Gym memberships are one of the most expensive exercise options, especially if you’re one of the many people that purchase a monthly membership on a steal of a deal sale and never attend the gym.
When I’ll go next week becomes the regular mantra, your gym membership is getting too expensive, so it’s time to cancel it and try something else.
Here are a few exercise options that don’t require a gym membership.
Run or Walk as Exercise Options
I’m not personally a runner, but I can attest to the fact that you can lose some serious weight walking.
Over a period of about eight months, I lost somewhere close to 20 lbs by walking a lot and eating better. And by “eating better,” I definitely don’t mean anything like a crazy diet.
Walking and running are great exercise options. Plus, they’re practically free. Save for comfortable clothes and reasonable shoes it won’t cost you anything.
Pop in your tunes and go for a stroll or run around the block today. I’m no medical doctor myself (or anything close), but I hear that walking 10,000 steps a day is equivalent to losing one pound a week.
Play Sports in a Public Park
Within walking distance of my current location, there is at least one tennis court, a basketball court, and a high school that’s bound to have something athletically-orientated.
Grab a pair of tennis rackets or a pack of bocce ball and head out on the town to work yourself up a sweat. Playing a game is a great exercise option to forget that you’re exercising and have a little legitimate fun.
Anything that involves activity from horseshoes and bocce ball to basketball, tennis, and squash are better for you than sitting at home and binge-watching Zac Efron’s greatest hits on Netflix.
YouTube Exercise Videos
Another one of the best free exercise options is using online videos. There is a ton of free exercise content online that you can use to build those washboard abs that you’re itching for. Anything from floor workouts to chair routines and yoga tutorials can be found online for those willing to look.
Set yourself a 15-minute daily goal and find your favorite exercise routine to workout along to. Once you know the routine, throw on your favorite workout track and go wild—well, reasonably wild, you are still in your house working out.
A few minutes a day, exercising can go a long way to improving your sleep and stamina if nothing else. If you’re someone who has trouble going to sleep, try exercising right before bed!
At Home Exercise Equipment
While at home exercise equipment costs a lot upfront, in the end (pending you use it) it can save some serious cash.
You can use a treadmill, stationary bike, or other pieces of equipment over and over again in your own house, making a great exercise option that in the long run, doesn’t cost so much. Plus, you can watch Netflix while you exercise (just be careful!).
What is your favorite exercise option that doesn’t include a gym membership?
Looking for More Money Saving Opportunities?
- How Much Does Stretch Zone Cost?
- It’s That Time Of Year Again: Doing The 52-week Savings Challenge
- Ten Changes I made to Lose 100 Lbs and Save Money
Tae started out as a journalist before following the money into the corporate world. But it turns out that the grass isn’t always greener and now you can find her spending most of her time writing about all the things she loves. Namely, money, travel and business with a hefty dose of self-deprecating humor. She is a podcast fanatic, blogging aficionado and loves to find new ways to turn passions into cold hard cash!