Getting Fit on a Budget: 9 Top Tips

This is a collaborative post.

Are you putting off getting fit because you think you can’t get fit on a budget? Here I share how you can!

Most of us have some health and fitness-related goals, but these can be hard to achieve if you don’t have enough money.

After all, gym memberships, equipment, personal trainers, and workout gear all cost a lot of money, especially as many of these tend to be monthly expenses instead of one-off expenses. These tips will help you with getting fit on a budget.

However, money shouldn’t come in the way of your goals, so we’re going to be sharing some of our top tips for getting fit on a budget. This way, you really won’t have any excuses, and almost anyone can start working on their health and fitness right away.

Get creative with equipment

Naturally, most people who want to get fit on a budget will opt for home workouts, instead of a gym membership.

While some home workouts can be done with no equipment, a lot of them do require some kind of basic equipment. But there’s no need to spend your entire paycheck; there are loads of ways that you can get creative!

For example, instead of using dumbbells, you can fill water bottles with water and use them instead. As mentioned, workout gear can also cost a lot, so if you are good at sewing, you can even try making some clothes to work out in.

Since workout clothes need to be comfortable and stretchy, we recommend investing in some elastic straps.

Free programs

There are loads of free programs on the internet, so there’s no need to spend all your hard-earned money on a custom fitness program.

Of course, it is always better to use a program that is set up by a professional than just any random program on the internet, but many professional personal trainers do have free programs that you can get through things like signing up for their email newsletter.

As you start to get familiar with the movements and what you enjoy, you’ll be able to customise these programs and replace certain exercises with others that you prefer for getting fit on a budget.

Drink more water

We all know that fitness doesn’t only have to do with what exercises you’re doing, but also how you’re taking care of your body in general. One way of taking care of your body is making sure that you drink enough water.

Aside from having a whole bunch of benefits, water will give your body the energy it needs to get through your home workouts. Plus, most of us have clean water in our taps, meaning it’s free!

Need help drinking more?

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Meal prep

As mentioned above, how you fuel your body is an important factor when it comes to your fitness. There’s no need to spend hundreds on expensive, healthy ready-made meals. You can just meal prep them yourself. This is perfect for getting fit on a budget as it means your meals don’t need to change cost much.

Meal prepping is great, because you have all your meals ready in advance, meaning you’re less likely to eat junk food. Another benefit is that you end up spending less money on food because you’re only buying what you need for that week’s meal prep.

Focus on those steps

An easy and free way to help improve your fitness is to make sure that you’re taking enough steps each day. Luckily, you can easily track this by downloading a free app on your phone. This doesn’t have to be boring, either.

Take it as a challenge to get outside for a few minutes each day and explore your city. Who knows, you may even realize that you have a passion for hiking or running.

Find some friends to work out with

Some people struggle to work out alone. They need the motivation and energy of those around them to keep them going, which is why they prefer to go to the gym or take classes at a fitness centre.

Unfortunately, this is not a viable option for everyone. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t work out at all! Find friends who are in a similar position to you, and work out together.

If you can’t find anyone who lives close to you, that’s not an issue. Simply put them on a video call and then get started.

Get a notebook

Getting a notebook may sound like a ridiculous thing to do when you’re trying to get fit, right? The truth is that a lot of our fitness relies on our motivation and discipline, and these are mental aspects.

It’s important to set goals for yourself when it comes to important aspects of your life, and fitness is no different. So, start by writing them in the notebook. Every time you make any type of fitness-related progress, write it down.

This can be weight loss or gain, a long-running session, lifting heavier weights, or being able to do more reps. Seeing how far you’ve progressed is a great way to keep the motivation going.

Look at other options

Maybe you really, really want to gym. But you’re not sure if you can afford it. That’s okay – lots of gyms have started implementing more flexible options.

For example, some gyms have the option of paying on a month-to-month basis, instead of having to commit to a one- or two-year contract.

Alternatively, some gyms have options where you pay less each month, but you can only access the gym during certain hours. While this isn’t ideal, it is better than nothing.

This is an option worth looking into if you feel that home workouts just aren’t for you.

Rest days

Ask anyone who’s been into fitness for a while, and they’ll tell you: rest days are important! In fact, they can be just as important as the days when you’re sweating buckets from your workout.

They help with things like muscle recovery and also ensure that your body doesn’t get burnt out. There are lots of other reasons to take rest days.

The best part is that taking a day or two off is absolutely free and a great help if you are trying to get fit on a budget.