The holiday fog is beginning to clear at our house. While not quite every decoration has been packed away for another year (ok, my tree is still up), we’ve already begun refocusing our habits and goals for 2021. If you’re like us, some of those goals include better managing our health and fitness. For me, this effort focuses on improving my life right now and in the future.
But 2020 proved to be a challenge with many gyms closing, restricting capacity, or requiring masks. 2021 will likely follow a similar pattern at the beginning of the year. If you’re looking for ways to get back into shape (or stay in shape) on a budget, there are plenty of free and low cost ideas to help you dive into smart habits without breaking the bank.
Fitness Blender
For years, I’ve been a fan of this husband and wife YouTube team. Their website has options for plans to purchase but also over 500 free videos to check out. Workouts range from HIIT (high intensity interval training) Cardio to weight lifting, kettlebells, and bodyweight workouts, too. You can filter workouts by time, skill level, equipment necessary (plenty don’t require any), body focus (upper body, lower body, core, etc.) and more. I’d also recommend following their social media channels for, especially Instagram, quick tips on health and well being.
Yoga with Adriene
If you’re looking to both improve your health and lower your blood pressure, I’d highly recommend Yoga with Adriene. All you’ll need to get started is an internet connection and a mat or towel. In particular, the 30 day plans will help you get grounded even if you’ve never done yoga before. My favorite is the 30 Days of Yoga from 2015, but there’s a new 30 day series for this January too.
Online Paid Platforms
An abundance of online platforms offer a variety of workouts, too. In 2020, I became a fan of the Peloton digital app. I didn’t realize that the app offered more than cycling workouts and had assumed you needed a Peloton bike to use it. However, not only can you use the cycling workouts on another indoor bike (I have a Schwinn ic4 which cost us well over a thousand dollars LESS), but there are also strength, yoga, treadmill running & walking, and outdoor running & walking workouts, too. You can get a free trial for 2 months right now (which is awesome because it’s usually 30 days) and after that, the cost is $12.99/month (much lower than most gym memberships).
I will be writing more about where I bought my bike later this week and how you can save money on one, so stay tuned! I’ll also share some of the tips I’ve learned to make the most of my workout, too.
Beachbody, Les Mills, and many other companies also offer digital subscriptions for home workouts. Amazon is having a 99 cent special on their fitness channels right now, too. With ANY digital subscription, be sure you check the stipulations involved. Sometimes, your card will be automatically charged. Or you may have to pay a higher monthly rate if you get the “free” trial. And if you find that you don’t like or use a subscription, cancel it sooner rather than later. This is a great year to check out a different trial membership for a different app each month to see which you like best.
Renegotiating Gym Memberships or Canceling
It may be wise to either renegotiate, pause, or cancel in person membership if you’re not currently going due to the pandemic. There are plenty of ways to workout without spending at all. You can always jump back into a gym once life looks a little more normal. For some, spending money holds you accountable to actually exercising. I understand completely. If you are using your membership to its fullest, you may still want to check in with the powers that be to see if there are any special offerings or potential reduction in rates. When it comes to any membership, we all have to ask good questions of ourselves about usage and value. Calculate the cost rather than allowing autopay to take over.
Purchasing Used Equipment
Rather than forking over tons of cash to buy a brand new treadmill, be sure to check places like Craigslist or the Facebook Marketplace first. Especially if you’ve never owned an item like this before, it’s a great idea to test the waters and see what you’ll use or won’t use. On the flipside, if you have an item and you’re looking to upgrade, see if you can make a little cash off gently used items to help fund your efforts.
Do Your Research
We bought a few new items for our home workout space this year. Before we spent a single penny, many hours of reading reviews and watching YouTube videos occurred. Some simple research can save you hundreds if not thousands of dollars when it comes to fitness equipment. And it can prevent you from purchasing a product that doesn’t hold up, as well. When you find what you’d like to buy, shop around, compare prices, and take advantage of cashback sites like Rakuten or store rewards programs like Dick’s Sporting Goods Scorecard.
Moving Outside
2020 challenged me to make the most of any day of decent weather we have. So when it’s possible and the temps aren’t too cold, you can find me walking, running, or riding my bicycle outside. All you need to invest in is a decent pair of shoes.
You don’t have to drop tons of cash to get in shape this year (or any year). Begin simply. Find something you love to do. And stay consistent. Your physical and mental health will thank you.
Our new book Your Money, Your Marriage is now available! Be sure to check out videos on managing money together on Facebook.
My book is now available: Slaying the Debt Dragon: How One Family Conquered Their Money Monster and Found an Inspired Happily Ever After. You can also check out The Debt Free Devotional
This post contains an affiliate link. That means when you get a great deal, learn about a way to save, or maybe even something for free, I may end up making a small commission. All prices are subject to change.
