Cheap Workouts for the Budget Conscious

Is it possible to exercise and take care of your body through movement without spending a small fortune? The answer is yes! With a little creativity and brainstorming, you can ensure your health and overall physical activity remains a priority even in the midst of a tight budget.

Exercise on a Budget

1. Utilize the space you have and transform your garage or spare room into a small workout area.
2. Buy multi-use equipment if your budget allows:
   • Resistance bands
   • Jump rope
   • Step
   • Exercise Ball
3. Shop second-hand stores or local online postings to find lightly used fitness equipment at a fraction of the cost.
4. Incorporate body weight exercises that do not require special equipment to perform such as squats, lunges, pushups, and planks.
5. Find workout videos that can be done at home and don't require any special equipment or large amount of space.
6. Search for social media posts containing inspirational at-home workouts.
7. Go outside! The outdoors are an incredible resource due to the unlimited possibilities for aerobic activity and bodyweight strength exercises.
8. Get creative! Grab household items such as milk jugs, soup cans, or even your children as weights.
9. Sign up for a fun sports league with some friends in your area (i.e. volleyball, kickball, ultimate Frisbee, basketball, etc.)
10. Find some stairs outdoors and do some laps up and down.
11. Bike for transportation to save money on gas and get some exercise in!

Did you know that you don't need fancy equipment to perform great workouts? Just get moving in ways that challenge your body and requires your muscles to work and recover!

Gym Memberships

1. Be picky! Don't settle for the gyms that charge hundreds of dollars a month for memberships that include amenities you don't need or use.
2. Find a gym that has all of the basic equipment that you need while maintaining a low cost per month (i.e. some gyms offer $10/month memberships)
3. Price compare a local community fitness center with local gyms. (Community centers tend to be cheaper and family oriented.)
4. Check to see if your employer has a fitness center onsite that can be utilized for free before, during, or after work.
5. If you are active-duty military, a teacher, or a healthcare worker, check to see if any gyms in your area offer discounted memberships.

Don't settle for the first gym membership that you research! There are affordable options out there, so be sure to do your homework to find the best fit for your budget!

Family Activities for FREE!

1. Engaging your family in physical activity is a great benefit to your health journey.
2. Go on bike rides in your neighborhood or local trails.
3. Walk to your local park. (Try performing a few pull ups on the monkey bars.)
4. Play tag in the backyard. (Whoever loses has to do 10 sit ups.)
5. If you live near a public beach, spend a day swimming and jumping over waves.
6. Go on walks around the block to get some steps in. (If poor weather, head to a local supermarket or mall to do some laps.)
   
   

Did you know that you can save money on daycare or babysitter by including your family members in your workouts and daily movement? Make moving a fun activity that you can all do together!

Click here to download the PDF of this infographic! 

So there are many options that you can choose from to ensure you both adhere to your budget and improve your overall health! Choose 1 or 2 ideas from this list to try out and see what might work best for you and your family. You just might discover a new way to be active that you truly enjoy that doesn’t break the bank.