How should I spend my wellness reimbursement?

December 11, 2019 7:30 PM

I have $200 to spend for wellness related items or experiences by Dec. 31. What’s the best bang for my buck?

All of this stuff sounds great but I would like ideas on the best ROI. Some things about me:

I used this a couple years ago to buy a yearlong membership at a local rec center but didn’t go that much
I have an Apple Watch
I don’t exercise as much as I should
I am mid-30s, female, generally healthy
I have a pretty good handle on my finances and cooking/food
I’m willing to spend over $200 if it’s worth it

Below are the eligible expenses. Thanks for your suggestions.

Fitness center, health club, studio and aquatic center membership fees
Group exercise class fees
Wellness-related class fees
Weight management program membership fees
Personal training fees
Nutrition counseling fees
Exercise and sport equipment
Multi-purpose wellness tracking devices
Mobile Apps Subscription Fees: apps that promote/track wellness, healthy eating, physical fitness, mindfulness (e.g., Headspace), etc.
Financial planning services
Organized Sport and recreation activity and lesson fees
Pet Adoption
Athletic Shoes
Massage therapy fees
Sit-stand desks for home use: Desk risers and desk converters are not a qualified expense

posted by girlmightlive to Health & Fitness (13 answers total)

The two categories that stand out to me would be personal training fees so that you will know the proper way to exercise so as not to injure yourself and fitness center or group exercise class fees. For me, exercising on my own meant I'd never get around to going, but having a group cardio class ensured that I would attend. I'm not sure if you can split them, but perhaps one personal training session and the rest on group classes would get you through the least-motivating months of Jan and Feb.
posted by The Wrong Kind of Cheese at 7:49 PM on December 11, 2019

My wife has been whispering Pocket Monkii repeatedly to me as we looked over your question. She's still doing it as I type this, so I have no choice but to pass along her recommendation. Interspersed with the monkii rec she's also saying bosu ball over and over. If no one hears from me tomorrow I maybe have perished.
posted by roue at 7:58 PM on December 11, 2019 [2 favorites]

A subscription to DownDog yoga app. They revamped their offerings this year and it's great.
posted by crush at 7:59 PM on December 11, 2019 [1 favorite]

I really like Headspace, using it finally got me to meditate regularly. However you need to figure out how to fit it into your routine, otherwise it's hard to make the time.

Honestly, holidays are stressful, I'd get a massage.
posted by radioamy at 8:03 PM on December 11, 2019 [4 favorites]

A good used commuter bicycle to use when winter is over
posted by Maarika at 8:25 PM on December 11, 2019 [3 favorites]

I feel like if motivation is your current limiting factor, then getting something that has good "bang for the buck" but requires more motivation/discipline may actually be a waste of money, like your previously mentioned rec center membership.

Maybe if you bought a whole bunch of one-day passes at a places you had some interest in (like a climbing gym, spin class, boot camp, pilates, kickboxing, crossfit, parkour, etc.) you could find one or two things that you'd like and set yourself up for the long term. Even if you didn't click with anything, it would be a bunch of new experiences.
posted by meowzilla at 9:13 PM on December 11, 2019 [1 favorite]

You know that thing where the smart kids say that the first thing they'd wish for is a lifetime supply of magic lamps, yes?

So you currently have $200 available to spend on a restricted list of things, one of which is financial planning. Seems to me that $200 spent now on financial planning has a pretty good chance of increasing the funds available to you at about this time next year by rather more than that, and without spending restrictions either.

And you could walk to the financial planner's office.
posted by flabdablet at 10:00 PM on December 11, 2019 [3 favorites]

An exercise bike or a treadmill, whichever appeals to you more. When your exercise equipment is literally 10 steps away, inside your own home, it reduces your ability to make excuses for skipping your workout because you don't have time to go to the gym or its snowing or whatever.
posted by SuperSquirrel at 4:50 AM on December 12, 2019

if you just want bang for your buck that won't be wasted if you don't use the rec center/take the class?

MASSAGES.

If you do any sort of exercise at ALL and if you ever have weird foot pain or whatever, going to a really good athletic shoe store (not like Foot Locker, something more like Fleet Feet) that will fit you and analyze your gait and recommend specific shoes for you can be an amazing investment, and for $200 you could easily afford most of the shoes they might suggest. It is AMAZING the difference the right shoes make, and even half a size off is so much worse for activity.

Otherwise... is there some activity you'd like to try but the startup costs have been a barrier? Or something you'd like to subscribe to that you could pay for yearly in advance? Doesn't have to be a yoga class - have you wanted to try archery or learn a martial art?

Alternately expert advice in the personal trainer/financial planner/nutrition area could be really useful, especially if you go in with the understanding they are helping you build a program for self-implementation in the 1-2 sessions.
posted by oblique red at 6:51 AM on December 12, 2019

I am terrible at exercise routines, but will happily bike places and get exercise as a side benefit. If this sounds like you, a bike or some upgrades to your bike equipment to make it a more practical choice could be a way to get some good value out of the deal. Maybe that's a nice rack and fenders. Maybe some good lights to feel better at riding when it gets dark.
posted by advicepig at 6:51 AM on December 12, 2019

i just started group exercise classes last month and they're way better than going to a gym by yourself. i buy a block of classes that are good for a few months and schedule them as they fit in my schedule. everything is booked with an app on my phone so it's easy to cancel and rebook when something comes up.
posted by noloveforned at 7:53 AM on December 12, 2019

If you don't exercise and want to do it more, I'd spend the money on personal training sessions. When exercise is an appointment and not just an activity, I've found I actually do it. Unfortunately $200 will only buy a couple of sessions (although more if they are group sessions, although that may not have the same degree of motivating effect as individual ones), but it would be a way to try it.
posted by Kadin2048 at 12:00 PM on December 12, 2019

Nintendo Switch with Ring Fit Adventure?

Some snowshoes and trekking poles? Yaktrax?

I don’t love playing sports, but I love lessons - maybe tennis or fencing or a martial art or...?
posted by daisyace at 4:30 PM on December 12, 2019