This recession has hit all of us in some way, and many of us feel a bit of a deficit in our budgets postholidays. This past autumn, I had to cancel my gym membership when gas prices rose to nearly $5 per gallon. It was tough because I loved going to the gym, even if it was a long drive for me—I admit I mostly went for the pool, hot tub, and sauna, but a 20- to 40-minute workout before an hour of relaxing is better than no workout at all! Since then, I have sought out budget-friendly workout regimens.
1. Jump Rope
An incredibly inexpensive and underrated workout tool is the jump rope. It’s great for cardio and, in my opinion, more fun than running on a treadmill or doing jumping jacks. You don’t have to go out and buy a fancy exercise jump rope. As a kid, I used robe ties, lengths of cord, actual rope, and whatever else I could find until I got a bona fide jump rope for my birthday. I love jumping rope. I turn on some tunes and see how long I can go. It’s meditative, like walking or jogging.
2. Get Walking
Speaking of walking or jogging, you don’t need a treadmill to achieve your daily step goal. Walking outside can be cold at best and even dangerous if the sidewalks are icy. I contend (without evidence) that Minnesota invented mall walking for this very reason. If you live near an indoor mall, this might be a viable alternative to walking outside when it’s snowy and cold. During the warmer months, I like to find trails to walk and jog where I can get outside and soak up some nature.
If you have stairs in your home or apartment building—voilà! You have your own stair-stepper machine. I confess I don’t always carve out time to exercise on our stairs, but we have a split-level house, and I am up and down those stairs all day. Some days, I get a workout without even trying.
3. Bring Biking Indoors
If you have a bike, you are halfway to having an indoor exercise bike. Stationary bike stands convert your bicycle into an exercise bike and are a fraction of the cost. I found mine on Craigslist for $20. If you live in an apartment, your space might be limited already, but a stationary bike stand takes up much less space than an exercise bike does.
4. Use Free Videos
One thing I miss about my gym membership is the workout classes. Something about the communal aspect made the workout a lot more fun than working out alone. However, YouTube has a lot of workout videos that simulate this social aspect and require no equipment. Push-ups, sit-ups, planks, and squats are all exercises designed to use your own body as workout equipment. You can find videos on yoga, stretches, and much more. Set up a video on your phone or laptop and follow along at your own pace. One benefit of videos is that you can pause them if you need a moment to catch your breath, whereas a class continues on with or without you. I do enjoy going at my own pace if it has been a while between workouts.
5. Hit the Pool
Swimming is a great full-body workout, and most of our lakes have free public access during the summertime. However, this time of year, indoor pools are the way to go. Check with your local schools and community centers for open swim hours and prices. Some hotels even offer passes for their indoor pools and hot tubs.
6. Look for Discounts
If you really feel that a gym membership is the way to go, many gyms partner with insurance companies to reimburse you for part of the cost. Check with your insurance provider to see whether this is something they offer. They should have a list of gyms in their network. Sounds wild, right? I just found out that was an option recently. It’s nice to know that, if I wanted to, I could join my local gym for half the monthly fee through my insurance company.
