Conventional wisdom says you can’t put a price on health. The truth is, though, you can easily find yourself overspending on fitness. At $155, the amount of money the average American spends on fitness per month is considerable.
It might be that unused gym card crammed in your wallet, right next to a debit card racking up hefty membership fees. It could be that post-workout smoothie you’ve become addicted to. It could be your personal trainer or that trendy boutique exercise class you’ve been attending.
However you burn through your fitness dollars, it all adds up. It doesn’t have to be that way, though. If you’re dedicated to keeping fit but need to stick to a budget, there are ways to do it on the cheap.
Cancel Your Gym Membership
If you aren’t using your membership at least three times a week, consider canceling your gym membership. I know, it sounds revolutionary but it’s a course of action I’ve been advocating since I first took the leap into a gym-free life.
In my younger days, I was the consummate gym rat, enjoying the variety of equipment and social aspect of a professional fitness center. Once kids came into the picture, though, I found my membership going to waste because I couldn’t get away from the house. I also had a financial epiphany. My gym dues, which hovered around $100 per month, could be used for more important things like groceries. That’s when I ditched my gym membership.
An Active Lifestyle Can Keep You In Top Shape
If you’re motivated, you don’t need a gym membership to make you move. In fact, staying active outdoors is one of the 7 things really fit people do, according to a recent Popular Fitness article.
I suggest you make a list of all the outdoor activities you enjoy or once enjoyed and make them a priority. If you used to be into cycling, get back on the saddle, trading those spinning classes for some real-life mobility. If running is your go-to fitness endeavor, consider stepping off the elliptical and heading to a path.
I like to motivate myself to run, whether on my treadmill or in the great outdoors, by signing myself up for occasional races. Nothing forces me to be accountable like the looming prospect of a punishing course!
You Can Get Fit With A Simple Home Gym
There are few endeavors more worthwhile than creating a home gym. It may sound daunting, but I’m talking about a bare-bones collection of fitness equipment that makes for a versatile workout.
You’ll need a good home treadmill that allows you to take a leisurely jog or a punishing run. You may also want to buy a few accessories like exercise bands that add some resistance training to your treadmill workout. You should also get a good set of weights or kettlebells.
Just because you’re working out at home doesn’t mean you can’t keep up on the latest fitness trends. There are countless online videos on everything from stretching to hip hop dancing. You can also aim for a good HIIT workout on your treadmill, one of the most popular calorie-burning routines today.
You Can Stop Paying For A Personal Trainer
If you get a treadmill model compatible with the iFit app, like the NordicTrack Commercial 1750, you can also jettison your personal trainer. A free yearlong iFit membership currently comes with this and other treadmill models.
iFit lets you run virtual courses anywhere across the world, from New Zealand to the Greek Isles. There are also tons of workouts lead by charismatic iFit coaches. While your on-screen teacher inspires you to put in your best effort, your treadmill auto-adjust to follow their movements.
The iFit app also tracks things like fitness goals and your diet. It’s a holistic, digital age program that allows you to become your own personal trainer.
Your Equipment Can Be Surprisingly Inexpensive
I prefer to buy exercise equipment from the manufacturer so I can get a good warranty. I’m a lurker, though, waiting for the best time to spring into shopping action. I’ll look for a promo code, like those available year-round on the Nordic Track promo codes site, and then combine it with a holiday sale.
The alternative, getting a lightly used piece of second-hand exercise equipment, is sad in a way. Each such transaction represents a broken resolution on the part of the seller. Every cloud has a silver lining, though, and I’ve had friends snag amazing deals using Craigslist or a community garage sale page on social media.
Getting rid of your gym membership can save you a great deal of money over time. And if you shop for quality products, you can enjoy your at-home workout long after you’ve paid for your home fitness equipment. There are countless other ways to save money on fitness. For instance, my wife and I have made our own https://www.foodnetwork.com/healthy/photos/healthy-smoothie-recipeshealthy smoothies instead of buying them at our local juice joint.
It can seem hard to get everything you want, especially if you have two goals that seem at cross-purposes. I can attest, though, that you don’t have to shell out a lot of money to make fitness a part of your everyday life. It’s about thinking creatively and turning every environment, from your home to your city’s bike paths, into your own private gym.
