While we’re full into bathing suit season, chances are someone you know is considering how to lose weight or get more exercise. Or maybe you are. If you’re on a budget, good news: you can be a cheapskate and a fit person. Here are four tips for doing that.
- Skip the gym and head outdoors. In my gym rat days, I used to spend hours on the treadmill. These days I do my walking for free outside. If the exercise you like to do is something you can do on your own without paying for a gym membership, why are you spending that money?
- Hit thrift and resale stores and yard sales for gym equipment. I’ll bet that if you’re in the market for free weights or even some simple gym equipment, you can find it for a lot less by getting it used.
- Use your TV for workout inspiration. You can find free exercise programs on Exercise TV (I love the Biggest Loser ones) or free workout DVDs at your local library.
- Find around-the-house ways to work out. Do you have a pool? Why not swim laps as your exercise? Have a set of stairs in the house? Run up and down them instead of taking a step class. Don’t have any free weights? Curl gallons of milk or bags of groceries when you bring them in from shopping as part of your weight-lifting routine.
Do you have cheapskate ways for getting fit beyond those listed above?
READ LEAH ON HOME GOES STRONG
See, I’m of the opposite mind about the gym. If I don’t belong, I won’t work out. I do have this tip though: I joined the cheaper gym without the pool. In the summer, our town pool opens up at 6am for laps, and costs a pittance to join the pool. I only cross train in the summer (rest of the year I’m running), so this plan works for me!
If you are really work out minded, you can view any activity as a work out. Slap a heart rate monitor on and mow the lawn. Take the kids for a walk and pull them in a wagon. The other day I was lifting my 9 month old up and down (as a game), after a few minutes of that I realized it was a good exercise so I kept going for about 10 min or so. Son was pleased and I got a good shoulder workout!
Good point! When my daughters were really, really little, I used to “bench press” them as a way of playing AND working out. They loved it and so did I!
Sit-ups and Push-ups are great workout, and completely free!
So true!