MyGymworkout.co.uk/Flickr
About two years ago, I knew it was time to take better care of myself so I shopped around and found a gym that was perfect for me. It is two miles away from home so I can ride my bike, and my monthly fee is on the low end – $39 a month plus a $200 initiation fee – and includes many amenities.
Lately, I haven’t been working out as much between school and two jobs. Needing advice about whether to continue my gym membership, I turned to BargainBabe.com facebook followers and boy, did they respond! The advice ranged from people telling me to cancel my membership to people criticizing my “luxurious life” for having a gym membership and an iPhone.
Kathy suggested I “Take to the hills! Walk/running is the cheapest workout ever!”
Sola understood my dilemma. “As far (as) the gym membership goes, I am way too cheap to pay for my membership and not use it, even though mine is also only $39 (…) However, if you ever decide to get a new contract at the gym, it’s doubtful that you will get a rate that reasonable, so it’s worth taking that into consideration too.”
Since joining the gym, I rarely get sick and I can climb up flights of stairs without huffing and puffing. Janna suggested putting my membership on hold until I could hit the gym on a regular basis but I am not motivated enough to work out at home.
Cindy Crucifer summed up my feelings about my dilemma. “Make time to work out. It’s important.”
After weighing the pros and cons of my gym membership, I decided to keep it. I’m hitting the gym at night after school and work. I much rather pay a monthly fee now than doctor’s bills in the future. Do you think a gym membership is worth the fees?
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Welcome to Bargain Babe! I’m Mara, and I’m so glad you’re here. I am an obsessive bargain hunter and penny pincher, and I am determined to live a full life without EVER paying full price. 
I don’t think it’s worth the fees, honestly. I’ll admit that there IS something about the atmosphere of the gym that’s motivating, but I think investing in an elliptical and a set of dumbells would be the least expensive option. You can do all types of streingth training exercising with dumbells, and as a woman, that’s really all we need! at $40 a month + the initial $200 fee, you can buy yourself a nice $600 elliptical and set of dumbells probably in 11 months that you can have for many years!
Make the time to work out! My gym is on the way home from work…….now it’s just part of my routine. I pack my gym bag at night so it’s ready to go. My membership is $44 a month, I average 3-4 times a week…….it’s totally worth it!
I think it’s soooo worth it! If you calculate dollars per visit, you can’t go anywhere else for that cheap! Considering your kids typically are doing a scheduled activity while you are getting a moment of peace with your own thoughts is PRICELESS! Plus my gym has a few locations that have pools to enjoy, one even has a mini splash park with spray toys galore! the one I go to most often has a soccer complex and both my kids play there, so while I work out upstairs I can watch them play! I pay $79 per month for a family of four and daycare is inclduded in that price and all the drop in soccer or playing on the basketball courts is unlimited for the kids….When joining you just have to play it cool like buying a car, acting like you dont know if you’ll use it, or can even afford it, with each retention call, they drop the price!!! I got in for two months free, no sign up or activation fee and $79 bucks per month for four.
I think the membership is definitely worth it.
I live in an area where it is not safe to “take to the hills” as Kathy put it. There are no sidewalks and the neighborhood isn’t the best. I think people sometimes forget that’s not an option for everyone.
I average about 3 times a week at the gym and so does my husband. I am a type I (insulin dependent) diabetic. While I haven’t seen any weight loss since I rejoined (I last was a member of a gym in March), my insulin use has dropped over 20% since I started working out again, I feel better, and I know I’m saving my body in the long term.
Further, I know some people can motivate themselves to exercise at home, but I have learned in the months between March and June that I am not one of those people.
My husband and I pay $60 a month, it was $25 to sign up and we got all sorts of nice amenities and freebies for doing it through my work.
It may not seem like it in the short run, but it really is good deal for yourself over the long haul.
There’s an old saying that goes something like, “You can give your money to the grocer or the doctor.” In other words, not only is it true that “you are what you eat”…but gym fees are a lot cheaper than medical premiums. Make time, not excuses 🙂
Adding to Jeannie’s comment: Aside from genetics, working out is the single most important factor in minimizing or delaying the problems that aging can bring. And for the present: toned and firm muscles, energy, increased metabolism, being trim. It’s a no-brainer!
Re Ashley Rivers’ comment: No, women need more than strength-training. Two other components of physical fitness are: (1) cardiovascular conditioning (she did mention ellipticals but, of course, there are many more options to cardio-train) and (2) flexability via stretching exercises. These AND strength-training are the components of physical fitness.
The time in my life that I actually went to a gym on a regular basis was when I was much younger, a wife and mother, and part-time employee with LAUSD. I rode my bike the mile to the gym and home again. I had a regular workout routine, so didn’t have to waste any time wondering what to do. I was able to lose a lot of weight, as well as to become more physically fit. Later attempts at going to a gym were not very successful, so I relied on “working out” with my students during P.E. warm-up exercises after I started teaching full-time. Now that I’m retired, my exercise is less consistent, and I feel the difference. Getting regular exercise is important at all ages, and it takes more effort later. I’m lucky that I’ve had good health most of my life. Right now, like most people, I face the need to lose weight and move more. At least I do some physical housework, and am trying to increase my walking time away from home. Please do your best to continue with a regular exercise program while you’re still so young.. it’s vital to your well-being. And good luck with your jobs and schooling!
Investing in your health is ALWAYS worth it! Studies have shown that up to 70% of diseases are preventable through lifestyle changes.
That said, it never hurts to reexamine your membership to find ways to trim off some extra bucks. Some national chains (like Bally) have eliminated contracts and are now strictly month to month. Planet Fitness offers a membership for only $10 a month!
I think a gym membership is worth it if it motivates you to exercise. It also has to be convenient, which it sounds like yours is. I have a gym that’s on my way home from work, but it’s 10 miles from my house. So if I wanted to work out on my days off, this would not be convenient and I would probably not work out on those days.
I tend to be self-motivated to work out at home. I have purchased a treadmill, free weights, a barbell and several steps over the years. I then purchase work out tapes through Collage Video. This has worked for me and the purchase of a new video tape every once in a while keeps me motivated.
The important thing is that you work out no matter where that happens to be.
Costco has an excellent deal for 24 hour fitness! It’s $299 for 2 year membership w/no initiation fee. It applies to the majority of their fitness clubs, which is incredibly helpful for someone who travels a lot.
Several people at my gym were talking about the Costco deal that Andrea mentioned just prior to the opening of the new location in Northridge. A couple of them visited the new site, and apparently there are other “deals” to be had. One thing I was surprised to learn is that 24-Hour Fitness has locations that are not open 24 hours! This really surprised me. Why be called 24-Hour Fitness then? What happened to truth in advertising? Can anyone corroborate if that is true?