You can now eliminate one of your excuses to avoid hitting the gym, get fitter and save that hole in your wallet.
When it comes to joining a gym, a good amount of research is needed as gym memberships don't come cheap. With several packages around and a very motivated gym sales team, you could be shelling out more than what you actually need. It's easier to fix a shortage of motivation than to fix a shortage of cash, and here are some ways through which you can maximize the benefits that you receive for a minimum spend. 1. Assess your usage and your requirements. This is the most important step in choosing a gym membership that would save you a lot of money. If you do not plan on visiting the gym quite often, paying for a yearly membership upfront would not be feasible. Although yearly memberships may seem cheaper when compared on a monthly basis. Also, if you're just looking to use the machines and weights mainly, it wouldn't be reasonable to obtain a membership where you never or hardly use the pool or the sauna. A gym has higher costs of maintaining all those extras and they include the costs in the gym membership fees. 2. Local gyms are cheaper than a branded gym. Visit gyms in your locality that are smaller than a big branded gym, i.e. gyms with sauna, pool and a load of extras that you may not really use, and you'll find cheaper memberships. They are half the prices of those of a branded gym and may have all the necessary equipment that you would need. 3. Compare prices and look for discounts and promotional offers. Check out prices of various gyms around and those that would be a lot more convenient. Many gyms have websites where you can check the fees online or you can inquire over the phone or over a personal visit. At the beginning of a new year or a new month, the rates could be higher since it is considered to be a peak time. Several gyms run various promotional offers and discounts on membership fees and very often towards the end of the month when gyms often look to meet their targets, you can push for a bargain. Some gyms also offer student discounts where the membership fees are a lot cheaper.
4. Free trials and guest passes.
Most gyms offer free trials and all you'll have to do is register with them providing your contact details. With plenty of gyms in the area, you could literally have a month of free trials visiting several gyms around. That however shouldn't be your motive and you can use these free trials to assess the gym and see if it fits your needs.
You can also ask your friends who visit the gym to hook you up with a free guest pass. Gyms also offer discounts or cashbacks when you get referred to sign up to a membership program.
5. Membership transfers and freezing your account.
When you sign-up for an annual membership, gyms also provide you with the option of getting your membership transferred to a friend or anyone else or freezing your account for a period of time when you are unavailable. Freezing your account helps in extending your membership and this may involve a certain amount of fee charged by the gym.
Apart from selling your membership to someone else, you can also obtain a membership from someone who wants to transfer theirs over to you and this can work out pretty cheap as well. Membership transfers involve a certain amount of fees charged by the gym.
6. Opt for an in-home gym.
If you have the space and neighbors who wouldn't mind the extra noise, you can choose to build your own home gym. This may be quite expensive initially but it is all a one time investment and works out way cheaper than an actual gym membership over the long run. Also, if you keep your equipments well-maintained, it will always have a high resale value.
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Also, if gyms are just not your thing, check out ways in which you can get fitter without a gym and save even more, here.
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