Saving Money & Losing Weight

*Caution: You may disagree with a LOT of this article. But remember that diversity of opinions can be good and challenging when heard with an open mind and good attitude. And only nice comments please!! :) *

I am a BIG fan of Dave Ramsey.

Ever heard of him?

He is the only reason that I am not up to my eyeballs in debt! And the reason that I feel like I can make a modest income and still have everything I need and most things I want.

As I was reading his article 9 Ways To Go Broke in 2013 I couldn't believe how similar saving money is to losing weight!!

I of course wanted to share this insight with all of you, so here are 9 Ways To Go Broke And Get/Stay Fat in 2013!!

1. Just wing it.

Dave says:

This is the opposite of making a plan. If Dave Ramsey had an evil twin brother, “just wing it” might be his catch phrase. You can’t just wing it with your money. You have to make a plan—including a budget—that includes all your short-term and long-term financial goals. If you want to make a plan but you’re not sure where to start, download the all-new Dave Ramsey's Guide to Budgeting for free now.

Amanda Says:

Not planning your meals almost guarantees unhealthy choices based on convenience, cost, or simply availability. If I don't eat breakfast or pack a lunch, I am tempted to buy a pop-tart or swing through a drive through. I also skip 100% of the workouts that I don't plan. Make a plan and then stick to it!

2. Wait.

Dave says:

If, while thinking about your goals for the year, you said something like, “This just isn’t a good year to try and get out of debt,” then you’ve already set yourself up for failure. Now is the time. This is the year. Unless you just enjoy stress and debt, no more procrastinating.

Amanda says:

I can't stand it when people wait for the perfect time to 'start dieting' or 'go to the gym.' You don't have to eat everything unhealthy in your home and then go out and get all new healthy food to start 'dieting' on Monday. You can make small choices and small changes today to live a healthy life. Even if it's Thursday.

3. Expect the government to help you.

Dave says:

If you’re waiting around on the folks in Washington, D.C., to change your life, then you had better settle in and get comfortable—it’s going to be a while. Remember, they just passed the decision to take more of your money! The better plan is to take charge of your own life. The bucks (pun intended) stop and start with you. You are in charge of you.

Amanda says:

Okay, so I am a bit of a conspiracy theorist. But go with me here. At one point in time, the government told us that margarine was healthy for us and was going to help us all get skinny and fit! There were several independent studies at the time that told us otherwise but so many of us just took the government at their word. And now we know better.

But are we still doing it? The government now tells us whole grains are good for us and that we should be eating at least 3 - 5 servings a day. (source)  There are several independent studies that suggest more than 3 servings a week could be bad for the heart and digestive system. And I don't know about you, but I grew up in the country and if you wanted to make a cow fat you fed her whole grains.

Educate yourself outside of what the government tells you. I think we can all agree they have their own motives, and your health isn't always at the top of the list.

4. Make excuses.

 Dave says:

When we mess up with money, we sometimes tend to think we are the exception—that if people really understood our situation, they would know that a car lease or an adjustable rate mortgage or a pile of student loans is okay. Everyone goes through rough spots in life, but that’s no reason to let go of common sense and create more stress and heartache for yourself in the long run.

 Amanda says:

If I had a dollar for every time someone told me that it was just easy for me, I would never have to work another day in my life! It's not easy for anyone! And it is not harder for you than for any one else. But every time we eat the doughnut or skip a workout, the excuses come out of the wood work! There will be days that you are less than perfect, many of them. But don't fall into the habit of making excuses for it.

5. Use payment plans.

Dave says:

If you want to win with money, you need to take “payment plans” out of your vocabulary. Successful people don’t finance their couches. Or their dining room tables. Or even their cars. If you have to put it on a payment plan, you can’t afford it. As the old saying goes, “Broke people ask, ‘How much per month?’ and rich people ask, ‘How much?’”

Amanda says:

 I myself have fallen into the 'buy now, pay later' trap of weight loss. The diet pill.

But the truth is, you can't sprinkle some magic dust on your cheeseburger, lose 50 lbs and then expect to be a healthy, fit, and active person. You may lose the weight, but I guarantee, you will pay it back with interest. I did. Every time. 

6. Buy every “updated” version of all the hot products.

 Dave says:

At some point, we’ve decided that having a nice phone or a nice computer or a nice TV isn’t enough. We must have the newest, nicest version of everything. We’ve become entitled. That’s why some companies release a new product every single year. They know we’ll line up outside a store at midnight and wait in line for five hours to get a new phone that is 1/8 of an inch thinner than the one we already have. And the saddest part? How many of those people in line are dropping $500 on a phone when they don’t even have money saved for retirement or their kids’ college funds? Don’t get us wrong; new things are fun … as long as your priorities are in order.

Amanda says:

 I would love to have one of those BodyBugs, or a run tracking gps watch, or the latest Lululemon apparel, or any other product that 'fit' people have. As much as these things might help me get and stay fit, I don't have to have them. I can get fit and healthy doing squats in my living room or running around the neighborhood in an old T-shirt and shorts. If you won't workout without those things, you won't workout with them after a month or so.

7. Listen to your broke (fat) friends (or family).

Dave says:

If you got through all the holiday family dinners unscathed by horrible financial advice, lucky you. One of the best ways to go broke is to take advice from broke people—like Uncle Earl and your old friend Pete. Listen to those guys and, before you know it, you’ll be invested in a pyramid scheme, leasing a BMW, and taking out a home equity loan to finance that Civil War figurine collection you just had to get.

Amanda says:

 Okay, I am not trying to be insensitive here. I have been obese before and I know what it's like. But there are few things more agitating to me that an overweight person giving me tips on being fit and healthy. However, one of them is an overweight person telling me I am too extreme. Listen to people who are where you want to be. Not just skinny people, (because a lot of skinny people are very unhealthy) but people who challenge you to be the best you can! Do what they are doing! 

8. Live in the past.

Dave says:

January is an opportunity to forget about how you got into a bad financial situation and, instead, look forward to how you plan on getting out. You can beat yourself up all you want, but that will only make things worse. The fact that you’ve realized the problem—whether it’s credit cards, overspending, not saving enough, etc.—is a great indicator that you’re ready to change. Now go do it.

Amanda says:

 One of the hardest things for me to overcome was the mentality of the fat girl. I have still been obese longer than I have been fit, and sometimes I still catch myself thinking that I am who I was. I expect others to be able to lift more or run farther and faster. I expect to run out of breath and strength and have to call it quits. 

But that isn't who I am anymore. And I know I push myself much harder when I think of the fit person I am becoming and not the fat girl I was!!

9. Spend more time dreaming than working.

Dave says:

The opposite of living in the past is spending too much time dreaming about the future. That’s not a good option either. There’s nothing wrong with dreaming—that’s what hope is all about. But dreaming and working go hand in hand. You can’t let your dreams paralyze you and keep you from stepping out and getting things done. As we say around Dave’s office, “Goals are dreams with work boots on.”

Amanda says:

Who doesn't want to be fit and healthy? Who imagines themselves at the beach with an extra 20 lbs and smiles? We all want it. But so few are willing to work for it. So how about saying "Goals are dreams with sweat on"

So what are you NOT going to do in 2013 to make this the healthiest year ever?