Frugal Friday

One of the biggest complaints I hear about exercising is that it can be expensive-gym memberships, shoes, equipment, clothing, the list goes on and on. I'm linking up with Frugal Friday over at lifeasmom.com and sharing some tips for how to exercise for cheap. Before I start, I think its important to stress that you should invest in good shoes just to avoid injury. A good pair of shoes can save pain, expense, and time!

Equipment

Gym memberships can be expensive, but you can get good deals especially around the first of the year. YMCA's often offer cheaper rates than other gyms. If you love to swim, check to see if your town has an indoor community pool. My hometown has a pool which offers water aerobics, swim lessons, and free swim. You can buy a yearly, monthly, or weekly pass for much cheaper than the usual gym membership. High schools, colleges, and universities often have indoor or outdoor tracks which are free to the public during certain hours. You can also look on craigslist, newspaper ads, or ebay for used gym equipment for your house. Yard sales are another great source of exercise equipment especially in the summer when people are trying to move.

Not feeling a gym? There are lots of ways to work-out at home without spending a lot. The first is obvious, walk or run! Most cities have greenways or running trails which are open to the public. I run on a public greenway which is great. If you live in a neighborhood, find a running or walking trail that takes you through your neighborhood. You'll meet your neighbors and stay close to home!

Bad weather? Try work-out dvds! Amazon has a ton of work-out dvds for under $10. I'm saving my swagbucks for an Amazon gift card, then I'll use that for Jillian Michael's latest dvd. It won't cost me a thing, but i'll get a great 30 minute work-out! If you don't have free weights and don't want to buy them, use soup cans or water bottles. Another great at-home tool is a jump rope. Jumping rope can burn up to 600 calories an hour! Now, I don't know about you, but I can't jump rope for an hour straight. If you jump rope during the commercials of your favorite t.v. show though, you can get a great work-out for around $3.00! If you live in an apartment building with lots of stairs, walk or run up the stairs for 10-15 minutes, 3 x a day. That's a 30 minute work-out for free.

Working-out can be as expensive or cheap as you want it to be. It is easy to spend lots of money on the gym, clothes, and equipment, BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO! Don't let cost keep you from getting healthy :-)