“Today’s the day,” I thought, “I’m finally going to commit to getting fitter!” Filled with enthusiasm and optimistic eagerness, I had a tab of gym research and another five of fitness outfit inspo open on my laptop when I slowly started to realize… dang, this is really expensive. Soulcycle is HOW much? And the cheapest gym membership… how many hours worth of pay does that equate to? I had no idea!
Getting fit can seem expensive at first, but there are ways to do it for much less, even for FREE! I’ve gathered a few tips on getting fit on a budget for you, so read on to learn more.
Workout clothes don’t have to be expensive. We all know about Lululemon and Athleta for go-to workout pieces, and they’re great quality. But they are expensive. Like, $100 for a pair of leggings expensive. While many may argue that you get what you pay for, there are more wallet-friendly options for people who are just starting out. As you work out more, you’ll learn what kinds of clothes you feel the most comfortable wearing, and it may not be that super expensive tech shirt you picked up when you started. Some of my favorite places to find affordable gym clothes are Target, Forever 21, and Amazon. These leggings were $25.99 and this top was $14.99 on Amazon, and they are my favorite workout clothes that I own!
Gyms aren’t the only way to get in shape. Running is free! Find a route that you like through your neighborhood, or find a nice jogging path nearby. There’s a path near my house that has these fun little workout stations in them, so you can run a little bit and then do some calisthenics. And guess what… it costs nothing! There are also some really great, free apps that can guide you though your sweat session. I use the Nike Training Club, and let me tell you, it’s no joke.
Take advantage of offerings around you. Does your office or apartment complex have a gym? Is there a free workout group in your neighborhood? Does your job give you a health stipend? Does your friend have a gym in her building and need a workout buddy? Find out the answers to these questions! I love working out at my office gym, for example. Some days I’ll go right after work, which is a great way to kill two birds with one stone. I get a workout in AND I get to blow off some steam from a stressful day!
Figure out what you like before going all in. Take a few classes, visit a few gyms, or try out a few exercises before you put all your eggs in one basket. One great way to do this is to sign up for ClassPass, a service where you pay a monthly fee and can visit numerous gyms/classes in your area. The basic package will get you to at least four classes, for a price that’s way less than if you were to pay for those four classes by themselves.
Getting fit on a budget IS possible. You may have to get a little creative, but trust me, you CAN do it! Best of luck!
