The start of the year means that many people — myself included — are vowing to spend more time on health and fitness.
Gym memberships are flying off the shelf, and the latest workout equipment is in high demand. While this is ultimately a good thing, it can also be quite costly. The reality is that you don’t have to break the bank to get in shape.
Here are five ways to save on health and fitness costs.
1. Watch workout videos on YouTube
I knew I was interested in some type of workout video, but I couldn’t pinpoint exactly what I wanted. I asked several friends which DVD I should purchase, and one of them suggested watching workout videos on YouTube instead.
Though I’m not sure why this never crossed my mind before, I headed to YouTube to see what it had to offer. There were many different workouts to choose from — and a lot of them were from big names. If a friend hadn’t suggested YouTube, I would’ve paid money for something I’m now getting for free.
If you’re in the market for a new workout video, I highly suggest you check out YouTube; I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
2. Use the outdoors as your gym
You can get a pretty good workout by combining free YouTube videos with the great outdoors. There’s no need to pay for a gym membership when you can walk, jog, or bike outside.
As an added bonus, the fresh air is sure to lift your spirits.
3. Shop for fitness gear on Craigslist
If you need to add fitness gear to your current inventory, Craigslist is a great place to look. Since most stores run sales on fitness and health-related equipment this time of year, a lot of old gear and equipment gets replaced. Figure out exactly what you need, and scour Craigslist or consignment stores for used sports gear.
4. Buy in bulk
If you buy protein bars, protein powders, or vitamins, then buying in bulk can save you a lot of money.
I’ve actually been eying protein bars for quite a while at the local grocery store, but always found them to be too expensive. Last week at Sam’s Club, I spotted an amazing deal on protein bars; buying a jumbo box ended up saving me a lot of money. There were also great deals on vitamins.
4. Invest in a few quality items
There are some items worth splurging on, so don’t skimp in every area. A woman, for example, is most likely going to need a good sports bra. Someone planning to run a lot is going to need a good pair of running shoes. By trying to save money on these items, you might actually end up spending more by having to replace them more often.
How are you planning on saving on health and fitness costs in the new year?
Editor's Note: Did you know about the service called $5 meal plans? For $5 a month, they send you recipes of delicious, healthy, yet cheap food that costs just $5 a meal.
Several of my friends signed up and they are able to eat at home more because the instructions are easy to follow, making everything convenient. The deal also comes with grocery shopping lists, which saves them so much time. Check it out yourself by clicking here and you too may be able to save more and become healthier at the same time.
{ read the comments below or add one }
A couple years ago my husband and I started taking lessons to learn to swim. Not the cheapest sport, that’s for sure. However now we’re both crazy about it, so it’s been worth it!
My suggestion – make sure to look at all the deals your gym offers. For example, if I only go twice a week, I should get a 10 trip card instead of a monthly pass. But if I went 3 times/week, a monthly pass would be cheaper per trip. Also there might be class/gym trip combos you’d be interested in, or maybe a monthly pass allows you sauna/jacuzzi access you wouldn’t get if you got another alternative. I know I’m only going to use the pool, but if I get the monthly pass, I’d be forcing myself to go more frequently…. 😉
I haven’t checked prices at my local gym yet. I live in a very small town which usually equates to low costs for services like this. It’s a very small gym though, so I’m not even sure what type of classes or equipment they have.
Or you can build a pullup bar for the cheap! There are lots of diy pullup bar tutorials on the internet. I am a fitness fanatic, and with my current financial situation I am now doing workouts at home. With a few equipments, you can still get your workouts in but still depending on your goals. Great read!
One great benefit of DIY equipment (other than the cost of course) is that you can take many of them with you everywhere. Another benefit is that if you were to make your own, you’ll likely stick with the fitness plan longer since you are already invested in building/making the tools!
Great tip on #1! My wife just discovered this about a month or so ago and it has been great. We’ve learned there are quite a few options out there from using Amazon Prime to get the videos to individual sites that offer a fairly reasonable month to month subscription.
I got a bike last year and started riding it everywhere. I did spend good money on it but I drive much less, saving a boatload on gas alone.
And losing 15 pounds and having tons of fun exploring the neighborhood is just a bonus!
If you are willing to spend a little money on videos instead of watching videos on youtube, I would check out DailyBurn.com. $10 per month, and they do a great job. It is what I have been using.
Thanks for the tip. I actually saw a commercial for Daily Burn and had thought about checking it out.