at 11:29 pm -
stas said:
Save yourself the 3.99 on poland springs and just fill a bottle out of the tap. that’s all they do in the factories anyway….and you won’t be sending all that plastic to the landfill
August 4th, 2009 at 2:15 am -
Jerry said:
Amen to all of it. Eliminating these bad habits will lead to major changes to your health and your wallet. People forget how much control they have over their lives. When they feel better they do better. And, taking care of yourself is insurance for the future. You stay out of doctors’ offices and hospitals. Who wouldn’t like that?
JerryAugust 14th, 2009 at 3:09 pm
[...] Realm of Prosperity posts 3 things to stop buying for your health and your wallet. [...]
[...] sluggish or feel a headache coming? Don’t waste money on coffee or pop that Tylenol pill just yet. Head to the water cooler or grab a bottle of Poland Spring. Get [...]