Do you want to work out without breaking the bank? The typical gym membership costs between $40-$70 per month but premium gyms and personal trainers can cost up to ten times that amount. Here are five ways to get physically fit without compromising on your financial fitness:
Work out at home
For the equivalent of a few months’ membership at a fancy gym, you can equip your own home gym. During the pandemic, many people bought expensive workout equipment they are no longer using so you can pick it up for cheap on Facebook Marketplace. If you don’t have space to build out a dedicated in-home workout studio, seek out workouts on YouTube for free that don’t require equipment or find a workout app with a low monthly subscription cost.
Use a discount through health insurance
Your health insurance might score you a discount on your gym membership through a program called Active&Fit Direct. For $28 per month, you can get a membership at one of 12,500+ options including 24 Hour Fitness, EōS Fitness, Crunch Fitness, Blink Fitness, Anytime Fitness, and Chuze Fitness. There are also more than 8,500 premium options at places like FIT4MOM, Pure Barre, and Club Pilates. The monthly fee is 20%-70% of regular prices, and as a bonus, you won’t need to deal with a gym contract or sign-up fee.
Seek out local sports clubs
If you want to work out and socialize at the same time, a local sports club could be exactly what you’re looking for. Meetup is a great source for finding pickup games for sports like soccer, basketball, and volleyball as well as running and hiking groups. Many of these events are free or charge a nominal fee.
Become an instructor
If you are into one type of gym or exercise, becoming an instructor can be a double win. Many studios offer their instructors free access to their classes in addition to to paying them for their time. This way you can get a little extra cash in your pocket and save on your monthly membership costs.
Budget for it
Like with finances, different approaches work for different people, and when you find something that works, you want to stick with it—regardless of the cost. If an expensive gym membership or personal trainer is what keeps you feeling good, explore cutting back your budget in other areas or seek out additional income to compensate for it. Physical health, mental health, and financial health are all connected.
