There’s quite a few bloggers out there who will tell you that a gym membership is something you can go without. While I do not necessarily disagree with this, I think most people are far more likely to work out and get in shape if they have a gym membership.
1) Wait for the right deal
Just last week my wife and I signed up for a gym membership for just $10/month. There is an annual fee of $29, but no contract. We waited a long, long time before signing up for a gym even though we knew we both were interested in having a gym membership so we could work out closer to our house as opposed to working out at work. If you are patient and keep looking for the best deal, eventually you will find one that is in your price range (or less). Look for gyms that are opening as they are likely going to run some sort of promotion the first couple months.
2) Know what amenities you need or don’t need
Some gyms can be classified as premium because they have all the amenities you could want: a pool, basketball court, track, top of the line equipment, daycare, etc. What these premium gyms won’t tell you is that having all these amenities drive up the cost of membership. If you can go without certain amenities, there are gyms out there with cheaper membership rates. Probably the most important money saving tip when it comes to gym membership is this: do not join a gym with a daycare unless you have kids. Otherwise you are subsidizing all the families taking advantage of the on-site child care.
3) Get in a routine
We’ve all heard of people (or maybe even personally experienced) joining gyms, going for a week or two, and never returning. To avoid this behavior, get in a routine of going at a regular time of the day consistently throughout the week. It can be as simple as going Tuesday and Thursday nights. Even better is if you can go every weekday at the same time. I have worked out during lunch at work for the past year or so and when I miss a day it doesn’t feel right. It’s strange for me not to work out.
4) Make use of online resources
There are a ton of online resources when it comes to health and fitness. Primarily what I look for online are different free weight exercises, though there are thousands upon thousands of other exercises posted. My personal favorite is Men’s Health, though there are countless other websites dedicated to health and fitness.
5) Check with your health insurance for discounts
There are a number of health insurers who offer discounts on your gym membership if you go a certain number of times per month. Before signing up for a gym (or even after you have signed up) be sure to ask the gym if your health insurer offers discounts. You just might be able to get a free membership after the health insurance subsidy.
____________
In the end, getting the most value out of a gym membership is actually very simple: use it! The more you go to the gym and take advantage of the facilities, the less you are paying on a per-visit basis. Plus you are much more likely to get in shape if you hit up the gym regularly.
Do you have a gym membership? What do you do to get the most value out of it?
____________
Photo by CherryPoint
Check out some of our favorite personal finance resources:
Are you getting the best credit card rewards? Check out the top cash back credit card offers (updated daily)
Make extra money: 15 ways to make money from your computer
Get the First Chapter Free!
Join our online community and get the first chapter of the book Student Loan Solution absolutely FREE!
While getting the most value out of a gym is definitely to use it, that seems to be the hardest part:) We had a gym membership for quite a while, which we used. We have since decided to trim it from our budget.
@GregatClubThrifty There are pros and cons of having one and not having one. We thought this situation made sense – a cheap monthly membership fee, we dont’ have kids to worry about yet (hence the cheaper membership…no daycare service at this gym), and we are both pretty into working out.
We have a membership ourselves, through the YMCA. It’s not glamorous, but it meets our needs. We use them a lot for all of their kids programs. Our kids regularly have swim lessons and tumbling classes they’re involved in plus other things and they love it which makes it worth it to us.
@FrugalRules The YMCA seems like the place to go if you have kids. I would definitely consider switching to the YMCA if/when we have kids.
We used to have gym memberships, but recently we bought a complete home gym and cancelled it. It will definitely pay itself off!
@SenseofCents I would love to have a home gym setup some day, definitely something I want in our next house.
We get a good deal from our gym, for $75 a month we get a family membership (6 adults, 2 parents and 4 kids) plus access to two pools at the gym, which is great since we don’t have a community pool. My wife and I make sure we both go to the gym at least three times a week! So I think we are getting our money’s worth!
@wisedollar Wow, I would have to agree that you are getting your money’s worth. That’s pretty good rate for a six-person family.
I hit the YMCA when I have time for the pool and yoga classes. I keep thinking about a membership, but I cannot stomach paying another bill.
@Financial Black Sheep Would a lower-cost option work for you? Might take a while to find, but I’m sure there are cheaper places than the Y. then again, if you want to use the pool and have fitness classes and are not willing to give those up, you may have to stick to the Y.
@DC @ Young Adult Money Yeah I usually stay at home and stick with my treadmill, yoga mat and DVD lol. That’s how I paid off my debt :)
I went to the gym for 3 months in my life, didn’t get any value because I didn’t go enough, and dropped it. It would have to be in front of my house for me to go regularly. I prefer to cycle, walk or swim in nature. $10 sounds like a very good deal.
@RFIndependence I’d have the same opinion if I lived where you live. Unfortunately it’s not as easy to work out outside in Minnesota!
My wife and I have a membership to LA Fitness and love it. We go 4-5 times a week and use the racquetball courts at least a few times a week as well. Even though we’re paying a bit more, we really enjoy having the courts and pool available.
@CommonCentsWealth Yeah I read your post on that. Sounds like you guys get good use out of your membership.
Good tips! I do have a gym membership and definitely use it. $10 is a fantastic price!! As long as you use it, a gym membership is a good investment in your health in my opinion. Of course, I’ve seen plenty of instances when people sign up then never go but still keep paying the monthly dues – that’s a waste. I do agree that it’s smart to think about the amenities you want and to avoid paying for things you don’t need or have an interest in learning.
@TheHeavyPurse It’s too bad some people sign up then never go, but I suppose it brings down the price for everyone else! Haha, but really, it’s a great investment in my opinion.
Wow….$10 a month is quite the deal. I had a gym membership years ago and used it about 3 or 4 times a week for about 2 years. Most times I went on my own but once in a while I met up with another gal from work. She was actually my initial inspiration to join as she had lost a lot of weight by using the rowing machine 3 times a week. Hope you and your wife enjoy it :-)
@TacklingOurDebt Thanks, we are liking it so far. Hopefully it’s not just the newness of it ;)
I just recently found out my health insurance pays a pretty good chunk of change if you visit the gym a certain number of times in a month. I don’t have a membership right now, but might consider getting one now that I know my insurance would make the membership close to free.
I am not a fan of gym memberships, but that is because Gold’s Gym tried to sue me because they lost my bank account information after 7 months of regular auto-drafts and wouldn’t let me pay them with a check. Idiots.
@DebtRoundUp Have you written a post about this??? If not, why haven’t you yet?? I need the full story! Plus might be a good way to get back at Gold’s Gym ;)
@DC @ Young Adult Money It is in the quere for maybe next week. It is a good one.
@DC @ Young Adult Money it might be on the schedule for next week if I can get my anger in check. It has been over 10 years and it still pisses me off.
I really don’t like paying for a gym membership. However, I prefer to run and do other exercises that don’t require expensive machines.
I have a gym membership and get a pretty good discount through my employer. I feel the cost is worth it because exercise reduces stress and keeps me healthier and more energized overall. Going to the gym is part of my regular routine, plus my gym is halfway between my job and home, which makes it super convenient. I’ve also tried some new activities (yoga, pilates) through my gym that I would never have attempted on my own.
I continue to believe that a gym membership is a pure luxury, not a necessity. Want to work out? Walk, run, buy a few weights. SOOOO much cheaper.
I’m of the belief that registering for races is a far better value than a gym membership. While the marathon is expensive, I’m in the best shape of my life, I workout constantly, and I haven’t paid for a gym membership in years. Post on this coming out sometime this week.