Welcome to my 52 Ways to Save $100 a Month series. We’re serious about saving money in 2016. Sometimes it’s the little things and sometimes it’s the big things. I’m here to walk you through some little things that can add up to BIG savings. 52 little things to be exact. Every week, join me back here for another small money saving tip or idea that might not seem like significant savings until you see the overall yearly savings. It might just blow your mind. So pop in each Tuesday and read a new tip that will help you on your way to save $100 a month!
I have a phrase I’ve used for years to describe self-proclaimed gym addicts: Gym Rats. Not sure where I picked that up but it makes me giggle every time. If you fall into that category and truly love the gym, look away. This post will break your heart. Some people really love their gym, and I know I’ll never change their mind. But for those of you dumping money into a membership you never use, listen up. There are some great, much cheaper, alternatives. Here are some of my favorites:
Track It Yourself: Knowledge is power, and knowing how active you are, how many calories you’re burning or eating or how many steps you’re taking makes you much more in control of your health. Consider investing in a Fitbit or simple pedometer or sign up for a free online program like FitDay.com or MyFitnessPal.com. FitDay is great for tracking your calories in vs out and MyFitnessPal is great because you can link up with friend’s accounts and help provide support and encouragement.
Use the Great Outdoors: Take a hike, walk on your local greenbelt or even find a sports stadium and run stairs. If there is a lake or pond near you, you can swim laps for free. Or head to a school near you and use their track. There are also a number of fitness parks popping up where you can do a full circuit-style workout using the equipment throughout the park. Pretty cool if you ask me.
Join a Club: Most cities have biking clubs, running clubs, fencing clubs; you name it and there’s probably a local club you can join. They are typically free and a lot of fun. They’ll meet up a few times a week and normally have different groups with different ability levels. They are great for being encouraging, even if you are a beginner. Might also be a great way to try something new and burn some calories, too.
Find a Workout Buddy: I like having someone hold me accountable, but it also just makes working out so much more fun. Sometimes the conversation is great and sometimes it’s non-existent if we’re sweating buckets. But just knowing I’m not alone in whatever workout we choose is really helpful.
Find Free Options: Do you have stairs in your house? Run them. A gaming system with a workout game? Play it. A trampoline out back? Jump on it. A walking path in your neighborhood? Run/bike/walk it. You can also stream a ton of free workout videos with Amazon Prime.
Have Fun: If you are doing something you really enjoy, sometimes you forget you’re working out. I have a friend who gets exercise holding dance parties with her kids in her living room. Do you love to play soccer? Join an adult league. Maybe you love yoga and want to get some friend together for “Yoga in the Park.” Think about the physical activities you love doing anyway. You’ll be doing something you genuinely love to do AND getting your heart rate up at the same time.
Do you frequent a gym? If not, how do you get exercise?
How Much Can You Save: $816 The average monthly gym membership is $68. Times that by 12 months and you are saving over $800 every year!
More Ways to Save:
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Clean Out Your Closet {Week 1 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Break Up with Cable {Week 2 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Barter Better {Week 3 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Change Your Own Oil {Week 4 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Adjust Your Thermostat {Week 5 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Take Advantage of Your Perks {Week 6 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Pack Your Lunch {Week 7 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Make It Yourself {Week 8 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Preserve Your Bounty {Week 9 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Keep the Change {Week 10 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | The Art of Borrowing {Week 11 of 52}
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Jillbert says
I belong to a gym but that’s only because I love to swim for exercise. A gym membership is much cheaper than building/maintaining/owning an indoor pool. 😉
Mavis says
Very true. 🙂
Sandra says
The only thing I miss at the gym is the leg press. I’m trying to convince the “powers that be” at my dad’s nursing home to let me use theirs.
KC says
The caveat to this is, of course, if you have a gym membership and have found that’s “the way” you end up actually exercising regularly. Exercising regularly with a gym subscription: almost guaranteed to be cheaper over the long run than not exercising. (unless, I guess, you either get hit by a bus before the medical bills from not exercising catch up to you, *or* if you put that monthly gym subscription on a high-interest credit card and wait a decade or two to pay it off…)
I personally kind of hate gyms and would not get a membership, but I’m an introvert (plus… an introvert with a strong aversion to monthly subscriptions!). I love our exercise bike at home and use it pretty much daily – again, there are cheaper options than buying an exercise bike, but if it’s what you’re going to do, then it reminds me of the saying “the best camera is the one you have with you” – the cheapest exercise is the kind you’ll *actually do*, broadly speaking.
Of course, for people who can happily exercise at their healthiest level using different methods, then looking at the cheapest among their options makes sense! And for people who have, uh, aspirational gym memberships, then cancelling those makes sense, too…
Marcia says
I’m totally going to fess up. I have not one, but TWO gym memberships.
I have a membership to 24-hour fitness. Husband and I joined years ago with a hefty up front fee. $1200 for 3 years for 2 people. But now it’s $99 per year per person. $198 per year.
But…it kind of sucks. It’s not well maintained, for sure (at those prices? No kidding.) And then 5.5 years ago, I had to stop running due to injury, and tried my hand at a triathlon, and learned to swim at age 40. Then I really got into.
The 24-hr fitness pool is 2 lanes, and 1/2 of a length, so about 13 yards long. Can you imagine trying to count to 62 laps to get your distance in? Sure I could have just done time, but I’m an engineer. Finally, after doing this for a year, we decided to join the YMCA.
Advantages of the YMCA: 6 lane, 25-yard pool. Swim lessons, summer camps, a kid’s gym. Now, I think we’ve used the kid’s gym all of 3 times. BUT, I swim about 4-6 times a month. We try and take the kids to the pool to swim too (anywhere from 0-4 times per month). Admittedly, I’m not sure we really get our $102/months (family plan) worth. My husband still goes to 24 hour fitness. So it’s really just me. And at an average of 6 visits per month, it’s $17 a pop. I could drop down to a single’s membership but then we’d never be able to take the kids to the pool. OTOH, we go months without using it for that.
Of course I never canceled my 24-hour fitness, and there have been years when it’s been used 2 times (usually at 3:30 am when I can’t sleep). These days, however, my friend and I will meet there. Maybe not often (we’d prefer to walk).
So, in short (I know, too late), I am a gym rat. Most of my workouts are at 5:30 am, when it’s too dark to exercise outside. I swim, which means I need a pool. My full time work schedule makes biking to work … difficult (though we did do it 1x a week before kid #2 was born). And the gym is that place where I can escape my kids!! On my husband’s gym mornings (MWF), I often work out to videos (DVDs or you tube), but when the kids wake up, it’s over.
I’ve tried many times to be “that girl” who can work out without a gym. And…I’m not.
Tera says
I go to the gym 6x a week. I shower there to save money! It’s 100% worth the $39/m. I live in Oregon and so to exercise outside would be exercising in the rain 10 months a year. I don’t have space in my home for any equipment, so buying a bigger house would not be cheaper 😉 I also go at night like 9pm, so it’s not terribly safe to be out running around in the dark at that hour. IF you never go, or only go once or twice a week and walk on the treadmill for 30 minutes, probably not worth it. If you use it, or if having it makes you use it then I don’t think you can put a price on the health and mental health benefits!
Emily E. says
I also am a gym rat. Never thought I would be but I am. I actually invested in a nice treadmill a few years ago and used it faithfully until I got so sick of it I quit. Now, I have a membership at a Planet Fitness- $10 per month. I really don’t think you can beat that. It has great hours, is very well maintained, no intimidation factor because while I am overweight and out of shape there are PLENTY of people there in much worse shape than I am. And I love all of the variety. A friend and I go in the mornings before work so we can’t wimp out after work (who wants to start their work out after a long day? Not me!) Plus, I love being outside but live in Ohio so frequently the weather is like a suspense/thriller all rolled into one. I like having a buddy to encourage me and vice versa, but also love my gardening and outside work. Just gardening is not enough to burn all the extra calories though.
Kimberly says
No way! I’d go crazy without my gym membership. I’m a stay at home mom to three little ones, and the gym is my only refuge/link to the outside world 🙂 I go six days a week for about 2 hours each day. It keeps me mentally and physically healthy.
Emily E. says
Kimberly, good point! I think a membership is only as valuable as the use it gets! Exercise is a great healthy escape!
Donna in VA says
My town’s community center offers classes in short 6- or 8-week sessions, so the per-session cost is pretty low. It usually works out around $5-6 per class. They have good variety (yoga, barre, boot camp, zumba, step, body sculpt). These types of classes just use basic equipment like free weights, balance balls, and so on. But they are very effective and I really like the format.