7 Affordable Ways to Work Out at Home

Many of us find it hard to get to the gym every day, and for some of us even every other day is a struggle. Whatever your reason for skipping the gym, you’re still throwing your money away on your gym membership. Luckily, there are many options when it comes to working out at home, and while they will save you money, they might also make it easier for you to ensure you get a good workout everyday.

1. Buy From Gyms
From time to time, gyms upgrade their equipment and some even close down. In both of these cases, they often sell off their used equipment at really great prices. You can always call the gyms and fitness centers in your area to see if they are selling any of their equipment or are planning to in the future, that way you’ll be the first to know!

2. Buy Used
Another option is to buy used from private owners. Gym equipment is one of those things people buy planning to use everyday, then they end up not using it at all and they just want to get rid of it. Often times you can get equipment at great prices that has hardly been used. It is a good idea to research the brand before buying it and also test it out before completing the sale.

3. Shop Online
Shopping online is a great way to save money on workout clothes, shoes, fitness DVDs and equipment. Andrea Woroch, a nationally-recognized consumer and money-saving expert featured on Morning America, NBC’s Today, MSNBC, New York Times, Kiplinger Personal Finance and CNNMoney, suggests that a good way to find the best promotional deals and extra savings on shipping, check out FreeShipping.org.

4. Using Your Body
For an effective workout at zero-cost you can simply use your body’s own weight to create a resistance training workout. You can do squats, push ups and tricep dips, just to name a few. You can start thinking about ways to get creative with other items you already have like chairs and water bottles or soup cans as weights. If your child has a jump rope or hula hoop, use them too!

5. Suspension Training
There are several different suspension training systems on the market, each of which uses a series of straps that use your body weight to create an intense workout. The most well known system is probably TRX, but it can be costly. Woroch says one of the popular, less expensive versions is the GoFit Gravity Bar.

6. Retail Alternatives
Discount retailers, like TJMaxx and Marshalls, might not be the place you think of for great deals on sporting goods, but Woroch says you can really find great deals on clothing, yoga mats, stability balls, weights and more.  “For example, a friend of mine recently found yoga blocks at TJMaxx for $5 each. Similar blocks at REI cost $15 each, over 60 percent of what she paid for them.” Woroch said.

7. Technology
Technology is everywhere these days, so why not take advantage of it.  You can get free workout tips on your cell phone by using apps such as GymGoal ABC. This app, for example, shows you over 280 exercises as well as over 50 different workout routines that you can adjust to four different expertise levels. There are also tons of fitness videos available for free on YouTube or FitnessMagazine.com.