Make the Health-Wealth Connection
Become Financially Fit to Live Your Dreams
by Dr. Pamela Peeke
As an expert in women’s health, I’m constantly on TV, radio, stage, or the Internet ranting and raving about what it takes to live a long, healthy life. You know the drill—eat appropriate portions of whole foods, stay physically active, and practice stress management. Well, here’s new news that’s empowering and a real wakeup call:
You need enough money to finance your optimal health and wellness for a lifetime.
For women, that’s a long time. We should live at least 85 years. By the year 2050, there will be about 1 million centenarians, the majority of whom will be women. The price you pay for practicing healthy behaviors and living long is that you need more money to sustain you through the extra years. The goal is to accumulate enough money so that you don’t outlive your assets.
Worried you haven’t got enough saved? You’re in good company. The majority of men and women are in the same boat. We’re here to help guide you with small steps you need to take to build up the equity you’ll need to pay for living long and well. It’s time to get financially fit!
Let’s say you agree that you need to improve your self-care. It takes money to pay for the:
- place to live in a safe neighborhood with parks and sidewalks for daily walks,
- sneakers, socks, and workout clothes,
- those delicious organic fruits, vegetables, and whole grains,
- gym membership,
- time with a trainer,
- consultations with a nutritionist,
- sessions with a counselor, psychologist, or life coach,
- medications you may need as you age, and
- adventure travel—walking, hiking, biking, and swimming.
When I wrote my book, Fit to Live, I devoted an entire chapter “Money: Are You Financially Fit to Live?” to help people understand that health involves mental, physical, and fiscal fitness. You can start achieving this today by taking small steps.
First, own your financial fitness. Don’t offload your financial responsibilities to someone else, even a spouse. You need to be fully accountable for income and expenses. I highly recommend you getting together with a certified financial planner who can help guide you as you reduce debt and increase long-term savings. Don’t put this off. Your very health depends upon it!
Pamela Peeke, MD, MPH, FACP, is Chief Medical Correspondent for Discovery
Health TV and host of the Fit to Live series. Dr. Peeke is one of
America's leading women's health experts, a member of Oprah's O Team,
and Assistant Professor of Medicine at the U of Maryland. She is the NY
Times bestselling author of Fit to Live, Body for Life for Women and
Fight Fat after Forty.
To learn more about Dr. Pamela Peeke, visit her website at http://www.drpeeke.com.
