One of the many things people overlook when trying to live healthy on a budget is preventative health care. Most people think that not going to the doctor for checkups will save them money. This couldn't be further from the truth though. In fact, preventative health care can save you money over the long run. Not to mention that preventative health care can save your life. This week, let's talk about preventative health care and how it not only saves you money, but protects you as well.

A yearly checkup at the doctor's office is not a waste of money. In fact, these regular screenings can help patients become aware of conditions they may not have known about. For example, high blood pressure usually has no symptoms. This means that many people don't even know they have it until the go to the doctor for something unrelated. High blood pressure, if left untreated, can cause strokes, heart attacks, and even death. With preventative health care, patients become aware of the condition and can take measures to treat it before it's too late. The same goes for many other conditions, including high cholesterol and high blood sugar.

How does preventative health care save you money though? After all, you'll have to shell out a co-payment at the very least. But, preventative health care saves you money by treating diseases and conditions before they get too far out of hand. For example, becoming aware of border line blood sugar levels can prevent you from getting diabetes. If you know you're pre-diabetic, you can take steps to lower your blood sugar levels. By taking the steps to prevent the disease, you'll save thousands of dollars down the road by not having to buy insulin and make multiple trips to the doctor.

Preventative health care just makes sense. If you want to be healthy, and stick to a budget, don't wait until there is something wrong to see your doctor. Make it a point to get the checkups and screenings you need to prevent major diseases and conditions.

It seems like every time you turn on the TV, there's a new commercial advertising a product with added vitamins. Is it really necessary to pay the outrageous prices for these products? No! For mere pennies a day, you can get the exact supplements your body needs. This week, let's talk about how you can get the proper supplements without paying big bucks.

At dollar stores, and even stores like Wal-Mart, you can get unbelievable prices on supplements. For example, Wal-Mart offers large bottles of women's complete vitamins for only $4. Of course, if your doctor recommends taking extra supplements, those are available too. It's not uncommon to find 30 to 60 day bottles of supplements for only $1. A bottle of fancy vitamin fortified water costs more than that.

Here's an example. I take a women's multi vitamin each morning, which cost $4 for a bottle of 60. In the evening, I take a supplement which includes calcium, magnesium, and zinc, which also cost $4 for a bottle of 90. For around $0.11 per day, I'm able to get all the vitamins and supplements I need. In other words, who needs fancy products that have added vitamins?

One thing you should also consider is that you can save even more money by purchasing supplements in larger containers. This is a wonderful option if there are several people in your household taking the same vitamins. If you're the only one though, you need to look closely at the expiration date before making your purchase.

Of course, you may be worried about remembering to take your vitamins each day. As I mentioned last week, it's important to write reminders in your planner. But, I also find that it helps to use pill organizers. That way, if you find yourself wondering if you took your pills for that day, you can look in the organizer and be sure.

Stop adding fancy products to your shopping list and replace them with bottles of supplements. Not only will you save money, but you'll also be sure to get only the supplements you need.

One of the most important things people can do when living on a budget is to stock their pantry and freezer. A well stocked pantry and freezer allows you to prepare healthy meals, even if there's a week when you can't make it to the store. You may think that it would take a lot of money to stock your kitchen, but actually it only takes time. There are a few steps you'll need to follow and that's exactly what this week's blog is all about.

Step 1: Meat is one of the most expensive ingredients you use on a daily basis. Instead of buying meat as you need it, why not stock up when it's on sale? Each week, stores usually have one great deal in the meat department. One week, it may be chicken breasts, while another week it may be ground sirloin. Either way, it pays to take advantage of these prices. Stock your freezer so that you have the types of meat your family enjoys. When you start to get low on something, look for more sales.

Step 2: Speaking of the freezer, frozen fruits and vegetables are the perfect addition. You can either choose to stock up during frozen food sales or you can freeze your own. Any time you have leftover produce that needs to be used soon, freeze it. For example, chop up those extra onions and place them in a freezer safe container. The same goes for bell peppers. The next time you want meat loaf, the ingredients will be chopped and ready to go.

Step 3: Stock your pantry with healthy dry goods. Dry goods can be a tricky area. The key is to avoid processed foods, such as rice mixes and mac and cheese. Instead, stock your pantry with brown rice, dried beans, whole wheat pasta, and herbs and spices. To save money on dried goods, check your local dollar stores and large department stores for the best deals. If you're handy at canning, you can also preserve some of the vegetables from your garden.

Do you think you need to pay for expensive books or even the advice of a professional to get good advice on a healthy lifestyle? Then think again. There are literally thousands of online tools and websites that can help you lead a healthy lifestyle. Best of all, they're free! It doesn't matter if you're looking for basic tips or information on a specific diet plan. There are tools and information for every lifestyle. This week, let's look at a few of my favorite sites.

If you'd like to try the Weight Watchers diet, but don't have the money to invest in their program, you're in luck. Dotti's Weight Loss Zone, not only offers great advice, but you'll also find the Points value for thousands of different foods, including restaurant items. This site is a must for Weight Watcher wannabes and those members looking for a bit more advice.

For those looking for an easy way to track nutrition and personal fitness, Calorie Connect is a wonderful site. When you sign up, you'll be asked to answer a few questions about yourself, such as weight and height. You will then be given recommended daily nutritional and exercise guidelines. Thanks to the online journal, you'll be able to quickly add the foods you've eaten and exercise you've done each day. Staying healthy doesn't get any easier than this.

One more site I use on a daily basis is The Daily Plate. This site allows you to quickly look up the nutritional value of thousands of different foods. Whether you want to know how many calories your favorite ice cream has or how much fiber is in certain fruits, you can quickly find the information. The site even makes suggestions for healthier alternatives.

You don't have to empty your wallet just to get healthy advice. In all honesty, there is simply no reason to spend money on those expensive books that quickly go out of date. If you're looking for convenience, which you can take on the go, there are even free websites that offer mobile access.