Feel the Burn
Posted on September 14, 2005 14 Comments
Gyms are the new bars, I swear. The other day while working out, I ran into two people I hadn’t seen in ages, and I just found out that two more friends plan to join the same place. Besides the fact that you don’t need to own gold metallic heels to look cool, joining a gym can help bulk up your bottom line a few different ways.
Call me crazy, but I do see financial benefits to joining a gym, despite the monthly bill. Consider:
- It’s a Tuesday night and all your favorite TV shows are reruns. What to do?
If you have a gym membership, you can log a few miles, take a relaxing steam, soak in the hot tub and catch up with your gym buddies, or you can take a class and make some new friends. Depending on how often you hit the gym, the cost will vary. My cost is about $50 per month, and I usually try to go 2-3 times per week, so my total cost for this Tuesday night would be about $3-4.
If you went to a bar, on the other hand, and drank four domestic beers on this Tuesday night at $4 per beer, you’d spend about $18 – $20 (tips included).
- Gym memberships have health benefits that can save in the long term. If you join a gym, science shows exercise can help you can lose weight, better your cardiovascular health and bolster your immune system. Plus, for ladies, pumping the iron can help prevent osteoporosis. In general, you’ll be more healthy, which will save you from costs associated with poor health in the long run.
- Do you smoke? You won’t at the gym. Cha-ching.
- All you need is a tee-shirt, shorts and gym shoes. You can wear the same outfit each day as long as you wash it. Contrast that to the costs of your “going out ” wardrobe.
Before I thought about the financial benefits to exercise, I just thought it was expensive to join a gym. I couldn’t imagine paying $50 a month just to work out! But then I realized – the time I spend exercising is pre-paid, so I’ve accounted for my time in advance. At a bar or shopping, it’s pay as you go – much more dangerous to my wallet. I might end up spending $50 in one night, or worse, on one item. Now I take all my stress to the gym and work it out there.
Of course, you don’t need to join a gym to work out. You can run outside, ride a bike, walk, play in a sports league, etc. All for very low costs, if any.
Do the math yourself and compare. You’ll see that developing an exercise budget will actually free up cash from other categories, like entertainment, clothing and health.
My exercise costs for the year follow:
Gym membership: $600
Volleyball league: $50
Races: $35 (so far)
Total: $685 for the year
Now for the real reason I wrote this post… I ran a 5K last night and had a great time! Several friends and I did the Nike Run Hit Wonder, and now we want to do more. I’m considering starting a new goal to run a 10K in the next year… but that sounds very scary. Good luck to your in your exercise endeavors, whatever they might be.
Category: Old Posts
Comments
14 Responses to “Feel the Burn”
Leave a Reply
About the Author
Archives
Categories
Tags
September 14th, 2005 @ 7:42 pm
good job on your run! I never have enjoyed running, but I love working out on exercise machines.
My dad is running his first marathon this weekend… he’s 50 years old and just decided this spring that he wanted to do a marathon! He loves running so much that he’s decided to go to Vegas this winter to run another marathon.
September 14th, 2005 @ 9:27 pm
Another place you can work out and it may be cheaper…College.
I’m going back to school and needed to take a 1 credit course. Hello Fitness Lab. For about $30 a month, I’m able to go and use all the college’s state of the art fitness equipment. And, I get credit too!
September 14th, 2005 @ 11:17 pm
I’m typically very frugal, but springing for the gym membership was something I did within a month of being out on my own. My company subsidizes a little of it, which helps, but it’s still expensive. The good news though is that because I’m paying for it, I go a LOT more often than when I was in college. And, I agree that it’s a great way to avoid bad habits.
September 15th, 2005 @ 12:54 am
you should also review your health care plan. many health plans will reimburse you for regularly going to the gym. i only recently discovered this….it really does pay to go to the gym!
September 15th, 2005 @ 2:42 am
Anonymous beat me to it
but I was going to say the same thing. My plan reimburses up to $150 annually.
September 15th, 2005 @ 4:14 pm
You guys are lucky! I don’t think my plan does, but given the obesity “epidemic” plans are changing every day. I’ll be sure to ask about it.
- Nicole
September 15th, 2005 @ 5:45 pm
Great post! What a wonderful way to break it down for people. I work at a credit union and I am constantly trying to think of new ways to talk about savings. You do an excellent job. I am happy to have found your blog.
September 16th, 2005 @ 2:08 am
I just paid $55 for a semester for the big rock climbing wall at the main gym on campus. It was very much worth it!
September 16th, 2005 @ 3:57 am
Yep, the gym membership is one thing that is staying in our budget no matter what. We pay $85 month for 2 people and unlimited daycare at Gold’s gym. We go 3-5 times a week and have quite a few friends there after having gone for the last year.
The health benefits in and of themselves are worth it (assuming you actually use it and exercise), but the additional breakdown you provide is even more incentive. Thanks!
September 17th, 2005 @ 3:51 pm
I’ve recently stumbled upon your site…am learning so much from reading your blog. From your site, I’ve also found a few other pf blogs…
Thanks for being an inspiration and a wonderful resource!
September 19th, 2005 @ 8:10 pm
Heck yeah a gym membership is worth the money! I love the gym!
I found your blog via Glamour magazine – how cool that you were mentioned in there!!! Congrats!
September 20th, 2005 @ 10:48 pm
Congrats on the 5K…though I didn’t see running shoes on your exercise costs lists — hope you’re not running in shoes that are going to give you knee problems down the line!
Personally, I live near where I went to college, so I just used my old student ID and go to the gym there. Most colleges are incredibly lax about security, especially at the gym — you’d be surprised what you can scam from them.
October 4th, 2005 @ 5:39 am
wow, i never had someone break down the cost per visit for me.
i paid $600 for 2 years upfront but i only go 4-5 times a month so my costs are higher than yours!!!
plus if i’m at the gym watching TV, i’m not using an electricity at home
October 9th, 2005 @ 12:39 am
at the college i attended, alumni can work out for $100 for the whole year! they have a great new fitness center with two tracks and all of the latest equipment. the downside is that i have to deal with them being closed or having limited hours for school breaks or summers. but, it’s worth it!! if any of you live near your alma mater i’d consider checking it out!