Making Fitness Affordable Anywhere, Part 2

Want to workout but can’t afford the gym? Here’s part 2 of my money-saving tips to make fitness affordable anywhere

Hello! I’m back again to bring you part 2 of my 6 7 tips for affordable fitness (I threw in an extra one!). If you missed the first post, go check it out! And don’t forget to share your favorite money-saving strategies for fitness and exercise. I love to hear from you!

Making fitness affordable, part 2

Find free fitness opportunities in your community

There are many opportunities to participate in free fitness classes. One of our local CrossFit gyms has a free day on Saturdays so people can experience the gym and the workouts to see if they like it before they buy.

Our local school district also hosts fun fitness classes for kids and their parents to stay active during the year and encourages them to try out new things, like yoga and karate. My kids and I got to try a yoga class together for free at a local studio through our school district and we had a blast!

Sometimes community festivals will feature new fitness instructors so people can experience something new. Get connected by looking at your local paper, bulletin boards in popular community places, and check online for local events.

Get free workouts online

You can find some great workouts online! There are so many to choose from, you will never run out of things to do. Here are some great FREE workout resources:

• My website (of course!); just click on the Workouts tab above and access some of the workouts I have created
• YouTube; Tee Major Fitness has great metabolic workouts, PopSugar fitness, etc.
• Steve and Bonnie Pfiester always have great workouts on their websites: PFitBlog.com. Bonnie even created this killer glutes workout for me 😉
• FitFluential’s Facebook page features workouts from ambassadors in their network
• Energy Bits WOD Pinterest Board

Borrow workout DVDs

This is one way to try new workouts, although it can be limited. Borrow workout DVD’s from your local library or from friends and you can get some new variety. Most public libraries have a variety of great fitness DVD’s to try out, and they can do inter-library loans for DVD’s they don’t have on hand at the moment. 

Have a fitness swap with friends

If you have a group of fitness-minded friends, start a group workout meet-up when you can workout together. Or see if your friends want to do a fitness swap: trade and borrow DVD’s and fitness equipment to keep your workouts fresh.

Create an inexpensive home gym

Using your arsenal of DVD’s or online workouts, you can start building an affordable home gym. Resistance bands are inexpensive, portable, and space saving, but you can also get sets of dumbbells on occasion to change things up and build your gym space.

Add some fun with a stability ball and an affordable suspension system. Places like Walmart sell good suspension trainers that work in door-ways and have a hanging loop so you can take it indoors or out to the playground.

You can also hit up the second-hand stores, yard sales, or CraigsList for fitness equipment, just be sure that the equipment is in good working order before you buy it so you don’t get hurt! You can also make functional fitness equipment with sandbags and tires or other heavy objects. Have fun and get creative!