Lack of exercise can hit you in the wallet! Daily physical activity lowers the risk of a multitude of ailments, from heart disease to diabetes to certain kinds of cancer, which are obviously expensive to treat, even for people who have health insurance. A Harvard study found medical bills are behind 60 percent of U.S. bankruptcies, and more than 75 percent of bankrupt families had health insurance at the onset of the illness. Meanwhile, studies have found exercise can improve your performance at work by boosting cognitive skills and productivity, and reducing stress and absenteeism.