How to Live a Healthy Thirty Millennial Lifestyle
How to Live a Healthy Thirty Millennial Lifestyle
We all see them fit, walking and biking to their destinations. We drive past in our nice cars and think “Eh, their young and agile, that’s not for me.” Well maybe we have it wrong the fact is Millennials are us. According to Pew research anyone born between 1981 to 1996 is considered a Millennial. That’s right, you’re in your 30’s looking to hang up your late nights for hygge and a movie but not ready to give up the conventional thinking we saw from the baby boomers. Why is that? Maybe because we didn’t realize we were, in fact, the generation in charge. Or maybe we didn’t know how to make the transition from cars to biking. Well, I did it to see if I could maintain a healthy lifestyle while being thirty.
When I told my friends and family I was giving up my car they immediately thought I was crazy. Some factors to consider are how much driving do you do? How much will you save? How will you grocery shop? How will you provide transportation for your family? All great questions I sought out to answer.
The first step to adopting a healthy and thirty Millennial Lifestyle is to:
- Understand how much you spend on transportation
Most banking apps allow you to classify your transactions and I was spending a whopping $700 a month on gas, car payments, and maintenance.
- Decide how often you drive and where
Using your Google maps timeline, it shows you the places you frequent daily and then a monthly summary. I learned that I primarily go to work which is 180 miles away, grocery store, pharmacy, Walmart and out to eat.
- Identify what public transportation options are available and price
- Research how you will handle impromptu trips
- Ask friends and strangers how they commute
After gathering my research, I began planning my strategy. I don’t enjoy going to Wal-Mart but it’s a necessity. I decided to switch to Google Express entirely for my household necessities. I’ve used it off and on and not only does it save me time and money but it’s like getting a present each month.
Next, I had to handle grocery shopping. Many grocery stores delivery but I love picking out fresh produce myself. Millennials have driven the trend of work, play and stay all in the same proximity. My home has several great grocery stores within walking and biking distance of less than one mile. I grabbed a few bungee cords and a duffle bag, threw my groceries on my bike rack and mossed on home. It was quite easy.
I love eating out and used Uber to travel to my favorite restaurants or to meet up with friends. It is a quick and easy way for impromptu trips. No worries about parking, designated driver or even the worse of something happening to your car and raising your insurance. I also signed up for meal delivery through Hello Fresh, Home Chef and Blue Apron for the nights I want to eat something new and exciting (writing a full article on that.)
My pharmacy is right by my grocery store and they also deliver to your home. I found out that my doctor does e-visits so even if I’m sick I can get professional care without biking or walking when I am too sick to move. Finally, I had to tackle my biggest transportation option. Getting to work.
I researched carpools, buses, trains and to no avail was left without hope. Then I spoke to a co-worker who told me about a vanpool for $128 a month. I signed up and was finally ready to become a biking, ridesharing and public transportation millennial. I not only slashed my transportation expensive by 81% but I gained valuable time back. How much time? I wrote this article while on my way to work in the vanpool. Next time you see someone biking to work or school ask yourself, “Why am I not doing that?”
