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Darlene Bishop asked:


As a diabetic, it’s mandatory that exercise is a regular part of my life. But staying fit on a budget can be a challenge. Here are some ways to get that daily exercise without spending a fortune.

==> Go for a walk. If you live in a sub-division or neighborhood with good sidewalks, this is a great way to stay in shape. Living in the country, as I do, with narrow, winding roads, makes it a little frightening – especially if you like to walk before daylight! Ideally, find a friend who’ll walk with you. The time will pass more quickly and you’ll be safer, too. If you do decide to walk for exercise, be sure to keep your pace up. An evening stroll, while enjoyable, won’t do much for your heart rate.

==> Get a stationery bike. While I’d prefer to ride a bike outside, those country roads are still a hazard. So we found a great deal on a stationery bike with all the bells and whistles ($35 through Craigslist). It monitors my speed, time, distance, and calories burned based on my weight. And this one has programs that change the resistance to make it seem as if I’m going up or down a hill. Even an older model with less features is a great way to burn calories when you can’t get outside to do anything else.

HOT TIP: Find a biking buddy and challenge each other to a distance contest. Map out a route on an atlas. Track your mileage as you ride. Whoever reaches the destination first wins and the other one has to buy them lunch.

==> Use an exercise video or DVD. If you’re fortunate enough to find one you like at the library, you can then search online or locally to buy a copy for yourself. But if not, you can often find used exercise videos or DVDs at a yard sale or thrift store for $1-$2. And since many of us only exercise sporadically, they’re typically in very good condition. Find one you like with an easy to learn routine and start working up a sweat – to the oldies or otherwise!

==> Join a church exercise program. A couple of the large churches in our area offer aerobics classes for $2-$3 per session. Some simply follow a tape, though the company and motivation of working out with others is helpful. But there are some led by instructors as well. Call around and see what you can find. It’s a lot cheaper than going to a gym!

==> Use the stairs. Not only in place of the elevator, which is a good thing, too. But walk up and down the stairs in your home a few times. Spend even 10-15 minutes a day going up and down the stairs and you’ll begin to see results very quickly.

These are just a few very simple ideas to help you get in shape without breaking the bank. There are several others online at Frugal Fancy’s Healthy Habits page.

Whatever you decide to do… do something. Exercise is key to long life and good health. And it makes you feel better almost immediately. So get off the couch, or out of that chair, and get busy. You’ll be glad SO you did!



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J J Jameson asked:


Because of the energy crisis, hybrid is the buzzword of the day.  With respect to cars, hybrid usually refers to engines that use electricity and gasoline.  The combination of both gets you more gas mileage.  For example the 2008 Toyota Prius, a well-known hybrid car, gets 48 miles per gallon as oppose to a comparable 4-cylinder non-hybrid car, say a Honda Civic, that gets 36 miles per gallon.  By the way, Honda also has a hybrid version of the Civic and it gets 45 miles per gallon.  The point is hybrid technology allows you to cover more grounds for a given set of resources, gasoline in this case.

In the cycling world, the term hybrid refers to bicycles with electric motors.  Yep, that’s traditional push pedaling made easy with electricity.  Instead of higher gas mileage, you get more miles pedaling and best yet, you don’t have to buy gas (because it’s a bicycle).

THE FRUGAL AND HEALTHY CONSUMER

But you’re asking why mention gas with bicycles?  In the past, at least in the United States, gas prices were never a concern.  Up until 2006 or so, Americans were able to buy gas for under $2.00 per gallon.  That’s practically nothing!  And times have changed since then.

In other parts of the world, however, they haven’t been so lucky.  Europeans have been experiencing gas prices between $5-$8 per gallon for years.  But they still get around.  Common among their usual transport is a bicycle.  You’ve seen many pictures of common folks getting around town bicycling.  Kinda like what we did when we were kids.  To get more “mileage”, a lot of Asians and Europeans use hybrid electric motor bikes.

Many smart and frugal Americans are discovering electric bicycles for short distance commuting to save money.  They don’t have to pay for gas!

There is another advantage.  Since you’re pedaling, you’re exercising.  Makes you healthy.  Of course, not everyone is in superb physical shape to be pedaling from one side of the city to the other.  But remember, it’s a hybrid bike. The electric motor helps you pedal.  Therefore you can get in shape slowly, but at the same time do so enjoying the outside.

The price of a hybrid bike may set you back from $500 to $1000 USD.  But that should pay for itself within a year if you can save on $50-$70 a month on gas and/or $20-$30 on gym membership.

THE ECO-FRIENDLY CONSUMER

Just as important as saving money, there is a global trend, or at least in the US, to be more eco-friendly.  Among others, gasoline is a concern.  As you know, burning gasoline emits pollutants that are harmful to both the environment and our health.  Transportation that uses less gas (hybrid cars) and no gas (electric car, hybrid bikes, electric scooters) are getting a lot of attention among consumers.

THE CHOICES OF HYBRID ELECTRIC BICYCLES

Though there are quite a few manufacturers of electric bicycles in existence, none of them are quite household names yet.  But below are just a handful electric motor bike readily found on Amazon, eBay, Shop.com and other online retailers:

iZIP Enlightened Hybrid Electric Street Bicycles

From Currie Technologies, the iZIP is one of the more popular electric hybrid bikes.  In one battery charge, it can travel up to 23-30 miles depending on the cycler’s weight.  Top speed on this 8-gear street bike can be up to 18 mph.  As you can see from the pictures, the motor and battery pack are cleverly integrated within the bike’s frame.  So unlike most electric bicycles, these components are not visually obtusive.  The geared hub motor is a brushless DC type encased in an alloy shell.  The battery pack is made of NiMH EV Rated Batteries Down Tube Concealed 24 V / 9 AH Pack (20) 1.2 V Rechargeable Cells.  There are men’s and women’s versions of the iZIP bike.

The Euro Electric Bicycle

Designed for urban commuting, the Euro gives you the impression you’re gliding to your destination. The rear storage rack makes it easy to run errands such as groceries.  The Euro is powered by a 24V 10Ah Li-ion battery with 6 speed Shimano derailleur and a high speed 350W motor.  Since the battery is Lithium-ion, it can be recharged over 1,000 times, making it more durable than a typical NiMH battery and SLA (sealed lead acid) battery.  Another plus is that Li-ion batteries are recyclable making this electric bike a truly eco-friendly.

Electrec Electric Bicycle

From Ideation Taiwan, the Electrec electric bicycle allows for non-pedal cruising for an 8-12 mile ride using only the motor.  Of course, the actual range depends on the terrain and weight of the cycler.  This seven speed electric bike comes with a 600-watt high-torque brushless motor powered by a 24-volt, 12 amp-hour battery pack.



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