How to Exercise Your Wallet, Your Budget and Your Body

Just this January the government introduced additional advice to parents about giving children 100 calorie snacks. Advice like this has followed statements about 5 a day, limiting sugary drinks and 20 minutes of exercise a day. However, none of this takes into consideration the changes this cost makes to our lifestyles and to our finances.

As your one stop shop for advice we have collated a list of money saving advice to get fit. From the free to how you can manage traditional gym memberships.

Smart Phone Apps for Exercise

There are 100’s of Apps available on smart phones related to exercise. Starting with the NHS Couch to 5k app, a free app that, through interval training, gets you running from nothing to 30mins. It focuses on 3 runs a week where it slowly increases the amount you run until you total a full 30-minute run. Other free apps include Nike+ training app, which provides a range of 30-45-minute work outs in a more traditional exercise class type style. Probably better to use them with a larger screened phone or a tablet to ensure you can see how to execute the exercises properly.

Sworkfit offers something like Nike+, but it allows you to have a much more tailored approach to your fitness. The app allows you to chose workouts and exercises that suit your body and your goals although it costs $4.99 per month ($39.99 a year). If you are looking at banishing those bingo wings or minimising your muffin top, there will be an exercise and a routine tailored for you.

Parkrun and Running Clubs

If you are already active, then essentially this hobby is free. You can walk out your front door, warm up and hit the pavement. Not only that, but most cities now have a free weekly 5km Parkrun. Parkrun is managed by a team of volunteers and allows you to run a designated, marshalled route each week and be timed for your own records. It is for all shapes, sizes, ages and fitness levels plus ITS FREEEEEE! Sign up to their website for more information You may also be surprised that the UK has over 2,303 running clubs. Local clubs are a great and low-cost way to run with most running on small or even no fees. The added advantage is making new friends and not having to run on your own.

If you want to get serious about your fitness you need to think about equipment, your wardrobe and monitoring your runs. We wouldn’t be the UK’s best voucher code website if we couldn’t direct you to Sport’s Directs money saving vouchers for athleisure way. Runners Need for discounts on top of the line footwear and Currys for the latest fitness trackers like Garmin and Fitbi,t which regularly have a voucher code for 5% off.

Budget for the Gym

If you are more traditional and prefer the comfort and accessibility of the gym, then there are budget friendly ways you can do this. Check out the facilities first and see what you are getting for your money. If you are going to be popping in for a 40-minute workout 3 times a week, will you really have time for a sauna or a hot tub? High class gyms offer extra facilities that look great in theory, but will you have time to use them or are you just paying more

Why not consider your local leisure centre or local gym? Leisure centres receiving some funding and financial support from local councils allowing them to be more competitive in price. Also consider the local gym; it may be small and it may not have lots of bells and whistles, but it could have the basics you need, giving you a cheaper, no-frills gym membership.

Budget for the gym is important. If the gym is for you then why not look to choosing a regular membership cost against pay as you go. £40 a month may not be a cheap membership but based on 3 times a week you will be paying £3 a session over a year. Your gym may well offer multiple pay options and memberships with companies like Ashbourne Memberships, allowing them to focus more on training with you and offering better prices for their services.

30 Day Challenges

If all else fails, we say check out Pinterest for a whole range of 30-day challenges. You can even google image search for them. From planks, sit up, press ups and squats you will find a 30-day challenge in which they get you doing just 5 of an exercise right up to doing 50 or even 100. Seems simple? You wait until you start to feel the burn on day 5 and wonder how you are going to make it through a full 30 days when 10 sit ups feel like knives in your abs. A perfect free workout and money saving, but a real test of your memory to do it every day.

Why not even look to combining more than one of the above? A cheaper gym with only weights with a local running club. Or maybe a completely free solution with Park Run and Pinterest 30-day challenges. Whatever the combination or the choice, it is important that you choose the exercise that fits your body and your budget.

Posted By: Tegan Groombridge - 2nd February 2018