The cost of good health
Posted on January 02, 2006 by Him and tagged health
Our recent engagement spurred both of us to look inward not only financially, but physically, too. During the course of our relationship, we settled into the "comfort zone" and stopped taking care of ourselves, and put on a few pounds. Ugh. So we started working out -- not just a New Year's resolution, but also a wedding resolution.
My fiancée already has a health club membership, but wasn't using it. She got a discounted membership through her work -- they prepaid the full yearly amount, and that balance is paid back as a deduction from her paycheck. I became a full member at the same discounted rate a few days before the new year. For me to gate that rate of $699 a year, I had to pay the full amount upfront. As per our first post, we didn't have much in our checking account, but we had that amount in our ING Direct savings account. The health club urged us to lock in that rate before the new year because they were getting new rates after the new year. So we ended up putting the membership on one of our credit cards with no balance on it. We'll pay it off when we get the bill. Now we both go, with the goal of at least three times a week.
$699 a year, or $58.25 a month for a health club membership. In our current financial situation, this may have seemed like a really bad financial decision. But if we actually do go at least three times a week like we want to, that will lead to greater health. The costs of obesity and related conditions is almost $100 billion dollars yearly; not a good sign when my my body fat composition is 27% -- a far cry from the ideal 15-20% body fat that a healthy man my age should be.
I also have hypertension, which I treat with a medication that, luckily for me, only costs $7/month. Others don't get better when they take the medication that I am on; their medications can be $50+/month. Hopefully, losing weight will allow me to be able to get off the medication.
How much is your health worth?
Comments/Trackbacks
Trackback URL: http://www.makelovenotdebt.com/MT/mlnd-trackbacks.cgi/782
j | Apr 5, 2006
Hey,
I don't know what part of the 606 you're in, but if you're near Edgewater, Wicker Park or Andersonville, Cheetah Gym is $49/month+$49 initiation. It's a beautiful gym with new machines, lots of tvs, free babysitting & parking, lots of free modern classes. You might even save more with a family membership. It might be a good thing to consider when you have to renew.
mbhunter | Jan 7, 2006
I like the topic of your blog a lot. Thanks also for the link in the sidebar!
A good way to get the word out on your blog is to contribute to blog carnivals. Some appropriate ones (ones that I contribute to as well) are the Carnival of Debt Reduction, the Carnival of Personal Finance, and the Festival of Frugality.
I hope that you continue to blog about this topic, because it's very important. Keep it up, and God bless you.
Reply to this comment