These days, times are tough and money’s tight. And as you look for ways to cut back on expenses, the high cost of your fitness regime may be the first to go. But don’t let the poor economy effect the way you exercise: You can still stay fit without busting your budget. And here are four ways to do just that.
Get fit from home
Itching to ditch your high-cost gym? We don’t blame you. According to experts, you’re likely to spend between $40 and $50 a month for those workouts. Throw in the pesky initiation fee and you could blow through as much as $800 a year. A simpler – and cheaper – solution? Put that gym membership on hold and get fit at home instead. Gather some budget-friendly equipment, like a jump rope, stability ball, resistance band and dumbbells, then carve out some calorie-blasting time to try these at-home fitness moves for a solid sweat.
Click and get fit
Fitness classes may be an awesome way to blast those calories, but their steep prices can add up to mega bucks — especially if you don’t belong to a gym and are paying for them a la carte. So to scale back on your fitness fees, check out the various resources online, like Slimtree.com or ExerciseTV.tv. You can even peruse YouTube.com for free fitness how-to videos or check if your cable provider has on-demand workouts available right on your TV (they may cost a small fee but it will be less than attending class at the local gym).
Make use of your surroundings
If the indoor routine just doesn’t do it for you, then slip outside and pound the pavement. Map out a route in your neighborhood or in a nearby park and see how long it takes you to walk or run it. Then try to go a bit faster each time, or log a longer distance every time you step out. And if the winter weather hits hard in your area, check out these tips to stay warm when the temps dip down.
Go for cheap chow
When it comes to staying fit, the food you eat is just as important as the type of workout you do. While it’s great to go all organic (or at least all natural), these body-friendly foods are typically more pricey than more generic fare. But you can take simple steps to getting organic foods for less, like buying in bulk, sticking to in-season produce (or preserved goods in the off-season), and shopping at your local farmers’ market (visit Local Harvest to find one near you). And shopping at discount shops like Wal-Mart and Target can also help you keep the costs down on staples like milk, eggs and non-perishables. And of course, it never hurts to clip coupons!
More money saving tips to benefit your health
Ways to save money but still look good
How to save money at the spa
15 ways to keep an upscale image in a downturned economy
Leave a Comment