North Pointe MOPS

The topics of saving, investing, budgeting, couponing, bargaining, and planning dominate any frugal living or financial peace conversation. Although all have their place while trying to wisely manage God- given resources, even the economically prudent folks out there rarely, if ever, discuss how one’s health can impact today’s budget or tomorrow’s retirement.

Since a full-fledged article on this subject is too boring and time consuming for both the author and the reader (that laundry won’t wash itself!), a list free of cumbersome statistics will have to do. Plus, I heart listing. So here’s a little food for thought …

A few things random thoughts:

1. There is not enough soap, Clorox, and hand sanitizer in the world to overcome the infectious organisms residing in my son’s school building, a MOPPETS classroom, a gym locker room, a McDonald’s play land, or Walmart; therefore, I understand that some illnesses, especially acute in nature, are essentially unavoidable. 
2.  I also know that life happens, and for reasons beyond human comprehension, people are sometimes handed some unexplainable life-altering and life-ending diagnoses. Many of these situations come with hefty treatment expenses. Not even Dave Ramsey himself could construct a middle class budget to withstand the financially crushing costs that accompany rare cancer treatments or traumatic injuries. 
3. llness and disease affect quality of life, family dynamics, and relationships. Money is less important than all of these (in my opinion). 
4.  I am neither a frugal living expert (I do occasionally pay for convenience. Gasp! How else would I find the time to write blog posts?) nor a professional financial planner (I didn’t ace the financially literate quiz just in case you were wondering). 

 Simply put, poor health costs money …

1. America spends a lot (A LOT!) of money on healthcare related expenses. More specifically, America as a whole spends a lot (A LOT!) on chronic diseases. The big dogs of chronic disease, heart disease and stroke, diabetes, and lung disease, account for $760 billion (BILLION!) of healthcare spending annually. Click here if you are interested in a little more data. 
2.  Co-pays, deductibles, and medication necessary for chronic disease management undoubtedly strain a personal budget.
3.  Obesity increases the risk for developing many chronic diseases, and the occurrence of obesity is rapidly increasing. Find more on this here. 
4.  Obesity is preventable and reversible in nearly all cases. Preventable and reversible do not mean easily accomplished, however. 
5.  Preventing chronic diseases by living a healthy lifestyle now can possibly save you thousands of dollars in the future. Factoring in quality of life, relationships, longevity, and financial implications, investing in your health could have much greater long-term returns than a 401K. On average, a person with a chronic disease spends five times more on healthcare annually than a person without a chronic illness. 

Put simply, a healthy person is not going to be burning through the retirement savings or monthly income as quickly as one with a chronic illness. Things for moms to consider …

1.  Habits, healthy or unhealthy, learned by children will likely extend into adulthood. Teach your young kids what it means to be healthy now before any avoidable chronic health concerns arise. However, I am giving you no promises that this will withstand the ever so popular Ramen noodle/frozen pizza/Mountain Dew diet that every college student resorts to, but it’s worth a shot. 
2.  As parents, we always have the final say in what our young children eat. Given the choice, a three-year-old will choose chicken nuggets, fruit snacks, apple juice, and ice cream every time. 
3.  Think twice about good deals. Just because a bargain shopper can walk out of a store with 16 boxes of Pop Tarts, a case of hot dogs, and 100 packets of Kool-Aid for $1.56 doesn’t mean it’s the best overall deal for her family. 
4.  More fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables. More whole grains. Less sugar. Less fat. Less sodium. 
5.  Juice and soda are loaded with calories. Calories that aren’t burned are stored (a.k.a. fat). 
6.  Get moving! There are plenty of free ways to be active. Physical activity doesn’t have to break the budget, but if a family gym membership helps to get the whole family moving, it might be a very worthy short-term and long-term investment. 
7.  Lead by example! It’s difficult for a child to decipher the mixed message that you send when he is handed a bowl of carrot sticks while you are eating chocolate. 
8.  No sugar + no fat = no fun …. so find a little balance. Save the special treats for bribery special occasions. Birthdays and Halloween are special occasions, but so are tantrum-free trips to the grocery store and putting toys away without prompting. 

 What tips do you have for investing in your family’s health?

 Katie Sindelar in our MOPS group is a registered nurse and certified diabetes educator.