Cost-effective ways to build a home gym
Are you trying to shift the extra couple of pounds you put on over Christmas? Maybe you’re a keen gym-goer who likes to work out multiple times a week and doesn’t feel satisfied unless you’re pumping iron? Perhaps you’re just looking to be more mindful about your physical health and improve your quality of life?
Whatever your reasons for exercising, the benefits of remaining active are undeniable. The NHS recommends that adults take part in at least two and a half hours of moderate-intensity activity each week, as well as advising that we aim to be physically active every day if possible.
However, working out can prove pricey, with the average gym membership costing approximately £40 a month. And, for some people, the journey to the gym – potentially through rush-hour traffic after work – is enough to kill our motivation, which is why creating a home workout space can prove hugely beneficial. But how to do so without breaking the bank?
Plan properly
First and foremost, it’s important to have a clear strategy in place. You need to assess the space available to you – whether you’re going to be setting up in the garage or in a spare room, there’s no sense in trying to install equipment that won’t fit. Secondly, you need to think about the type of exercises you’ll be doing as part of your training regime, and tailoring your plans around that.
Select versatile equipment
The chances are that you’ll be restricted on the amount of space available to you, so choosing equipment that can be used for a wide range of exercises is an excellent way of maximising the area that you have. For example, dumbbells and kettlebells are extremely versatile and don’t take up a lot of room, whereas a treadmill is bulky and only serves one purpose, and the option of going for a run outdoors is always available to you.
Purchase used kit
A good way to stay within your budget when creating a home gym is to search for bargains, perhaps buying second-hand equipment from clubs who no longer have a use for it, or asking around your friends and family to see if they have any unwanted pieces of gear that you could make the most of. In the future, if you decide to upgrade your gym and splash out on the state-of-the-art machines that’s really going to help you make those gains, you may wish to look into alternative financing options to pay for it.