Cheap ways to exercise on a budget
A gym membership would be one of the first things I would stop paying for if I was in debt and wanted to save money. Probably because the only place I enjoy running to is the fridge, but that’s besides the point.
With our credit card debt paid off and my daughter back in school, my husband thought it would be a good idea for us to join the gym and get healthy, so we did. The gym offers referral bonuses, babysitting, unlimited classes and is open 24/7 for a good price.
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It’s hard to put a price on being healthy and getting in shape, but when you’re drowning in debt you need to set priorities (aka be frugal!).
Here are several free or cheap ways to get fit and lose weight.
#1 EXERCISE OUTSIDE
When the weather is nice go for a run at the park, walk the dog, or go for a stroll with the kids.
Before getting our gym membership we would go running with the kids using our jogging stroller or take them for a walk in their wagon.
#2 TELEVISION SHOW
There are many free television workout programs so check your tv guide to see what times work for you.
If you’re an Amazon Prime member you also have access to free ab workouts, Pilates, Zumba, etc.
#3 YOUTUBE
YouTube has free slime making videos, baking channels, cute pet compilations, and more. They also have a limitless offering of workout videos. Some are made by professionals and others are made by random people.
I like that you can search for videos that target a specific body part too. E.g, Look up an ab workout, HIIT video, or dance routine.
Here is a 20 minute at home full body workout that doesn’t require any equipment.
#4 JUMP ROPE
A cheap way to exercise is using a jump rope. You can make it harder or easier by skipping, going faster, and doing other exercises in between.
I like them because they take up very little space and are very cheap.
Other workout must-haves:
Checks heart rate, calories, and more. Click photo for more details.
Sweat proof Headphones/Earbuds
This bag has a separate compartment for shoes and wet items. How cool is that?!
Britney Spears was recently spotted in the park doing bikini yoga and all she used was her own body and a mat.
#5 PHONE APPS
You can download free or cheap phone apps to exercise on a budget.
One of the favorites is “Couch to 5k”. A coworker of mine used this app to get into shape and now runs several miles every day.
#6 BLOGILATES
This website offers several free 30 day challenges such as the 30 day flat abs challenge and the 100 squat challenge.
I did the ab challenge after I had our son and I didn’t realize how weak my core was. Trying to do just one roll-up was a challenge. By the end of the 30 days I felt significantly stronger and my stomach did look flatter.
#7 PURCHASE EXERCISE EQUIPMENT
Instead of paying for a gym membership every month you could save up and buy your own exercise equipment.
Treadmills go for cheap on Craigslist and Facebook groups.
If you’re into body building you might want to buy a weight bench and some weights.
As you save money you can buy more equipment and have your own home gym.
Cheaper, starter pieces would be an exercise mat, balance ball, and resistance bands.
#8 DVD
I know some people don’t like going to the gym because they’re introverted or embarrassed and would rather work out in the comfort of their own home.
A super cheap way to exercise is by buying a workout DVD or series.
My second pregnancy I wanted to have a natural birth again so I worked out and bought this prenatal workout DVD. Labor was still hard, but I didn’t feel like I was run over by a truck the second time.
Popular Workout DVDs:
Jillian Michael’s 30 Day Shred
Related posts:
* How to successfully have a natural childbirth
* How to lose weight naturally drinking green tea
#9 VISIT TOWNHALL/REC CENTER
Some towns offer classes at the town hall or local recreation center for very affordable prices.
I used to take a kickboxing class for $5 a class!
Call up your town hall or check out their site online to see if they have any class offerings.
#10 FRIENDLY COMPETITION
Another cheap way to exercise on a budget is by doing a friendly group competition among your friends.
Get a pedometer, FitBit, or Apple Watch to track your steps and/or calories burned.
My husband bought me my Apple Watch for Valentine’s Day because he knew I never would have bought one for myself. Also he didn’t pay full price because it was refurbished and I would have been upset if he did 😉
You can see who among your friends does the most steps per month, or do one of the challenges listed in #6 and see who lasts the longest.
#11 LOCAL MEETUP
As much as I enjoy saving money by working out on my own, I work out so much harder and more frequently at the gym.
When I was at home I had to work hard to find motivation to go outside. Find that motivation by making friends with people looking for a workout buddy.
Start looking in a local Facebook group/mom group. As always, be careful when meeting someone you’ve met online. Meet in a public place or find someone through a mutual friend.
#12 FREE GYM TIME
Most gyms and workout locations offer a FREE trial period. If you’re looking to get in shape, but don’t have the money right now, go around trying out the places you’d like to join.
Some places offer only a 1 day trial and many offer 1 week.
Before we joined the gym my husband found a local boot camp place by our house offering a 9 week free membership, but with some conditions:
You had to put down $300 that they would hold until the 10 weeks were up. You HAD to go at least 3 times a week. If you didn’t they kept your money.
Well my husband did the full 10 weeks and lost close to 30 pounds! He loved the class so much that he paid for an additional 10 weeks which came at a discount. I’ll post his weight loss results and workout tips soon.
#13 MULTI-TASKING
As a mom I found and still find it difficult to find time to work out.
To get some form of exercise squeezed into my schedule I multitasked like a mad woman. When I was doing the dishes I’d do leg kickbacks, while brushing my teeth I’d do squats, and right before bed I would do ab exercises.
Incorporate some simple exercises into your daily routine. If you sit at work make a habit of getting up every hour. When you go to the restroom do 20 squats before coming back.
#14 EXTRA DISCOUNTS
Look on Groupon for gym and workout class discounts. I scored a great Groupon for boot camp classes and used my Ebates cash back on top of it. It came out to less than $5 a class!
Check with your job to see if they offer any discounts as well. My brother-in-law’s job pays for part of his gym membership each month. The more frequently he goes the more they pay.
Don’t let being in debt or your desire to save money prevent you from getting into shape. Exercise outside, buy some DVD’s, or find a workout buddy.
Do you have any other free or cheap ways to exercise on a budget? Share below!
And don’t forget to pin for later 🙂
Good ideas. There are many ways to exercise if you let yourself be creative.
I love this! The ladies from “Tone it Up” also have a daily free workout that is sure to kick your booty.
Ohhh that sounds good, I’ll have to look it up.
Great cheap exercise tips!! Thank you..sometime I forget how easy it is to exercise.
All great ideas. I stopped paying for a gym membership when I moved to Florida because honestly I can go outside and run, walk, ride bike, etc pretty much every day. We have some weights around here somewhere but I ended up buying aqua weights and use them at least twice a week for an hour in our pool and let me tell you that is probably the best exercise routine I’ve ever done and no sore muscles. Our family also uses the Fitbit challenges against each other once in awhile to motivate each other.
These are all great suggestions! Thanks for the ideas, tips, and motivation!
All excellent ideas. I’ll have to remember to use them 😉
I used to use the Leslie Sansone walk at home dvd’s but I find that walking outside works best. I get exercise and some “me” time. I have friends who’ve had great success with local bootcamps.
These are all very good ideas. I have a few good DVD’s I pull out when needed.
Great suggestions I am going to try that Bloglaties sounds good.
Thanks for the information. We gave up our gym memberships about 2 years ago to save money. We did purchase a couple of small pieces to help with our workouts at home. We also walk.
That’s great. This is the first time having our gym membership that I feel it’s been worth it so far. We go fairly frequently because of the babysitting they offer.
Our neighborhood has chin-up bars, steps and various other “equipment” throughout it to promote exercise. It’s nice to go for a walk or a run and then take a break to do something a little different to get other muscle groups involved. Great list, btw.
That’s great. We have a running trail by us that we just did and it was harder than the gym for me.
Great suggestions! I am very guilty of finding “the gym” an excuse for not exercising…but you have a lot of great suggestions that eliminate that one (darn you)!
LOL!! sorry! I have a huge sweet tooth so now I just feel a little less guilty eating all the time 😉
I love these ideas! I am always telling my teens, they don’t need to pay for a gym membership, they can come to my house and chop and stack wood! There are so many affordable ways.
LOL!! Putting the kids to work. You get chores done they get in shape. Win win in my book lol
I have used Youtube in the past. These are great ideas!
We used to have a gym membership, but didn’t use it enough to justify the cost. I love finding YouTube videos to work out to though!
Yes we just paid for a membership last month and I am making sure I go at least 3 times a week to feel like it’s worth the price.
What a thorough list! This is so important, especially for bloggers and side hustlers who are looking to fit in some exercise around their busy lives. Scheduled to my Pinterest!
Thank you! Lol and yes bloggers especially
These are such great suggestions! I absolutely agree that you can get and stay in shape without a gym membership. I love the YouTube and app ideas.
These are all great for those who don’t want to join a gym like me! I either go for a run or do Popsugar Fitness on youtube. It’s great and they have SOO many so you don’t get bored.
that sounds fun. I’ll check them out for the days I don’t feel like leaving the house
I don’t have a gym membership because I would never use it. Running outside and youtube videos are my go tos!