I recently started running at the health club again. I had let my membership lapse since the club had been ratcheting up my yearly dues and I was a little annoyed about it. From a health perspective, I should have sucked it up and kept paying so that I could continue to use the gym. Well, I didn’t.
I got a mailing from the club about a week ago saying, “We want you back!”. (For about the third time). They offered to give me the full benefits that I had before for only $99 a year. That works out to a little over $8 a month, which is cheaper than I had been paying before, by about 50%. I paid them for the next two years (to lock in the rate) and had access to the club that night.
Now that I’m back on the treadmill, I am starting to use my Ipod Nano A LOT more. Putting fast paced music on the Nano and listening while I run helps me run faster and longer. (I’m convinced of it). Well, the Nano didn’t come with any sort of clip, or anything to attach it to my clothes so I’ve literally been holding it in my hand as I run. It’s really not that ideal. My wife and I were out shopping so I decided to check a couple stores for an armband for the Nano. They were $30 plus tax at every store I checked. I just found that to be ridiculous. It’s a piece of plastic and a small bit of velcro to wrap around your arm.
Today, I decided to check Ebay for one. There were only about 10000 of them. (Slight exaggeration but there were a ton). I was able to bid $.01 cent on one and get it. Of course they jack up the shipping, but it was still only $7.00 with shipping. That’s a heck of a lot cheaper than the $32 it would have cost me (with tax) if I had bought it locally.
Congrats! Your patience paid off well.
You probably could have made a holder even cheaper.
You haven’t seen how crafty I’m not…… :)
I myself have also found great deals on things that I need/want from ebay. For example, I’m a silly boy and I like to play video games, and I find that if I wait a couple months, I can often find the video game that everybody had been willing to dish out seventy or eighty bucks for a few months earlier for about fifteen or twenty with shipping.
It’s still likely not a great way to be spending money, but we all have our indulgences, and twenty bucks for something that will provide me with weeks of fun and entertainment is not too shabby.
I hear you Steven. Chalk it up to “living a little”. I think it’s great that you are spending a little on yourself, but rather than shelling out full price, you are using your skills to buy at a significant savings.
Can I just add that you are going to save another bundle on doctor’s co-pays, cold remedies, larger size clothes, and lots of other things that exercise helps you avoid? Easily more than $8 a month, I’ll bet. Being healthy is way cheaper than the alternative.
Thanks KBH. That’s a great point!