A recent survey of 2,025 people conducted by American Express found that 47% plan to spend more on health and fitness in 2011. This is good news for your body, but bad news for your wallet. Yes, your health is a worthy investment, but there’s no need to pour your hard-earned dollars into an expensive gym or fancy fitness equipment. Here’s a look at where your money’s going, and how you can save without sacrificing your fitness goals.
Gym Membership: $131 per month*
Save: Find deals online for fitness classes through bargain sites like Groupon.com. If you just need a place to lift weights and run on a treadmill, find a no-frills gym like Blink, which touts membership fees as low as $20 per month, or look into the Y in your area. Also, research your health benefits. “Many insurers will give you $150 per year to use toward a gym membership,” says David Jack, a performance coach and director of Teamworks Fitness in Acton, MA. “That knocks off $12.50 a month from the cost.”
*Dollar amounts are averages of survey respondents’ self-reported estimates of monthly spending.
Equipment: $127 per month
Save: The cheapest piece of fitness equipment is your own body. Practice body-weight exercises at home. Tired of pushups? Mix things up with plyometric exercises, yoga, and Pilates. You can also invest in a versatile, inexpensive piece of equipment: “A band is a phenomenal tool—you can buy one for $20 and do hundreds of exercises,” says Jack.
Personal Training: $127 per month
Save: Try an online program like Men’s Health Personal Trainer (or Women’s Health Personal Trainer) to get some instruction for a few dollars a month. Better yet, buy a block of personal-training sessions for a discount, and then be strategic about how you use them. “Hire a trainer for a couple of sessions and be very clear about your goals,” says Jack. Ask the trainer to design a program for you and teach you the basic movements, then check in a few weeks later to create the next phase of the program, he says.
Fitness Vacation: $94 per month
Save: Take a fitness “staycation.” Immerse yourself in local recreational activities without the cost of airfare or hotels. You don’t have to fly to India for a yoga retreat—enroll in a weekend intensive at a local yoga studio, or take advantage of classes at a nearby spa. You could also inquire about weekend activities at a local bike shop, running store, or parks and recreation department, says Jack.
Eating Programs: $75 per month
Save: Reap the benefits of prepared calorie-controlled meals without the cost of specialty meal-delivery programs by cooking ahead for an entire week of eating—all it takes is a little planning. “Cook one time and make a number of meals out of it,” says Jack. One roast chicken or turkey can be the base for soup, sandwiches, salad all week long, he says.
Specialty Fitness Programs: $64 per month
Save: Classes like yoga, Pilates, and boot camp are good ways to motivate yourself to work out, but if you’re not a member of a gym they can be pricey. Luckily, there are plenty of inexpensive and free options. Some retailers, such as Lululemon, offer free yoga events nationwide. You can also see if local schools or community centers offer these types of classes, or take advantage of free trials at local studios, says Jack.
Fitness DVDs: $29 per month
Save: These days, you don’t have to invest in a $20 DVD to get a workout in your living room. Exercise TV and other On Demand cable channels offer workout videos that you don’t have to buy. “If you want to get in a quick workout, turn on your TV, clear a little space, and just go,” says Jack. If you need extra motivation, invite over three or four friends and do a workout together.