Comments on: Dumb Money: The Gym http://www.nodebtplan.net/2008/01/14/dumb-money-the-gym/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=dumb-money-the-gym A personal finance blog teaching you how to live debt free and use credit wisely. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:18:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: LALhttp://www.nodebtplan.net/2008/01/14/dumb-money-the-gym/#comment-9898 LAL Thu, 29 Jan 2009 22:59:56 +0000 http://www.nodebtplan.net/2008/01/14/dumb-money-the-gym/#comment-9898 Yep running shoes need to be replaced quite a bit. I love being a member of a gym. I'm thinking of joining because I have to rehab my knee. I used to be a member in CA and I went daily. Best shape of my life! Now I'm a cheap out of shape slug. I paid $99/year and it was ridiculous the price per visit. Since I pretty much went daily. Yep running shoes need to be replaced quite a bit. I love being a member of a gym. I’m thinking of joining because I have to rehab my knee.

I used to be a member in CA and I went daily. Best shape of my life!

Now I’m a cheap out of shape slug.

I paid $99/year and it was ridiculous the price per visit. Since I pretty much went daily.

]]> By: Shannonhttp://www.nodebtplan.net/2008/01/14/dumb-money-the-gym/#comment-45 Shannon Tue, 19 Feb 2008 16:21:59 +0000 http://www.nodebtplan.net/2008/01/14/dumb-money-the-gym/#comment-45 Running shoes need to be replaced every 500 miles! If you're wearing them in your daily life out and about in addition to exercising they'll definitely be past their limit. The support wears out and you can injure yourself. And many gyms these days have no contracts. I was a member of a no frills one that was $20 a month. No locker rooms, just bathrooms and dressing rooms. No pool, courts etc, just workout machines and weights. It got the job done but I wasn't going there enough. Many articles I've read on the subject say to count up how often you visit and divide your payment by that to get the cost per visit. If its more than a couple bucks, you're wasting your money. Running shoes need to be replaced every 500 miles! If you’re wearing them in your daily life out and about in addition to exercising they’ll definitely be past their limit. The support wears out and you can injure yourself.

And many gyms these days have no contracts. I was a member of a no frills one that was $20 a month. No locker rooms, just bathrooms and dressing rooms. No pool, courts etc, just workout machines and weights. It got the job done but I wasn’t going there enough.

Many articles I’ve read on the subject say to count up how often you visit and divide your payment by that to get the cost per visit. If its more than a couple bucks, you’re wasting your money.

]]> By: DanLhttp://www.nodebtplan.net/2008/01/14/dumb-money-the-gym/#comment-43 DanL Tue, 19 Feb 2008 15:33:39 +0000 http://www.nodebtplan.net/2008/01/14/dumb-money-the-gym/#comment-43 Agree to disagree...I think the point of Kevin's post here is that the gym is not a NECESSARY expense as many people make it out to be. You can get great cardio workouts at home--not necessarily needing some of the fancy machines you pay for at the gym and get just as good of a work out. The gym was one of the first expenses I cut out when I began to pay off my debt. In fact, rather than even purchase the dumbells, I use two jars of peanut butter (about 5-7 lbs each). Some of the ideas to cut cost on a gym membership are bush league but if you're really concerned about eliminating debt or cutting costs they can be practical. Agree to disagree…I think the point of Kevin’s post here is that the gym is not a NECESSARY expense as many people make it out to be. You can get great cardio workouts at home–not necessarily needing some of the fancy machines you pay for at the gym and get just as good of a work out.

The gym was one of the first expenses I cut out when I began to pay off my debt. In fact, rather than even purchase the dumbells, I use two jars of peanut butter (about 5-7 lbs each). Some of the ideas to cut cost on a gym membership are bush league but if you’re really concerned about eliminating debt or cutting costs they can be practical.

]]> By: Tim Lhttp://www.nodebtplan.net/2008/01/14/dumb-money-the-gym/#comment-42 Tim L Tue, 19 Feb 2008 14:35:33 +0000 http://www.nodebtplan.net/2008/01/14/dumb-money-the-gym/#comment-42 A gym without a contract being unheard of?? Lifetime doesn't have a contract. How would I otherwise run in an indoor track when it's -10 degrees outside? Can't afford a pool in my basement! Spinning classes, pilates classes and a huge variety of equipment. Not only that but 2 hours of childcare so that I can do it to begin with. The problem isn't the cost of the gym. The problem is not going, not having a goal, a plan. Sign up for a 1/2 marathon or sprint triathlon. Yes, it costs money. But it's money spent well. A gym without a contract being unheard of?? Lifetime doesn’t have a contract.
How would I otherwise run in an indoor track when it’s -10 degrees outside?
Can’t afford a pool in my basement!
Spinning classes, pilates classes and a huge variety of equipment.
Not only that but 2 hours of childcare so that I can do it to begin with.

The problem isn’t the cost of the gym. The problem is not going, not having a goal, a plan. Sign up for a 1/2 marathon or sprint triathlon.

Yes, it costs money. But it’s money spent well.

]]> By: Rickyhttp://www.nodebtplan.net/2008/01/14/dumb-money-the-gym/#comment-21 Ricky Thu, 07 Feb 2008 21:54:26 +0000 http://www.nodebtplan.net/2008/01/14/dumb-money-the-gym/#comment-21 I am currently paying this stupid tax... I signed a 2 year contract in July of '06. I never go to the gym and my Amex gets hit for $29 every month. That equals $696 that I will never see again. That amounts to $696 that could have been applied to debt or if I had invested it and left it alone until I retired it would be about $80,000. OUCH! I think I am going to use this investment calculator whenever I am thinking about making a purchase. IT really puts things into perspective. I am currently paying this stupid tax… I signed a 2 year contract in July of ’06. I never go to the gym and my Amex gets hit for $29 every month. That equals $696 that I will never see again. That amounts to $696 that could have been applied to debt or if I had invested it and left it alone until I retired it would be about $80,000. OUCH! I think I am going to use this investment calculator whenever I am thinking about making a purchase. IT really puts things into perspective.

]]> By: Kevinhttp://www.nodebtplan.net/2008/01/14/dumb-money-the-gym/#comment-20 Kevin Thu, 07 Feb 2008 20:37:52 +0000 http://www.nodebtplan.net/2008/01/14/dumb-money-the-gym/#comment-20 I think that would be one of the rare exceptions. A gym without a contract? Unheard of, for the most part. If you are getting value out of it, then by all means keep going. I sit in an office full of people that complain about needing to go the gym, and never end up going. I can see the $25 or $50 burning up in their wallets and purses from where I sit. Also, if you need that motivation, then the cost can be better than never exercising. I think that would be one of the rare exceptions. A gym without a contract? Unheard of, for the most part.

If you are getting value out of it, then by all means keep going. I sit in an office full of people that complain about needing to go the gym, and never end up going. I can see the $25 or $50 burning up in their wallets and purses from where I sit.

Also, if you need that motivation, then the cost can be better than never exercising.

]]> By: Tiffanyhttp://www.nodebtplan.net/2008/01/14/dumb-money-the-gym/#comment-16 Tiffany Wed, 06 Feb 2008 17:21:09 +0000 http://www.nodebtplan.net/2008/01/14/dumb-money-the-gym/#comment-16 I must say that I humbly disagree...to a point. Personally, I belong to a gym that I visit nearly every day of the work week, and I love it. Because of the convenience of the gym (next door to my office), the wide variety of equipment (can we say rowing machine?), the knowledge I have gained from my instructors in group exercise classes, and the friendships I have made in the classes, I have been able to make a 180 degree change in my health over the last two years. In fact, what I learned at the gym (in addition to my own ongoing research) inspired me to do other forms of exercise outside of the gym, like running and pilates. My gym requires no contract, and while it may not be the hottest gym in town, it is certainly the best deal ($27/month). For people who already know a lot about health and exercise AND can happily exercise alone most days AND who require little to no variety in their routine to stay interested and committeed, a gym membership is a waste. Unfortunately, I do not fall into those categories, so I consider my reasonably priced, no-contract gym well worth the money I pay. As long as the benefits of your gym outweigh the costs, and as long as you don't buy into the materialistic so-called "need" for the gyms with the fancy juice bars, I say go for it! I must say that I humbly disagree…to a point. Personally, I belong to a gym that I visit nearly every day of the work week, and I love it. Because of the convenience of the gym (next door to my office), the wide variety of equipment (can we say rowing machine?), the knowledge I have gained from my instructors in group exercise classes, and the friendships I have made in the classes, I have been able to make a 180 degree change in my health over the last two years. In fact, what I learned at the gym (in addition to my own ongoing research) inspired me to do other forms of exercise outside of the gym, like running and pilates. My gym requires no contract, and while it may not be the hottest gym in town, it is certainly the best deal ($27/month). For people who already know a lot about health and exercise AND can happily exercise alone most days AND who require little to no variety in their routine to stay interested and committeed, a gym membership is a waste. Unfortunately, I do not fall into those categories, so I consider my reasonably priced, no-contract gym well worth the money I pay. As long as the benefits of your gym outweigh the costs, and as long as you don’t buy into the materialistic so-called “need” for the gyms with the fancy juice bars, I say go for it!

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