Money Matters
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home gym equipment or gym membership?

Being that it's a new year...this seems like an appropriate topic.

I'm going back and forth between getting H and I a gym membership or investing in a piece of home equipment.

It will cost us $962 for an annual gym membership (this is the cheapest place in our area...the community gym about 2 miles from our house) or I can get a fully equiped pilates reformer with DVDs and protetive floor mat (any spaces it would get set-up in our home have wood floors) for $949.

the advantage to the gym would be that we'd have access to the pool, all the weights, cardio equipment, and group classes....disadvantage being that often once it's warmer I do my cardio outside (still nice to have a rainy-day option and strength options). There's also the time spent going to and from the gym and the morning and after work rush for the cardio equipment

the pilates reformer would be something both H and I would use (I'm a dancer he does martial arts...so pilates is right in our wheelhouse), it eliminates the time traveling to/from the gym and risk of getting to the gym and having to wait for equipment...disadvantages would be that until we have our basement finished it would likely sit in our living room and while it offers cardio and strength options there isn't as much variety as you can get at the gym.

the way I'm seeing it right now is that as long as we don't feel like we need to purchase a gym membership for a few years home equipment would save us money...thoughts? am I not thinking of something?
Me: 28 H: 30
Married 07/14/2012
TTC #1 January 2015
BFP! 3/27/15 Baby Girl!! EDD:12/7/2015

Re: home gym equipment or gym membership?

  • Too bad you don't have a Planet Fitness near you, it's only $10/month. That's where I go, and don't feel guilty if I don't go a lot or during the summer months....
  • I think those are all valid points, but for me, I am all about the gym. Sure when it does get warmer here, I run outside, BUT sometimes its 100 degrees and so humid, I like the option to go to the gym and when it is raining! I also take advantage of my gym's classes 2-3x a week no matter what the weather is outside. And like you said, the lack of variety with the equipment would be a big downfall for me.. you can only do something for so long befor eyou bored to death or it stops giving you the results you want.

    Oh and another thing, some people can workout at home, some people just cant( i am one of those people)--would you be able to motivate yourself to workout in your basement? For me, I perfer going to the actual gym, but I also tend to like to workout with others.

  • I would spend the money on the home equipment. Spending the $1000 now, versus a yearly fee of close to that, would save me money down the road. It's in the convenience of your own home and you don't have to spend the gas money to get to the gym on your off days. But, I only say this if you won't slack off at home.

     If you do choose the gym, would it be something that you know you will commit to? If something happens mid year, can you cancel your membership and get your money back? Those are the questions I would worry about. 

    Personally, I would buy the equipment at home. But mine is based more on saving money and convenience than anything else.

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  • Are you guys still thinking of TTC soon? That would be a big pro for the equipment for me. My friends with babies love their treadmills to get active again. Plus, if you get snowed in you'll be able to get active.
  • bnunn03 said:

    I think those are all valid points, but for me, I am all about the gym. Sure when it does get warmer here, I run outside, BUT sometimes its 100 degrees and so humid, I like the option to go to the gym and when it is raining! I also take advantage of my gym's classes 2-3x a week no matter what the weather is outside. And like you said, the lack of variety with the equipment would be a big downfall for me.. you can only do something for so long befor eyou bored to death or it stops giving you the results you want.

    Oh and another thing, some people can workout at home, some people just cant( i am one of those people)--would you be able to motivate yourself to workout in your basement? For me, I perfer going to the actual gym, but I also tend to like to workout with others.

    I actually have access to free ballet and zumba classes (ballet is at inconvenient times but I zumba once or twice a week)...so the classes aren't a huge draw for me...I enjoy the zumba classes at the dance studio where I teach much more than the zumba classes at the gym. 
    Me: 28 H: 30
    Married 07/14/2012
    TTC #1 January 2015
    BFP! 3/27/15 Baby Girl!! EDD:12/7/2015
  • Are you guys still thinking of TTC soon? That would be a big pro for the equipment for me. My friends with babies love their treadmills to get active again. Plus, if you get snowed in you'll be able to get active.
    yes, we're planing to start TTC in April. 
    Me: 28 H: 30
    Married 07/14/2012
    TTC #1 January 2015
    BFP! 3/27/15 Baby Girl!! EDD:12/7/2015
  • I'm leaning towards the equipment....we'll see what H says when he gets home from work. I'm the type that can self motivate to work out at home (H struggles no matter what whether it's going for a run or going to the gym...usually he only goes when I drag him). I've done lots of event training (half marathons/triathlons) and motivate to go out for a run o bike ride from home.  we also have cross country ski stuff (and dog got a skijoring harness for christmas) so we can mix it up if we get some new snow in the winter and bike or run in the summer. 
    Me: 28 H: 30
    Married 07/14/2012
    TTC #1 January 2015
    BFP! 3/27/15 Baby Girl!! EDD:12/7/2015
  • It really depends on how hardcore you are.

    We have a treadmill at our house, and I've trained for all of my half marathons on it (except this last one since we had a mild summer and I could train outside).  However, unless I'm training for a race, it never gets used.  I also kept thinking that I would walk on it while watching a movie or tv.  It's been in the house for 4 years now, and I have yet to do that. 
    We also have a bunch of strength training equipment that I can use, and I only would every once in a while.  Instead, I started taking a strength training class at the gym because it kept me accountable, and H took up a basketball league to keep him accountable.  

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  • I am failure at going to the gym no matter what. We have a bike at home that I would love to start getting on during nap time, and that is one of my goals for this year. We ha e a gym that is a part of our community and I haven't gone. I hate working out in the evenings and th st would be my only option to go to the gym. If I'm not pregnant when C turns 2 they have day care a couple hours a week so I could take him and start going in the morning.
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  • No to buying gym equipment :) I've always like going somewhere to workout because there is so much more you can do there. I went to a gym for 2 years now I'm at a yoga studio :)
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  • Are you guys still thinking of TTC soon? That would be a big pro for the equipment for me. My friends with babies love their treadmills to get active again. Plus, if you get snowed in you'll be able to get active.

    Being a sahm I needed to get out of the house so I took advantage of the kids club at the gym.

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  • I've done both in the past, and I am all for home equipment.  Even when I had a gym membership, I wasn't very good at going.  It just felt like one more errand, plus I always felt like I had to get up, dressed, and look somewhat presentable.  Plus I'm not very good at telling myself what to do at the gym, I need direction.

    At home, we have a treadmill, a Total Gym, and I subscribe to Daily Burn online.  I often work out in my pajamas, having not shaved my legs in a week, not brushed my teeth, or any other various things that I can get away with because I am in the privacy of my own home :-D

  • vlagrl29 said:

    Are you guys still thinking of TTC soon? That would be a big pro for the equipment for me. My friends with babies love their treadmills to get active again. Plus, if you get snowed in you'll be able to get active.

    Being a sahm I needed to get out of the house so I took advantage of the kids club at the gym.

    Hmmm good point! I guess it's pretty personal.

    For me, I hate gyms and treadmills. I love running outside and Zumba.
  • vlagrl29 said:
    Are you guys still thinking of TTC soon? That would be a big pro for the equipment for me. My friends with babies love their treadmills to get active again. Plus, if you get snowed in you'll be able to get active.
    Being a sahm I needed to get out of the house so I took advantage of the kids club at the gym

    **Stuck in box**
    my biggest issue with the gym is that I either have to get my butt out of bed before 5 am to go before work or fight with the after work crowd. I'm not planning to SAH (though we know plans can change) so needing to get out of the house isn't a big concern.  The gym does close for weather, so that's a good point about weather not impacting the ability to workout
    Me: 28 H: 30
    Married 07/14/2012
    TTC #1 January 2015
    BFP! 3/27/15 Baby Girl!! EDD:12/7/2015
  • Are you guys still thinking of TTC soon? That would be a big pro for the equipment for me. My friends with babies love their treadmills to get active again. Plus, if you get snowed in you'll be able to get active.
    Being a sahm I needed to get out of the house so I took advantage of the kids club at the gym.
    Hmmm good point! I guess it's pretty personal. For me, I hate gyms and treadmills. I love running outside and Zumba.
    agreed....not a fan of tredmills I only ever used them when we had a gym membership before if all the other cardio equipment was being used and it was really nasty weather outside.  also love the zumba classes!
    Me: 28 H: 30
    Married 07/14/2012
    TTC #1 January 2015
    BFP! 3/27/15 Baby Girl!! EDD:12/7/2015
  • Are you sure there aren't any other cheaper gym options?  Most gyms in our area cost about what you quoted, but we have a couple of well kept secrets in our neighborhood.  There is a community rec center nearby that only costs about $10 a month, and a middle school that rents out its indoor swimming pool for about the same. You may want to look into YMCA's, colleges, hospitals, etc, to see if there are any "out of the box" gym options.

    Otherwise, I would buy the workout equipment (maybe try to find it used). It sounds like you get a lot of variety already between dance, running, and cycling. You could get some cheap weights and maybe one of those devices that turns your bike into a stationary bike.  Between that and youtube workout videos, I think you got plenty of cross training.

  • Does your gym lock you into a annual contract or can you cancel it at any time? Some of the gyms in my area are month to month contracts so they are pretty popular for people who like the gyms in the winter but prefer outdoor activities in the summer & then they just rejoin in the fall/winter

  • Are you sure there aren't any other cheaper gym options?  Most gyms in our area cost about what you quoted, but we have a couple of well kept secrets in our neighborhood.  There is a community rec center nearby that only costs about $10 a month, and a middle school that rents out its indoor swimming pool for about the same. You may want to look into YMCA's, colleges, hospitals, etc, to see if there are any "out of the box" gym options.

    Otherwise, I would buy the workout equipment (maybe try to find it used). It sounds like you get a lot of variety already between dance, running, and cycling. You could get some cheap weights and maybe one of those devices that turns your bike into a stationary bike.  Between that and youtube workout videos, I think you got plenty of cross training.

    Yes, there have actually been several conversations on our local facebook page about gyms in the area....the community gym is $481 (including my corporate discount and their new year discount) for one adult to join for a year.  My employer (university) has a gym, their memberships run on the academic calendar, it would be $615 for H and I to join until the end of June...and then $1230 for us to re-up our membership on July 1st. other gyms in the area I've found are $585/person/year, $291/person/month, $960/year (8 miles from our house)...that's pretty much all there is out there.  

    I've also looked into yoga studios in the area they average $13/class or $85/month for unlimited. there are some running clubs and cycling clubs in the area that are cheap...but that offers nothing for strength training.  
    Me: 28 H: 30
    Married 07/14/2012
    TTC #1 January 2015
    BFP! 3/27/15 Baby Girl!! EDD:12/7/2015
  • Erikan73 said:

    Does your gym lock you into a annual contract or can you cancel it at any time? Some of the gyms in my area are month to month contracts so they are pretty popular for people who like the gyms in the winter but prefer outdoor activities in the summer & then they just rejoin in the fall/winter

    Some of them lock you in for a whole year.  the least expensive one will charge $70/person for month to month. 
    Me: 28 H: 30
    Married 07/14/2012
    TTC #1 January 2015
    BFP! 3/27/15 Baby Girl!! EDD:12/7/2015
  • I have an elliptical at home. I also do some zumba,yoga, etc videos via Amazon from time to time.

    Our local Y runs $150 joining fee and then its $45/month. We previously were members of H's work gym (they have two, very nice, etc) but after having kids it just doesn't work. We would meet up at 5pm most days to work out. My H gets a discount at a gym a couple blocks from our house. I've considered joining but haven't.
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  • vlagrl29vlagrl29 member
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    edited January 2015
    Are you guys still thinking of TTC soon? That would be a big pro for the equipment for me. My friends with babies love their treadmills to get active again. Plus, if you get snowed in you'll be able to get active.
    Being a sahm I needed to get out of the house so I took advantage of the kids club at the gym.
    Hmmm good point! I guess it's pretty personal. For me, I hate gyms and treadmills. I love running outside and Zumba.!  

      Stuck in box

    I hate treadmills too!  Running as well.  The first 2 years after I had DD I belonged to the gym to loose the baby weight.  I did a combination of the stair master, weights, and classes.  I pretty much tried every workout out there. To loose the weight like I wanted to I mainly did cardio and weights.  The first year of DD's life either my mom or DH would watch DD.  Then I would take her to the kids club with me.  It was nice just to be able to get that break and have some time to myself.  Then almost 2 years ago I tried a yoga studio and cancelled my gym membership.  There is no way I can go back to the gym.
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  • There are super cheap gyms by us - Planet Fitness and Active Family Fitness.  Planet charges $10 per month for 1 person and Family charges $7.99.  I'm sure there are enrollment fees, but you can't beat the price.
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  • vlagrl29 said:

    There are super cheap gyms by us - Planet Fitness and Active Family Fitness.  Planet charges $10 per month for 1 person and Family charges $7.99.  I'm sure there are enrollment fees, but you can't beat the price.

    I wish we had that kind of option near us, then this would be more of a no brainer...H and I decided on a Pilates reformer yesterday... Looking forward to not shaving my legs or putting in contacts to workout
    Me: 28 H: 30
    Married 07/14/2012
    TTC #1 January 2015
    BFP! 3/27/15 Baby Girl!! EDD:12/7/2015
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