Did you make a resolution to start working out this year? If so, you’re not alone. Many people use the new year as a fresh opportunity to make healthy changes in their lives. Exercise is one of the best ways to improve health and longevity, so really any time of year is a great time to start working out. If you vowed to work out more this year, I’ve got some great news for you: Getting fit doesn’t have to blow your budget!
Anyone who regularly follows this blog, knows that I haven’t only been on a journey to financial independence these past few years. I’ve also been on a weight loss and health journey.
Years of working long hours at a stressful job took a massive toll on my health and waistline. It is one of the reasons I made the leap to early retirement when I did (or whatever this turns out to be).
What’s the point of making tons of money if you aren’t going to be around or healthy enough to enjoy it?
Don’t let your budget hold you back from getting fit!
It doesn’t take a lot of money to get fit! You can make even the most popular workout activities cheaper if you know where to look.
Here are several ways to get fit without blowing your budget.
Embrace the great outdoors
Don’t have a lot of room in your budget? No problem! Just go outside and enjoy nature.
Studies show that regularly walking can be enough to make a significant improvement in your health and longevity. Best of all…it’s free!
You only need a pair of sneakers and your own body to get a great workout with no equipment. Go for a walk, jog or hike to get your heartrate up. Add in some body weight moves, such as squats, lunges, push-ups and planks and you’ve done a full body workout. Congrats!
Need a little motivation or prefer camaraderie? Most communities have at least one running or hiking club that you can join for free (or a minimal cost). Check out Meetup to find groups in your area.
If that’s too big of a step, ask a friend or neighbor to commit to work out with you once or twice a week. Studies show that we’re less likely to ditch when someone else is counting on us.
Set up a home gym
You don’t need to join a pricey gym to get in shape!
While joining a gym can be motivating, eventually that 15-30 min commute will become a barrier to working out. Plus, gym membership costs can add up over time.
If you really love working out in a gym, most cities have budget gyms, like Planet Fitness, which aren’t too expensive. However, these gyms can be hit or miss. Most of the budget gyms I’ve tried have been overcrowded or lacking in equipment and/or classes.
Boutique gyms are swanky, but they also come with a swanky price tag. The fitness club that many of my local friends attend costs almost $300 per month!
If you’ve got the space, set up a nice home gym and get fit at home… without breaking your budget. Home is the ultimate judgement free zone. Plus, you’ll avoid the commute and ongoing payments that come with a gym membership.
As mentioned above, you can get in shape with just a pair of running shoes and your body weight. But if you’re looking to elevate your game, you may want to add a yoga mat, an adjustable weights set and/or a barbell, and a bench (affiliate links). You can buy all these things for under $300. Throw in a cheap treadmill or exercise bike, and you’ve got a cardio option for when the weather stinks.
Love classes? You can get them cheaper!
You don’t need fancy boutique classes to get in shape. However, if taking classes gets you excited to work out, there are plenty of ways to do so without pricey membership fees.
Grab a free trial
Most studios and gyms offer free classes or very cheap introductory packages that let you try before you buy. You just have to have the willpower to say “no thanks” when they come at you with the $100+/month membership fee.
if you enjoy variety or plan to attend classes infrequently, than an “ala carte” option (like class pass) might be a better fit.
The internet is your friend
You already know this, but you don’t need to pay money or leave home to take a class.
There are literally thousands of free workout videos on YouTube that you can take from home. Some of them are really good, and by famous trainers who also offer paid fitness apps.
There’s an app for that
If you can’t find what you’re looking for on YouTube, or you want something more advanced, try a fitness app. There are dozens of great ones to choose from and they vary in price from FREE (i.e. Nike Training Club) to ~$300 per year. Most of the top fitness apps cost $100-$200 per year.
My Peloton hack
Since cancelling my gym membership years ago, the only thing I really missed was taking spin classes. Spin is fun, low impact and effective. However, I rarely attended them because of the commute and need to commit to a specific time. For a while I took ala carte spin classes, but faced those same hurdles, plus the added cost of $15-20 per class.
Now I can ride at home for much cheaper. I know a lot of people who are obsessed with Peloton, and for good reason, their classes are great. However, you don’t need to drop $2k on a bike and pay $44/month for a Peloton membership to take their classes.
I signed up for the Peloton App for $129/year and take classes on my much cheaper 10-year old spin bike. With Chromecast, I can cast the workouts onto my TV and get almost the same experience for WAY cheaper. Plus, I can use their strength, yoga, outdoor running, treadmill and other workouts which are also great.
This isn’t meant to shame anyone who loves and pays for the full Peloton experience. However, it’s a good way to test out the waters before you commit or for anyone with a tighter budget.
Check for discounts before you make any purchases
Know your work and health benefits
In an effort to keep healthcare costs down, many employers and insurance plans offer incentives or discounts to help you get fit on a budget.
Make sure you ask about these benefits if you don’t already know what they are.
For example, my previous employer provided a wellness incentive for 50% of the cost of any health or fitness purchases, up to $500 a year. We bought most of the equipment for our home gym using these incentives.
Most insurance plans also offer fitness benefits, which can include anything from direct financial incentives for working out more to discounts on gym memberships or fitness equipment.
Look for deals on Groupon or Living Social
Before you join a gym or buy a membership anywhere, check for discounts on popular deal sites for discounts, such as Groupon and Living Social. You might be surprised by how many fitness options you find and how big the discounts are!
Even better, stack a Rakuten discount on top of those Groupon deals!
I’ve gotten some incredible deals by buying gym memberships or class passes through Groupon and Rakuten. A couple years ago, I purchased a 3-month membership to a local Cross-fit gym for 75% off their regular price by buying a Groupon deal through Rakuten, when Groupon was having a 20% off promotion and Rakuten was offering 15% cash back for purchases made on Groupon. It was a low cost way to try it out.
If, however, you see something you like on a deal site and Rakuten is only offering their standard 2-4% off, you can always ask the vendor if they can offer you a better deal to buy directly from them. A local gym owner told me that Groupon takes a massive cut from revenue she earns from running deals on the site, so she is more than happy to offer the same or better deals to interested customers.
Rakuten can also give you cash back if you’re purchasing a piece of equipment from a variety of online realtors.
Note: The Rakuten link above is a referral link. Get $30 cash back after your making any purchase of $30 or more through the website by signing up using this link.
What’s your favorite way to stay fit on budget?
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Cover image by StockSnap from Pixabay
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