Sunday, February 3, 2013
- Health: Be physically active. The specific activities performed (e.g., walking on a treadmill) are up to you, but it is best to be active for at least 30 minutes on at least three days per week.
- Wealth: Break yourself of “brand habits” at the supermarket. Generic or store brand products (both food and non-food items) are often better buys.
Monday, February 4, 2013
- Health: Engage in moderate physical activity most days of the week for good health. See some examples of moderate activity.
- Wealth: Shop around. Toiletries and household cleaning items are often cheaper at discount stores, drug stores, and dollar stores than at supermarkets.
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
- Health: Make sure your daily food choices include colorful fruits, veggies, whole grains, and low-fat dairy.
- Wealth: only what you can afford to repay. If you can’t pay your bill in full, pay at least twice the minimum payment to avoid the “perma-debt” trap where credit card balances are rarely, if ever, repaid
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
- Health: Meet yourself halfway by cutting food portions in half (e.g., eating 1 cookie instead of 2).
- Wealth: Match your credit cards to their intended use. If you need to revolve a balance, use a low-interest rate card. If you plan to pay in full, use a credit card with a long grace period and cash-back rewards.
Thursday, February 7, 2013
- Health: Follow recommended nutrition guidelines; e.g., eating 2 cups of fruit and 2 ½ cups of vegetables on a 2,000 calorie per day diet.
- Wealth: Practice the “Rule of 3.” Research and compare the features of 3 credit cards (or any other product or service) before making a purchasing decision.
Friday, February 8, 2013
- Health: Buy fruits and vegetables that require no peeling and chopping (e.g., baby carrots and bananas) if a time crunch is an obstacle to eating healthy food.
- Wealth: Set specific financial goals for motivation to save money and to have something tangible to strive. Then determine what you need to save: http://njaes.rutgers.edu/money/pdfs/goalsettingworksheet.pdf.
Saturday, February 9, 2013
- Health: Go lean. Eat fat-free, low-fat, or low-calorie foods and beverages and lean meats, poultry, or fish.
- Wealth: “Find” money to save: increase income, reduce expenses, sell unneeded possessions (e.g., eBay) or do a little of each. See http://americasaves.org/for-savers/18.