Eight Ways to Lose Weight and Save Money

Do it yourself: If there are projects you want done around the house, consider doing them yourself. Purchasing a do-it-yourself home improvement book is well worth the investment -- you will be surprised at how often you can do projects on your own. Just make sure that projects that you try are within your ability, or it will probably cost you a lot more in repair bills to fix your mistakes in the end.

Hang clothes to dry: Instead of simply throwing your clothes into the dryer, take a few minutes to hang them on a clothesline. This saves the energy of running your dryer, plus it will give you light exercise in carrying the clothes out, putting them up and bringing them in.

Wash and maintain your car: Keeping your car clean on the inside (extra weight will reduce gas mileage) and washing the car yourself (instead of taking it to a car wash) will give you a light workout and save you money. Plus, most people should have no problem doing minor maintenance on their car, such as changing filters, checking tire pressure and filling fluids.

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Take up an active hobby: While some might believe that taking up a hobby will cost you money, if it keeps you from sitting in front of the TV, you will probably come out well ahead in your finances. There are a large number of low-cost hobbies like hiking, biking and running that will give you the needed exercise and keep you from sitting in front of the television.

If you have the time and energy to go to a gym, replacing the time there with any of the above will still give you a good workout while saving you a lot of money in the process. As you get into the habit of getting your exercise by being productive, you not only will get in better shape, but you'll also increase your overall energy and your savings at the same time.