Does being overweight affect your budget? You bet it does! Not only does it cost money to stay fat, it also costs you in mental well-being and peace of mind. It costs you in social life and self esteem. Being fat carries its own high price tag!

If you are on a limited budget, you know how expensive clothes are. Have you ever stopped to think how much you can save on clothing if you are not overweight? Check out the offerings in your local resale shop, for instance. Among the "normal" sized clothes, you'll find many stylish garments in really great condition. Now look through the extra large offerings. You probably won't find much to start with, and what you do find is likely to be worn out.

Look at the pants, for instance. If an overweight person has worn them much, they are probably stressed at the seams already. They also are likely to have any elastic already stretched out of shape. It may sound harsh to say these things, but it's the unvarnished truth. If you are willing to wear second hand clothes to save money, you will save much more and dress much better by maintaining a normal weight. In fact, every dress size or pant size you lose will result in better choices of clothing.

The same is really true of sale racks in department stores, too. The large sizes are often picked over, while the smaller ones remain. If you wear a large size, you are often tempted to grab the 3-X for instance just because it's there, even though a 2-X fits you better. You are likely to be wearing ill-fitting clothes just because it was all you could afford.

Shoes are also more expensive when you are overweight. Chances are, you will need a wide width, and these can be hard to find. Then you'll find out that you wear your shoes out faster than you would if you were lighter on your feet. You may also need special shoes in order to keep your feet from hurting, and these can cost $100 a pair or more - just for comfort.

Of course, extra fat makes you shy away from social events, costing you in friends and fun. If you've ever been teased about being large, you really know the pain and heartache that it costs you to be fat.

Finally, don't forget the price tag charged by modern medical practitioners! Being overweight often carries a package of health problems with it. You are likely to develop high blood pressure or problems with your heart or cholesterol, which require expensive medications or procedures. These expenses are just the tip of the iceberg, too. When that heart attack comes, you'll really have a bill on your hands!

No, the bottom line is, no one can really afford to be fat. Let these thoughts help motivate you to begin today to make the changes that will take those extra pounds off. Be gentle with yourself, though. You didn't gain it overnight, and you won't lose it overnight either. In fact, if you could, you'd probably put it right back on! Start now to treat yourself like someone who is valuable enough to take care of! You're worth it!