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Let’s Explore New Sports in 2012!

by Krista on February 3, 2012

We are having a SNOW DAY in Colorado, which for me, sadly, no longer means sledding, no school, and hot chocolate. Instead, it means working from home (with Jon, which is interesting, to say the least), throwing everything I have in the fridge into a crock-pot, and still being in my pajamas on the couch at 4:41. I still love snow days!

One of my monthly “themes” is to try new sports, and I’ve been thinking about what my focus is going to be for this themed month. I’ve decided to crowd-source this question to get some input from you. Do you have any new sports or activities you want to try or improve on in 2012?

Here are several sports that I am already dedicated to “trying” or improving on this year:

1. Hula Hooping – I have already tracked down a studio that has classes so I just need to pick a month and get started. I have a hoop and I’ve done some “self-teaching” videos, and so far I love it. What I really love about hooping is that I could just pretty much go anywhere (park, street, backyard, etc.) with my hoop and get in a quick, fun workout. It’s like jump roping, but better. Plus, if I ever decide I want to be a hippie, this is pretty much a prerequisite.

2. Cross Country Skiing – Living in Colorado, I am almost ashamed to say that I have never been cross country skiing. I may be getting old, but for some reason it is holding some appeal for me this year. I know it’s a heck of a good workout, and while it may not be the best sport for the “adrenaline-junkie” side of me, I’m going to give it a try. Right now Jon and I are talking about going to Steamboat this winter, and if we go, we’ll dedicate one day to cross-country skiing, and the next to the mountain.

3. Riding Switch - this isn’t really a “new” sport, but I am committed this year at becoming really good on my switch side on a snowboard. This is mostly so I can easily do 180′s, which I have learned are a cinch if you start out in switch and land regular. If you aren’t a snowboarder, this entire section makes no sense, so read on to #4! I’ve already dedicated quite a bit of time on the mountain this year to switch, so I am not too worried about making good on this goal.

4. Ice Skating on a Lake - I really want to ice skate on a real lake (not a dinky one in Denver or elsewhere) this winter. I am probably going to opt for Evergreen Lake, so if anyone wants to go with me, let me know!

5. Lifting Weights - this is not really a sport either, but I am committed to lifting weights this year, in addition to all of the cardio I do. I really like the classes at 24-hour fitness (Bodypump is my favorite), so I am trying to go to at least one a week, as well as doing free weights on my own.

6. Mountain Biking – I bought an awesome bike last year so I am super motivated to continue improving on my skills. Kathy and I have already started talking about MOAB trips this spring. Mountain biking is one of the coolest sports around – high adrenaline, great work out, awesome scenery, fun with friends, etc. It’s a sport I want to establish a deeper relationship with this year.

I am also toying with the idea of doing an XTERRA Race this year, which means I have to take up swimming, I didn’t even list this as a goal, because I haven’t decided yet (I may want to jun the New York Marathon). If I do it, I must also convince Kathy to do it (which won’t be hard if anybody knows Kathy) – because she has to teach me how to swim!!!

What winter or general sports or sport-related goals have you set for this year?

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One Habit Per Month: Starting in February

by Krista on February 1, 2012

How many of you started New Year’s Resolutions? Who feels like you’ve wasted January in recovery mode from the holidays and are now considering giving up? Join the club. That is why today, on February 1st, I am encouraging us to start our New Year in February.

Think about it. January should be the time to recuperate from the holidays and do some soul-searching on what 2012 is going to mean for you. It’s hard to get this all done during the crazy holiday season, so I’ve found that sometimes I feel rushed and commit myself to resolutions I don’t really care about or won’t keep.

I feel like I had about 70% of my 2012 plan completed before the holidays, but it just dawned on me that having January as my “buffer” month between 2011-2012 actually works quite well.

Everybody who knows me also knows I am serious about my resolutions. In fact, last year, I posted them on FitAndThrifty! I’m not going to do that this year because I’ve gotten shy in my old age, but I do have a suggestion for those of you who have a hard time making – or keeping – New Year’s Resolutions.

My recommendation is to focus on one habit, improvement, theme, or focus each month. Just one. For 30 days. It’s way less stressful than trying to hammer out all of your resolutions at once. Plus, it’s kind of fun to have one theme per month to focus on. Studies show (I don’t remember which ones, but I’m pretty sure I’ve heard this somewhere) that it takes 21 days to form a habit. You have more like 30 using my plan. So think about some of the things you want to accomplish or improve throughout the year, and jot down 11 themes – one for each month (except for Jan) in 2012.

I’m not going to bore you with all of my 2012 habits, but I will share a few with you. January (I know, I know, I had to set one in my buffer month) was to become more spiritual. I am reengaging myself with meditation and I started going to church again. I don’t know where this will take me, but I had a genuine interest in learning more about different religions and how they compare to each other, and of course to Christianity.

February is creating a morning and evening ritual. This includes early to bed and early to rise, working out in the morning, meditating, reading in the evening, and heading up to bed before 8:45 (after which I read for at least a half hour).

Some of my other “themes” or improvements include one month of cooking (we’ll see how that goes), one month of random acts of kindness, one month of volunteering, and so on and so forth.

Let me know if this works for you, or better yet, how you plan your own resolutions!

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45 Life Lessons

by Kathy on December 14, 2011

I know that today’s post from me doesn’t have much to do with being fit or thrifty. This is just a really cool list of life lessons that I came across a few years ago, and I wanted to share it with you. I read it every once and a while and always find at least one that hits me hard. And let’s face it, how healthy and fit you are, is often also an indication of how happy you are. As the year is coming to an end, I find myself thinking of my life and the things I’d like to change or view differently. I am looking forward to 2012, and the hope that comes with it. I trust that you will enjoy reading this as much as I do. My favorite? #31.

1. Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It’s more healing than crying alone.
8. It’s OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present.
12. It’s OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn’t be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don’t worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn’t kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It’s never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don’t take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie.
Don’t save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don’t wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words ‘In five years, will this matter?’
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn’t do.
35. Don’t audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative — dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s,we’d grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come.
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift.”

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Fit Finance Friday: How to Become Debt Free in 2012

by Krista on December 9, 2011

If you’re anything like me, you’re already taking stock of your 2011 and starting to think about high-level goals in 2012.

For many of us, becoming debt free or at least more financially stable is always a goal. We at FitAndThrifty think being financially “fit” is just as important as any other aspect of a “healthy” lifestyle. So on Fit Finance Fridays we will try to leave you guys with some small tips on how to make your financial dreams a reality.

If you do happen to be struggling with debt, or even just working it down, here is a helpful and FREE audio lesson from David Ramsey on how to become debt free using his Debt Snowball method.

Have a fun weekend and be on the lookout from some funny pics from Kathy’s Ugly Sweater Party this evening!

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How I Got An Almost Free iPhone 4S Without Stealing It

by Krista on December 8, 2011

People who really know me can attest to the fact that I like to hang onto my electronics for a long time. I am just now retiring a MacBook after four years, since the speakers went kerplunk and because Apple told me the hard drive is 95% failed. I would also probably still have my iPhone 3 if I hadn’t lost it. So when the iPhone 4S came out, even though I wanted it sooooo bad…the thrifty part of me (read: cheap), decided I didn’t NEED a new phone because my 3GS worked just fine.

Fast forward to one day recently while out at a Gourmet Food Walk downtown. Picture me trying to take a photo of a gourmet hot dog food cart while juggling a cupcake and a thermos of wine (another story for another day). Imagine the look on my face when I drop my iPhone (for the thousandth time since I bought it) and the glass face shatters!

Oops. Time to get a new phone.

As I set out on a voyage to get a new 4S in the thriftiest way possible, I actually figured out how to get an almost free iPhone each time your contract with your phone provider renews.

Here are my tips:

1. Don’t lose your phone and keep it in good shape until you are eligible for a renewal, which means you get a discounted rate (usually about $200 off) on your phone. Use a screen cover to prevent it from scratching and get yourself a good case so that when you do drop it (which you will), it won’t break. I had a crappy case and clearly learned this lesson the hard way. I recently upgraded to Otterbox because they pretty much guarantee that your phone won’t break. I did my research on this one and they are the best cases around.

2. If your phone busts, fix it. I only paid $40 to have my screen fixed, and then sold my phone for $160. If your screen breaks, have it fixed, because you’ll definitely be able to sell it for enough to make up for the cost once it’s fixed. I also had a broken 3G (my second one after I lost my old one that broke after it was out of warranty), and I even managed to offload this one to the guy who fixed my phone for $40! Ask your local AT&T where to fix your screen. They will have recommendations.

3. Sell your phone at the right time. The best time to sell your phone is right after the new one comes out. Don’t wait TOO long (like after two new phones have been released) or your phone won’t be valuable anymore.

4. Don’t forget to erase your info. Wipe that guy out before you give it to the stranger who answered your ad. Do this by turning on your phone and going to Settings > Reset > Reset All Content And Settings. They will ask you if you are sure you want to erase all of your data on your phone. Are you? Not until you’ve backed it all up on your computer, mind you. So do that first.

5. Try Craigslist before eBay. eBay gives you a better reach but Craigslist is free. I like free. Post a simple, to the point post. Stress that it is in GREAT CONDITION (if this is not a lie) and that your phone comes WITHOUT A CONTRACT! That is the key message because people are willing to pay more to not have a contract. Also, if you already received your new phone, it doesn’t hurt to give all of your new accessories away with your old phone. I saved my old phone’s packaging and set it up with all new accessories (last thing I need is more Apple accessories laying around), and the freaking thing looked BRAND NEW. $160 later I walked away with a smile on my face. Since I traded an old phone for my new screen, it didn’t cost me anything to fix. So in the end, I had to pay $40 for a brand new iPhone 4S. Winning! Just kidding. I hate that phrase.

You can do this every two years when your contract renews. Rinse. Repeat. You get the picture.

Please forward this to every single friend of yours who has an iPhone. Spread the love. Thanks!

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Wedding Planning – Part 1

by Kathy on December 2, 2011

The wedding bells are ringing! As you will all learn, I am getting married in July 2012. This is very exciting, but also kind of scary! And I’m not refering to the fact that I’m agreeing to spend the rest of my life with the same man. Weddings are expensive! I had always heard from others that it was a pricey day, but never realized how true that was until I started trying to plan my own. Eeek!

I thought that it might be fun to have occasional posts about my planninng process. So check FitandThrifty.com for updates on my wedding fun. I will always be looking to shed cost in every way I can. So far I have found a few ways to save me money. My first task was to chose parents that can assist with the cost. haha….just kidding. Luckily for me, I am fortunate enough to have parents that are able to help. But this doesn’t mean that I’m going to spend frivolously. I still need to be thrifty.

The wedding venue is one of the biggest (if not THE biggest) decision to be made. Where the wedding is held will set the tone of the entire wedding itself. I have chosen a mountain/outdoor setting. And it will be on a Sunday. One of the first ways I realized I could cut major costs was to have the wedding on pretty much ANY day besides Saturday. I saved over $2500 having mine on a Sunday instead. And you can save even more if you’re flexible enough to have it on a week day.

Who will be in your wedding is probably one of the most difficult decisions. It was a hard one for me since I have so many great friends and family members that I would love to be part of my day. And, I don’t want peoples feelings to get hurt. However, it is just not possible to have everyone. To save money, I chose to have Krista in my wedding. Kidding! That’s not the only reason. I am just so lucky to have such a great friend that has a 6th sense for saving money. Having her input during my planning will undoubtedly save me some dollars.

I decided to save money for the members of my wedding party by allowing them to chose their dresses/suits. I have been in enough weddings to see how expensive it can be. Unconventionally, I am choosing a colour (black), and allowing all the women in the wedding to pick a black dress of their choice, and the men to wear black and white suits. This enables my wedding party to spend as much on the day as they are able. Every women looks good in (and probably already owns) a black dress, and almost every man already owns a black suit. And if not, they are sure to have a use for it again in the future. I am confident that the day will still be beautiful without everyone in the party spending a fortune on dresses and tuxedos.

I will start the rest of my planning come the new year, and update as I make progress. I will be on the constant look out for ways to save money while putting together my perfect wedding. I hope you enjoy following me on my wedding adventures!

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Throwing a Holiday Party on a Budget

by Kathy on November 28, 2011

In about 2 weeks, I will be hosting my annual Ugly Christmas Sweater Party. This year, more so than in other years, I am on a tight budget. However, this is not going to prevent me from throwing my party. This means that I’m going to have to come up with some thrifty ideas to save me some money. Whenever you plan on providing food and drink at a party (which I do), then things can start to get pricey. I still want everyone attending to have a great time, but I need to cut costs everywhere I can. This is how I plan on saving money for my party this year.

Take people up on their offer to bring something. Whenever I’ve hosted a party in the past, the first question I usually get is “what can I bring?”. This year, I’ll assign them with something they can bring. That way I don’t have to plan on providing food and drink for everyone. I never find it strange or take offense to people asking me to bring something to parties I attend, and I don’t think people will mind helping me throw a good party.

Buy in bulk at places such as Costco. It is so much cheaper to buy food for a party here. They have great selections of cheese, breads, crackers, dips, hors d’eourves, and drinks. They can also provide you with ready made veggy trays or shrimp platters for relatively the same price it would cost to make them yourself. This also saves me time!

Buy foods that are cheap and filling. Some appetizers such as bacon wrapped scallops, as delicious as they may be, are not filling. I could probably eat like 20. However, I doubt that I could sit and eat 20 meat balls. And they are MUCH cheaper than scallops. This year I will try and buy foods that are filling so that I dont have to buy as much food. Things like veggy trays, meat balls or cocktail wenies in BBQ sauce, breads, crackers, and chips and dip. Yummy, cheap, and filling.

The above is also true for alcohol. Why spend a lot of money on high priced liquor that will have the same effect as cheaper options? I don’t know about you… but if drinks are free, I’m not picky about the kind of alcohol I’m drinking. This year, instead of buying a whole bunch of good bottled beer, I will buy a keg of cheap beer. Instead of bottles of wine, I will buy a few boxes. I will only have one kind of hard liqour – rum. The rum will be served with my hot apple cider.

I am confident that if I cut costs using the above ideas, I will still be successful in hosting a fun party. Because lets be honest, if alcohol is served, it will be fun. Does anyone else have good ideas for saving money when throwing a party?

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Four Ways to Save Big on Cyber Monday!

by Krista on November 22, 2011

Some of us may be debating whether or not to set our alarms on Black Friday to get an early start on a full day of shopping deals. My advice? Skip it. Skip it. Skip it. FitAndThrifty.com has a better idea.

Cyber Monday is the day you should reserve for your shopping. Cyber Monday, the first Monday after Thanksgiving, is the designated day for post-Turkey Day online sales that takes place on November 28th this year. Cyber Monday means you miss the crowds, you get a better selection of products and stores, and you take advantage of online-only deals and websites that make you a smarter AND thriftier shopper.

If there is a big-ticket fitness item (or any item, for that matter), that you have been waiting to purchase, Cyber Monday is the day you should buy. Get a new bike, snowboard, skis, treadmill, snowshoes, new pair of running shoes, etc. Buy a new computer (that’s what I’m doing). Get a new DSLR camera (I may do this as well). Retailers will be aggressively dropping prices that day, and if you follow my instructions below, you will get the best deal of the year this Monday. Here’s how it’s done.

1. Figure out what you want to buy
The first thing you need to do is narrow down your choices to a single product. This can be accomplished by reading product reviews, surveying your friends on Facebook, and even cruising by a brick and mortar store BEFORE BLACK FRIDAY to check out your choices. PriceGrabber is a nifty little site that helps you compare products in almost any category, including sporting goods, fitness equipment, etc. I often use it to narrow down my choices if all I know is that I want to buy “a tennis racket,” for instance.

2. Figure out where to buy it
This is the second challenge: where can I get the lowest ticket price on my item? My website of choice is called www.thefind.com. Jon introduced it to me and I’ve been using it ever since. At thefind, you can compare prices on almost anything, and the site links you directly with the store’s website to purchase. There are other sites like thefind but this one is my favorite.

The key here is to find the top 3-4 places that are carrying your product at the lowest price. If there is a small difference in price, that doesn’t matter, because you still have one step left before you decide where to buy!

3. Go to a cash back site like ShopAtHome.com
In full disclosure, I used to work for ShopAtHome.com, which was when I was introduced to the GLORIOUS world of cash back websites. Basically, these sites aggregate tons of retailers on their website and when you click through and make a purchase, they collect an affiliate fee and share it with you! On a normal day, it is usually from 2-5%. On major holidays like CYBER MONDAY sites like ShopAtHome have what are called “Extra Cash Back Events”. This means they offer an additional cash back bonus at many of their stores (usually over 100 of them). During these events, they sometimes actually LOSE money on the deal, but you as the customer get a killer deal. This is why it is important to wait until a big holiday like Cyber Monday falls, because you will get the most cash back.

4. Select a store…and don’t forget to check for coupons!
Now go back to the 3-4 low price stores from your time on thefind.com and check to see what type of cash back they are offering. There is a little bit of math required in this step, but it’s not rocket science. Select the store where your net cash out of pocket is the least! Go to the store page on ShopAtHome.com and check for coupons. If you can score a coupon on top of all the sales you’ve already worked for, you are my hero. Become a member of ShopAtHome.com and click out to the store of choice from their store page.

Voila. You just saved some meaningful cash….and you didn’t have to leave your couch!

Leave a comment and tell us how much you save on Cyber Monday. Biggest saver wins a prize! (Prizes will most likely will not be in a physical form. Think: pat on the back.)

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Staying Motivated Over the Holidays

by Kathy on November 18, 2011

The holidays are almost here! I so look forward to the time spent with family and friends over Thanksgiving and Christmas. For most people (myself included!), the holidays center around enjoying a large amount of food and drink with loved ones. Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie, etc etc… not to mention the extra beer and wine! This doesn’t come without a price. Last year I managed to gain 7 pounds at Thanksgiving alone. I am determined to not let this happen again. However, I always find that my motivation dwindles when I’m at home for the holidays. I get sucked into the daily routine of relaxing around the house basically waiting for the next feeding time. How can I make myself stay somewhat active over the next couple months, and not leave the holidays resembling Mrs. Claus?!?! Here are some of my ideas.

Keep the goal small. If I tell myself it’s ok to just get out for a 3mi run, as opposed to aiming at completing 10mi, I am more likely to get out that door. And who knows, maybe that 3mi run will turn into a long run once I’m out there.
Reward myself. If I reach January 1^st weighing the same as I do now, then I will reward myself with a Christmas present. This can be either a new work-out shirt I’ve been wanting, or maybe a yummy treat!
Sign up for a race early in the new year. Races are miserable when you’re not in shape, let alone if you’ve gained 10 pounds. If I sign up for a local race (even if it’s just a 5K), it will provide extra motivation for me to get out and run over the holidays. Most cities have either a Turkey Trot or a Jingle Bell run.
Find a work out buddy. My sister in law Karyn is a runner, and I plan on dragging her out with me. I also plan on setting up some “running dates” with some of my running friends over the holidays. If I’m committed to meeting them for a run, then I have to go. It’s much more enjoyable when you have company. Plus, they can help provide the motivation you need when you lack it yourself.
Run/exercise in the morning. If I get up and immediately get into my work out clothes, I am less likely to come up with excuses for not going. Plus, I will better be able to enjoy all that extra food and drink I’ll undoubtedly have that day knowing that I’ve already gotten some exercise in.
Remind myself that exercise gives me time alone. We all know that family can start to get under your skin. Especially when the house is bursting with the entire extended family present. When I find myself getting antsy this holiday season, I will just throw on my shoes and head out the door for a little break. I will certainly return in a better mood.

Here’s hoping this helps me exit the holidays looking and feeling the way I do now (or maybe even better!). I hope all of you are able to stay motivated this holiday season!

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How to be Fit and Thrifty at Starbucks + BOGO Deal!

by Krista on November 16, 2011

It’s usually hard to fit the words “fit” and “thrifty” into any sentence involving drinking Starbucks coffee. Why? Because Starbucks is usually fattening and expensive. Sad but true, folks. I used to drink Starbucks all the time until the one day when I got the great idea to build a quick spreadsheet to see how much I was spending a year with my lovely habit. It was asinine. So I quit my daily trips and I am probably much better off now – financially and fit-wise. However, I still indulge in Starbucks on special occasions or after some company bribes me to do something in exchange for a Starbucks gift card (Colorado’s Excel Energy recently bribed me to install an energy saver in exchange for $25 at Starbucks – SOLD!)

Unless you are drinking black coffee at Starbucks (and what fun is that?), you are consuming calories. Most of us know that you can make any Starbucks coffee “skinny” by requesting to have it made with no fat milk. I do this every time. Some of you may prefer soy, but if you’re looking to limit caloric intake, go with skinny. Here’s how many calories you’ll save on one of my favorite drinks:

Venti Cappuccino (whole milk): 199 calories
Venti Cappuccino (low fat milk): 144 calories
Venti Cappuccino (soy milk): 76 calories
Venti Cappuccino (no fat milk): 59 calories

You do the math.

Today, I have (miraculously) found a way for all of us to save money at Starbucks over the holidays. The company just announced its Holiday deals this week and to kick of the specials, they are offering a BOGO “Buy One Get One” deal this Thursday through Sunday, November 17-21st from 2-5 PM. It’s the perfect way to fight the pesky afternoon sleepy time mode that I inevitably fall into on most, if not all, days.

Interestingly, Starbucks is promoting a “Skinny” drink over the holidays for those keeping an eye on their waistlines this time of year. The flavors include the new Skinny Peppermint Mocha, Caramel Brulée Latte, Gingerbread Latte and my personal favorite, the Eggnog Latte.

Check for a Starbucks near you (in case you don’t already know of 5 in your area) and read about the promo before you go. Make sure to go to an ACTUAL Starbucks for the BOGO promo – visiting one in a Target or Safeway ain’t gonna cut it.

Question: do you think Starbucks actually TASTES better in the red holiday cups? I do.