If you’ve promised yourself this is the year you improve your fitness, MoneyMagpie Editor and financial expert Vicky Parry shares some tips to get healthy on a budget
It’s that time of year where we try to improve on ourselves in various ways.
Some people opt for dry January after a boozy festive season, others want to be more spending savvy, while many aim to get fit. This article is NOT about losing weight. MoneyMagpie believes diet culture to be toxic at any time of year, but particularly in January.
This article is about how to improve your own health, mobility, and functional movement through activities you enjoy – on a budget. Gyms are bursting with enthusiastic beginners at this time of the year – but gyms and personal trainers are expensive, and can lock you into costly contracts you might not even end up using. Try these tips to get fit on a budget before you tie yourself into a more serious gym membership.
Find something you love doing
The best way to improve your health and fitness is to find ways to do so that you enjoy. There is no point signing up to run a marathon if you hate even walking to the local shop. Use the first few months of the year to find something you love – and that’s cheap to do, as many classes and workshops will offer free or cheap introductory sessions, or you can find online tutorials for workouts at home.
Spend time going to different classes or looking up tutorials on YouTube, to find something you actively look forward to doing. There are plenty of free fitness apps to get you started too – such as JoyRuns which is a fun running challenge with a new theme each week.
Buddy up
Find a friend or family member who has similar goals to you, and agree to meet a couple of times a week to make sure you stay accountable to your fitness goals. Not only is this a great way to stay consistent, but you automatically have a workout partner which opens up the possibilities of activities you can do to get fit together.
You might want to take long walks together, or join a dance class, or sign up to tennis club. Having someone else share the experience isn’t only good for your friendship, but also your wallet if you can tie your fitness activities in with other things. For example, car share to the badminton club to save on petrol, or find places with ‘refer a friend’ bonuses.
Choose one thing to invest in
Starting a new sport or fitness regime makes it tempting to buy all the latest kit. We tell ourselves that if we had those new leggings and the perfect trainers and the best kettlebells, we’re more likely to work out regularly. Instead of spending lots of money up front, choose one thing to invest in to get started. This could be one workout outfit or properly fitted running trainers, or a road bike – whatever you can afford without debt that will motivate you.
Use second-hand kit
Once you’ve chosen your investment piece, anything else you need to get started can be found second-hand on eBay, NextDoor, or Facebook Marketplace. This is the perfect time of year to look for items as people try to clear space for their new kit they got for Christmas; March and April are particularly good months too as people give up on their New Year Resolutions and sell their fitness gear!
If you find yourself enjoying your new fitness regime, you have time to save up for new or better gear later on down the line – and know that it won’t be wasted money. Second-hand items go for at least half price even when barely used, so if you’re not sure whether you’re going to enjoy your new sport it’s a good way to try it out.
You can also look on apps like Freecycle to see if anyone is giving things away for free – bulky items like treadmills and stationary bikes are hard to sell as they’re heavy and need collecting, so can often be found for free on community boards. Before you use any second-hand kit, make sure you inspect it thoroughly for any damage that could make it unsafe to use.
Work fitness into your day to avoid wasting money
One of the best tips to make sure you’re not wasting money on lots of fitness kit or club memberships is to find ways to build fitness into your day. If, for example, you usually take the bus to work, get off several stops earlier and walk the rest of the way. People who commute by train often turn to cycling part of the way to get to and from the station, as a way to get fit without taking more time from their day, too.
If you work from home, find things you can work into your day without noticing. Something like a balance board like the one by GoBalance, or an under desk treadmill, or a decent resistance set like the GymProLuxe kit can all be put where you can see them to remind you to work out each day. You can also get out and about while working if you take your laptop and walk to a local café, or walk around the town while listening to a business-related podcast or dictating notes to tidy up when you get back.
You can also use your social time as your workout time, by suggesting you meet a friend for a class instead of a drink after work. The cost of a class is about the same as buying a pint (especially if you look for deals and offers online first) and you’ll benefit from sharing experiences together to build on your friendship, too.
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