Hey anon, do you live anywhere near any parks or trails? I find doing a mix of walking and walking quite quickly (enough to get your heart rate up, usually a couple of minutes of one and then the other) is a good start. Even going through neighbourhoods that aren't right on busy highways can do.
For lunches, planning ahead is key. Chop up some veggies either the night before or the morning of to snack on and bring them to work, make a weekly menu for yourself so you can buy in bulk as necessary, and try to stick to it. This ought to help both budgeting and nutrition.
For work-out clothes, if you don't have any you can probably still find some at second-hand stores. General rule of thumb: cotton will soak up water like a mofo, so it's awful to work out or sweat in. Look for layers, especially in colder weather around now. Baselayers are those that go against your skin, and are meant to wick sweat away from your bod. You'll want either something polyester (synthetic material, stretchy esp. with spandex) with the caveat that it's going to get smelly and need to be washed after every use, or wool (thin wool is hard to come by in second hand stores, but sometimes you can find some that is a bit hole-y; that's fine if it's just going against the skin and you'll have a layer on top.) A thin wool will get a little damp but it will stay warmer, and it won't smell as immediately as polyester.
You can opt for a two or a three layer system based on your environment and your needs.
If you go for a two-layer system, your first is your base-layers (shirt, undies, hopefully a sports bra that works for you if you need it--and let me know if you need help determining how these are supposed to fit--pants, socks; synthetic or wool when possible), and an outer layer appropriate to the weather. Usually these are known as 'soft shells', and what you're looking for is something looser like a classic 90's windbreaker: nylon, soft, crinkly feel, not too heavy-weight if you're somewhere where the weather doesn't often go below 0C. If you live somewhere where it freezes often, you'll want something with a little more warmth in between your base-layer and your wind-breaker, preferably that zips at least 1/4 from the neck and chest. Again, no cotton unless you want it to catch sweat and get clammy. Wind-breaker pants are a little harder to come by, but you could go with some combo of stretchy jogging shorts made of polyester and spandex and a less clingy outer layer made of nylon, if you can find it. Think cheesy hiking pants if necessary. More room to allow your knees space while you move. Swap the windbreaker out for a rain jacket if you're in a warmer clime (lighter the better) or another heavier layer if you're in a freezing clime.
Three-layer systems are similar to the above, but use a 'hard shell' outer layer. Base layer, middle layer for insulation/layers, hard rain-shell to keep off rain or melting snow. Harder to come by in second hand shops but if you can find a second-hand sports store, you might have better luck. Hard shell clothing is usually made of nylon and is seam-taped on the inside (if you see stitching on the inside, it hasn't been taped, which means even if the fabric is waterproof, it may leak where the stitching has punched holes in it.) Something that breathes is going to be the best for exercising outside: Gore-Tex is the name brand of this, but pertex and other 3-layer hard-shell jackets and pants can work. They're usually expensive as balls though, so unless you're able to get out into the snow they're probably not necessary.
Shoes are harder, but generally in the winter you'll want something with a goretex bootie in so that your feet don't get wet. Wet feet when walking or running suck and ruin your fun. If you're looking through hiking shoes (second hand shop or second hand sport shop) look ON the shoe for labels. 'Waterproof' can be misleading--again check to see if the inside is seam-taped, or if there's a tag that says 'goretex' on the shoe! If you're overweight or if you generally find yourself having knee or hip issues, you're probably going to want to do some strength training before you get into running or walking. This will build up the muscles to support the activity so you don't fuck up your joints. If you want some links to some reps you can do in your home lemme know and I will dig some up. Generally you're looking for things that work your legs, hips and core.
Various tips for cheap outdoor health and layering
For lunches, planning ahead is key. Chop up some veggies either the night before or the morning of to snack on and bring them to work, make a weekly menu for yourself so you can buy in bulk as necessary, and try to stick to it. This ought to help both budgeting and nutrition.
For work-out clothes, if you don't have any you can probably still find some at second-hand stores. General rule of thumb: cotton will soak up water like a mofo, so it's awful to work out or sweat in. Look for layers, especially in colder weather around now. Baselayers are those that go against your skin, and are meant to wick sweat away from your bod. You'll want either something polyester (synthetic material, stretchy esp. with spandex) with the caveat that it's going to get smelly and need to be washed after every use, or wool (thin wool is hard to come by in second hand stores, but sometimes you can find some that is a bit hole-y; that's fine if it's just going against the skin and you'll have a layer on top.) A thin wool will get a little damp but it will stay warmer, and it won't smell as immediately as polyester.
You can opt for a two or a three layer system based on your environment and your needs.
If you go for a two-layer system, your first is your base-layers (shirt, undies, hopefully a sports bra that works for you if you need it--and let me know if you need help determining how these are supposed to fit--pants, socks; synthetic or wool when possible), and an outer layer appropriate to the weather. Usually these are known as 'soft shells', and what you're looking for is something looser like a classic 90's windbreaker: nylon, soft, crinkly feel, not too heavy-weight if you're somewhere where the weather doesn't often go below 0C. If you live somewhere where it freezes often, you'll want something with a little more warmth in between your base-layer and your wind-breaker, preferably that zips at least 1/4 from the neck and chest. Again, no cotton unless you want it to catch sweat and get clammy. Wind-breaker pants are a little harder to come by, but you could go with some combo of stretchy jogging shorts made of polyester and spandex and a less clingy outer layer made of nylon, if you can find it. Think cheesy hiking pants if necessary. More room to allow your knees space while you move. Swap the windbreaker out for a rain jacket if you're in a warmer clime (lighter the better) or another heavier layer if you're in a freezing clime.
Three-layer systems are similar to the above, but use a 'hard shell' outer layer. Base layer, middle layer for insulation/layers, hard rain-shell to keep off rain or melting snow. Harder to come by in second hand shops but if you can find a second-hand sports store, you might have better luck. Hard shell clothing is usually made of nylon and is seam-taped on the inside (if you see stitching on the inside, it hasn't been taped, which means even if the fabric is waterproof, it may leak where the stitching has punched holes in it.) Something that breathes is going to be the best for exercising outside: Gore-Tex is the name brand of this, but pertex and other 3-layer hard-shell jackets and pants can work. They're usually expensive as balls though, so unless you're able to get out into the snow they're probably not necessary.
Shoes are harder, but generally in the winter you'll want something with a goretex bootie in so that your feet don't get wet. Wet feet when walking or running suck and ruin your fun. If you're looking through hiking shoes (second hand shop or second hand sport shop) look ON the shoe for labels. 'Waterproof' can be misleading--again check to see if the inside is seam-taped, or if there's a tag that says 'goretex' on the shoe! If you're overweight or if you generally find yourself having knee or hip issues, you're probably going to want to do some strength training before you get into running or walking. This will build up the muscles to support the activity so you don't fuck up your joints. If you want some links to some reps you can do in your home lemme know and I will dig some up. Generally you're looking for things that work your legs, hips and core.
I hope some of this helps.