There really is not a lot to getting fit, but whether you are eating healthy, going to the gym, going for a run every morning, sometimes these plans and routines are abandoned, often because of the cost of maintaining a gym membership. For most people, it is simply a lack of motivation. For others, it is a lack of time or the dark nights or bad weather has put them off. For many, it is a shortage of cash.
Fitness equipment and clothing can be very expensive. While it can be a great investment – after all, you can’t put a price on your health, fitness, and wellbeing, it can be a costly mistake if you do not spend your money wisely. It can be difficult to know where to look, what to buy, and how to find the best deals. However, here we are going to show you a few tips and tricks for saving money on fitness equipment to help you get back on track and be the very best version of your for the rest of the year.
Know where it is important to splurge and where to save your pennies
A good pair of walking or running shoes, an easy-to-use heart rate monitor, or a portable music player will be a worthwhile investment if you know that you are going to use them regularly, but a lot of fitness devices are expensive just because of the brand name, or they contain high-tech features that will only get in your way. Do not be afraid to check out retail outlets for affordable lightweight, breathable workout clothing or second-hand fitness shops. Do your homework ahead of time, speak to professional salespeople, and know precisely what you need — just look out for anyone trying to sell you something with more expensive and often unnecessary bells and whistles.
Quit the gym membership
Ok, so this one sounds a bit counterproductive if your aim is to get fit, but you do not need an expensive or fancy gym membership to improve your health and wellbeing. If you are not going to the gym enough to warrant the cost of your membership, give it up. Of course, with some, you are tied into a contract, but if you can, ditch it. Spend the money on a good pair of running footwear and a few items of home gym equipment, if you have the space. If you don’t, outdoor gyms are popping up in parks all across the country, which are entirely free to use, and have the added benefit of giving you a good dose of fresh air, which of course, is good for the health!
The cheapest way to get fit is to simple learn a few home fitness routines – on MotleyHealth you’ll find weekly workout plans, circuit training routines, the best bodyweight exercises, and much more in out fitness section.
If you have a gym membership and can’t bear to give it up, look to see a) whether you can downgrade it and save some money or b) do more with it to make the most out of your membership. For example, if you have children, can they access any children’s clubs using your membership? Can you use the swimming pool or sauna?
Look online
Thrifty online shoppers know that you can often find great deals without the hassle of having to find and pay for car parking spaces, crowded shopping centres, and pushy salespeople— if you know when and where to look. Searching on NetVoucherCodes.co.uk to see if there are voucher codes and coupons valid for your chosen store can save you an absolute fortune.
If you are not too fussed about having brand new equipment, keep an eye out for second-hand bargains. Thanks to Facebook, there are hundreds of marketplaces and selling sites where people who have bought expensive equipment and never used it, are selling their items. There are also websites such as eBay and Gumtree, which can be like the equivalent of an online car boot! However, it is important to bear in mind that generally, if you are buying from a private seller, the equipment is sold as seen and will not come with any sort of warranty or guarantee. This is a risk you must be prepared to take when not buying something brand new. If you can find some cheap kettlebells, you can start strength training for less than one month’s gym membership – see our kettlebell training guide.
Getting fit and healthy does not need to cost you a fortune. Looking at how you spend your money wisely will help you to get the very best value and keep you motivated and on track to be the best version of you.