With 2023 just around the corner, many of us get to thinking about the things we’d like to achieve in the new year. And regularly topping our lists is the desire to get fit and to save money. Now, you’d think the two wouldn’t necessarily go hand in hand, right? After all, January is the peak time for gym memberships and let’s face it, they don’t exactly come cheap. Considering we’re all trying to survive a cost of living crisis, gym memberships are way down our priority list.
However, let’s not fall at the first hurdle. You see, there are plenty of ways we can save money and get fit in 2023, we just need to get smart. And with that in mind, we’ve put together 10 ways you can start the year off on a positive note by not only helping you to get fitter, but also helping you save money in the process too.
Let’s check them out!
1. Create A Home Gym
You love working out but can’t justify the expense of a gym membership. So, why not create your own gym at home instead.
Now, we know what you’re thinking… that home gyms require lots of expensive equipment and masses of space to house it all in. And let’s be honest, most of us have neither the money nor the space for this level of luxury. However, creating a fitness space at home can be done on a budget and can take up as little room as the size of an exercise mat.
Items to include in your initial home gym wishlist include:
- Dumbbells
- Resistant bands
- Non-slip exercise mat
- Foam roller
- Skipping rope
All of these items can be purchased quite cheaply and can be conveniently stored out of the way when not in use. This means you can easily work out in your living room, the corner of your bedroom, the garage, or if space is really tight you could even take it out with you to a local park and exercise outside.
2. Buy Multi-Functional Equipment
If you’re already a keen gym goer, but you’re looking for ways to save money in the long term, it might be an idea to invest in a few key pieces of equipment to have at home. Whilst the initial outlay may be more, over time you will save money by cutting out both membership fees and the cost of traveling to the gym.
If you are looking to buy some investment pieces, the most economic thing to do is to look for fitness equipment that is multi-functional. So, rather than buying an ab curler for example, which can only be used for your abs and which also takes up a lot of room, opt for an exercise ball instead. This can be let down in between uses if you are limited on space and can also be used for multiple exercises, such as press ups, glute bridges, sit ups, knee tucks, hand offs and many more body strenght exercises.
3. Focus On Your Goals
In order to stick to your new year resolutions, it’s important to be specific about what your goals are. So, if you want to save money and get fit in 2023, you’re going to need to list out your aims, your intentions, and how you’re going to achieve them.
It’s important to be realistic with your goals. We’d all like to be knocking out 200 push ups after a week of working out and saving hundreds of pounds just because we’ve stopped having takeaways, but we all know it’s not as simple as that. If you make your goals too difficult you are much more likely to give up on them. Choose something that is achievable, but also that stretches you slightly. The big lesson here is to know your limits.
4. Team Up
If you’re serious about wanting to save money and get fit in 2023 how about throwing some accountability into the mix. Sticking to resolutions is much easier when you make yourself accountable to someone or something. For example, if you’re planning on going for a run the next day it’s far easier for you to change your mind and talk yourself out of it, than if you’d arranged to go with a friend. You still might not feel like going, but you won’t want to let your friend down and so will end up going, and likely feel much better for it as well!
And that’s just one friend, imagine if you had a whole team who were relying on you to show up. Joining a sports team has many benefits. The yearly subscriptions are way cheaper than a gym membership, but you still get as good a workout. Plus, the social element of team camaraderie and new friendships does absolute wonders for our mental health.
Ask around on local Facebook groups to find out what sporting options you have in your area. Many clubs offer trial sessions so why not go along and meet the other team members and try out a new sport. This could be the start of something new for you in 2023.
5. Spend Wisely
Saving money doesn’t mean not spending any money at all, but the money that you do spend should be put towards the things that will give you the greatest benefits.
Certain fitness items are worth spending slightly more money on, whereas others don’t need to be the most expensive version. One brand of resistance band is unlikely to differ that much in quality compared to another brand of resistance band, in most cases you’ll be paying more for the brand name rather than the product itself. However, when it comes to products, particularly footwear and apparel like running shoes and sports bras, it’s always worth paying a little bit extra for comfort and a higher level of support.
It’s useful to make a list of the items you’d like to buy and then work out your budget. Once you’ve figured out how much you can afford to spend, divide it out between the items, making sure you allow more money for the items you’ll use the most and those that will benefit you the most.
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