Many people spend too much money on gym memberships at the beginning of the year with a vow to do better. And then 40 percent of us give up on our fitness goals1 by June and quit going to the gym. So, is there really a way to balance your budget and support your fitness goals at the same time? Here are some tips to help you save on your gym membership.
Before you commit to an annual contract at a gym, ask if you can have a trial period to test out the facility. This will give you a feel for the atmosphere of the gym and you’ll get to see if the machines you want to use are actually available at the times you’ll be there.
Sure, we all want to begin the New Year with a clean slate, but you might be able to save more money if you wait a few months (and you’ll have a little more time to push off working out). Some gyms have better deals when it’s warm out because they want to lure people inside.
Many places offer a 2-for-1 membership deal. Take a friend to the gym with you and you can both score a deal. Plus, studies show that you are more likely to stick to a routine when you have someone to hold you accountable.
Some gyms post sign-up specials on their social media accounts. For large chains, check sites like Groupon and RetailMeNot for coupons and specials. And check with your health insurance company or employer, as they may offer a discount o reimbursement program on gym memberships.
Large health clubs often have free lessons or classes once or twice a week. This is a great way to check out a new club and change up your normal exercise routine.
Don’t be afraid to ask for discounts if you can commit to working out during non-peak hours or days. Ask if the gym is willing to waive the start-up fee if you can commit to paying ahead for a certain time frame (like paying for 6 months up front). If a membership includes features you won’t use, like a pool, ask for a discounted rate that doesn’t include those features.
Area recreation centers usually have a larger range of activities you can pick from if you don’t like to use bulky machines. If you only have a day or two a week to commit to working out, this might be a better option because many rec centers charge you per visit versus per month.
Most of us think we’ll go to the gym more often than we actually do. If you pay by the month, you can usually quit whenever you want. But you need to take the time to go into the gym and cancel. You’d be surprised how many people keep their membership just because they don’t want to take 5 minutes to terminate it.
When looking at a facility, ask when the monthly billing cycle ends. Then go in and sign up for your membership a few days later. This way you aren’t paying for an entire month when you’ve only been a member for a few days.
Getting into an exercise routine is a great fitness goal but it shouldn’t interfere with your financial goals. Set a realistic plan for how often you will commit to working out each week and decide what type of membership plan will be the most cost effective for you.
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