Free and Low Cost Fitness Ideas to Jump Start Your New Year's Resolution

1/1/2019

A new year is upon us, which means it’s time for New Year’s Resolutions. One of the most common resolutions every year is to “get fit” or “exercise more.” While this is a great resolution to have, it can come with a hefty price tag.

You run off and join a gym the first week of January and commit to a contract with them. That contract comes with sign-up fees and monthly membership fees that will be the same whether you go to the gym every day or never step foot in it ever again. Which, by the way, is what they’re counting on. They want to lock you into a contract that will cost you every single month even if you stop coming after a few weeks.

Let’s face it, if the weather’s bad, you probably won’t feel like driving to the gym. And you’ll end up being too tired after work to go then. And how many days will you really commit to getting out of bed earlier to get to the gym? It’s a good idea, but a hard one to see through.

There’s a better way to get fit this year without wasting your money on a gym membership. With all of the online options, DVDs, and even free classes, you don’t spend a lot to get fit.

Local Free Classes

You may be surprised to find that several churches and community centers offer free fitness classes. And you don’t have to be a member to participate. A little online research or a few phone calls should help you find some.

DVDs/TV

Did you know there are several fitness shows on network television? You can DVR your favorites or watch them on your streaming service. Or find a DVD of a workout you enjoy and purchase it. It will cost you less than one-month of a gym membership and you can do it as often as you like without ever leaving home. You can even find full-length workout options for free on YouTube.

Gaia

If yoga and Pilates are your thing, then Gaia is for you. Yes, there’s a fee, but it’s far less than a month of gym membership and you can take as many classes as you’d like, whenever you want to, from a variety of instructors. Currently, the annual plan is on sale for $59. If you miss the sale, keep an eye on Groupon, they frequently offer discount codes.

Fit Design by Annie

If you love weight training, you can work out with Annie, a personal trainer, right from the comfort of your home. She offers a few programs that are far less expensive than an annual gym membership.

Peanut Butter Fingers

This is another online option for working with a personal trainer, but this one offers free workout programs that you can print or view. You may need a few simple pieces of exercise equipment to complete the workouts.

Before you commit your time and money to a gym, check out the options that are free or inexpensive that you can do right from your own home. The money you save on gas alone will pay for some of these options. And, you won’t have the excuse of bad weather or late nights to keep you from getting fit.

Tagged in Navigating change, Holidays, Reducing expenses

Emilie writes about overcoming debt, while balancing trying to eat healthy, stay fit, and have a little fun along the way. You can find more of her work at BurkeDoes.com.

Better Business Bureau

MMI is proud to have achieved an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), a nonprofit organization focused on promoting and improving marketplace trust. The BBB investigates charges of fraud against both consumers and businesses, sets standards for truthfulness in advertising, and evaluates the trustworthiness of businesses and charities, providing a score from A+ (highest) to F (lowest).
Financial Counseling Association of America

MMI is a proud member of the Financial Counseling Association of America (FCAA), a national association representing financial counseling companies that provide consumer credit counseling, housing counseling, student loan counseling, bankruptcy counseling, debt management, and various financial education services.
Trustpilot

MMI is rated as “Excellent” (4.9/5) by reviewers on Trustpilot, a global, online consumer review platform dedicated to openness and transparency. Since 2007, Trustpilot has received over 116 million customer reviews for nearly 500,000 different websites and businesses. See what others are saying about the work we do.
Department of Housing and Urban Development

MMI is certified by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to provide consumer housing counseling. The mission of HUD is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. HUD provides support services directly and through approved, local agencies like MMI.
Council On Accreditation

MMI is proudly accredited by the Council on Accreditation (COA), an international, independent, nonprofit, human service accrediting organization. COA’s thorough, peer-reviewed accreditation process is designed to ensure that organizations like MMI are providing the highest standard of service and support for clients and employees alike.
National Foundation for Credit Counseling

MMI is a longstanding member of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling® (NFCC®), the nation’s largest nonprofit financial counseling organization. Founded in 1951, the NFCC’s mission is to promote financially responsible behavior and help member organizations like MMI deliver the highest-quality financial education and counseling services.