How To Keep Fit On A Tight Budget

You may be one of millions of people who are affected by the economic downturn, who are looking for way to cut your budget.  You may also be one of the many people who strive to stay fit and enjoy working out and exercise.

So you may wonder how you can save money while still keeping yourself in shape. With some creativity, you will find you can keep fit on a tight budget.

Negotiate a Discount

If you are a member of a gym, one of the quickest ways to cut your expenses is to turn in your membership or cut down the cost of it.

Most gyms don’t want to lose members so they may offer you special incentives or discount to keep you as a member. You have nothing to lose by trying it out to see what happen.

Sometimes an honest talk with the owner or manager of the gym can secure you a discount as well, especially if you have been a dedicated member. Then you would feel better about the monthly expense.

But perhaps you are not a member of a gym or you really can no longer afford it. Don’t despair because you have so many great options to consider.

You may even find that you have more time and money to work out since you don’t have to take the time to drive to the gym and you won’t have the expense of fuel or a membership. So let’s gets some ideas going for your home fitness plan.

Get a workout partner

Gyms are great because they offer a community of people who enjoy working out. But you can also create your own workout team or even just buddy up with a like-minded friend. It can be as simple as planning a walk together each morning or evening.

As you walk, you may find that you enjoy having the companionship of someone to talk to and confide in. You can motivate and support each other. You may also enjoy branching out your workout routine with your buddy by including some other activities such as the ones below.

Hop On Yer Bike

Cycling is another great way to stay fit while saving money. You can go biking alone, with friends or family, or even get errands done while saving money on fuel.

You may be surprised at how riding your bike more can offer you so many diverse benefits, such as staying in shape, giving you a good cardio workout and building stamina and endurance. It can also be very enjoyable when you are spending time with others, enjoying scenic rides or saving fuel costs by using your bike instead of your car.

But you should ALWAYS invest in a good helmet to ensure that your head is protected while riding.

Practice Yoga

Yoga is another great workout that doesn’t require a big investment. You can just roll out your mat, put on a yoga DVD or a yoga television program and reap the benefits. Yoga has the added benefit of being a great stress reliever.

Yoga is also another workout that works well in partnership or groups so invite your buddy, your family or even your group of friends to join you. You can even check out Yoga DVDs for free at your local library or look on the internet(Youtube) for instructional workouts.

Pump Iron

Weight training can also be a great workout, whether alone or with a buddy. You may wish to buy a few small inexpensive weights or you can improvise and make your own. Water bottles, from small to large can be used as weights. Gallons of water, with a handle are easy to hold and can weigh almost 8 and a half pounds.

Weights are some of the most popular workout choices because they help you target certain muscles and areas.

Buy Cheap Fitness Equipment

If you need equipment but don’t have the funds to buy new equipment, perhaps you  have a friend who has equipment to borrow. Be sure to check out newspaper or online ads because you can get free or very inexpensive equipment by being in the right place at the right time.

Many people are downsizing these days and may no longer have the room or time for their exercise equipment, so they’ll put it up for sale.

So, as you can see, with just a little creativity and effort, you can really achieve your goal of being financially fit as well as physically fit.

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