Hello Lovely Savers!
A week or two ago, I put out a poll to see what you all wanted to learn more about. Far and wide, the winner was “How I afford my boutique gym membership while on a budget”. This post is so very dear to my heart because my gym membership is more than just fitness, and more than just fun, it really is an outlet for me- especially when my depression is at it’s worst. Here are my tips for how you can add your membership to your budget.
You’ve all seen the Facebook posts- videos of your friend from high school going on a fancy yoga retreat, photos of your old coworkers bouldering somewhere in the mountains, ads for the newest fitness craze with fit models making everything look effortless. I am here to tell you these experiences are not out of your reach! A year and a half ago I was going to an open gym for $10 every couple of months and trying to teach myself circus moves on the silks, last March I performed my own routine with a bunch of friends I’ve made at my “boutique” gym!
- Free Week Trials– Not sure what your favorite way to exercise is? I wasn’t either! Many specialty gyms, especially when they are just starting out, offer free weeks to new clients! You can try out their classes for free and see if it is a good fit for your new fitness journey.
- Groupon- Can you guys tell I like Groupon yet? My first introduction to the aerial arts was actually through a Groupon for a trial pack. It was like 3 classes for $25, and from my first class I was wishing I could take classes all the time!
- Find a Package that Suits you- Many gyms offer unlimited memberships for a intimidating sum, but sometimes they offer smaller size class packages. Usually, the larger the package you get, the cheaper each individual class becomes. However, if you are not actually going to be able to go more than 3 times a week, do you really NEED that unlimited number or would the 12 class/month work better for you? I personally know that if I had an unlimited package, it would be a lot easier for me to talk myself out of going when I am feeling down, so a finite number of classes really helps me stick to my goals.
- Trade Services- Have a friend who is a personal trainer? Or maybe the gym you like needs someone to come in a wipe down the equipment every couple of days? Some gyms/trainers are willing to trade their services/use of their facilities if you have something to offer! Get creative and make an offer, the worst they could say is no!
- Prioritize- This sounds like a no-brainer, but honestly, how many of you have used the excuse “I would love to do (blank) but I can’t afford a membership!”? Hey, I get it, I used to say the same thing. But if I didn’t spend the money on my membership each month, would I REALLY save it every month? Would I put it toward my debt? Probably not! I would probably find something else to spend it on! Do I need more money in my shopping category in my budget? Or my category for eating take out? Nope! I prioritize my gym because it’s fun, but also it helps with my mental health, way better than my retail therapy sessions ever did!
I hope these tips can help you try something new or give you a reason to go for some fitness goals! Are there any fun fitness trends you’ve been looking forward to trying out? Let me know in the comments down below!
Until next time, wishing you all Sugar and Savings,
Taylor