This installment of saving hints is aimed at saving money as well as saving your health and vitality. In the long run, saving your health is really the central theme because you can always find a way to get a few extra bucks, but your health is your most precious possession. Saving one’s health is at the center of a pleasant life. In the following selection of hints we will focus on getting in shape with exercise and, at the same time, you can gain some insight on how to save some more money with different methods of getting your daily workout.

1. The gym membership. Most people today have a membership at their favorite gym, or at the most convenient gym. The vast majority of of working folks choose a workout center that is near their work place so that they can get their exercise before, or after their work day. Some even work out at their lunch hour, foregoing a meal that would increase their girth instead of making  it smaller. Any of these times are good so long as the person is exercising on a regular basis. The savings on a membership of this type comes in the way your contract is set up. Usually a gym membership has a yearly start. You can go there as many times as you wish, and for as long as you wish each visit. Next year, you start again by paying in full for the year, or by paying at the beginning of each month in installments. The problem is in the number of visits during the year. The membership may provide three hundred sixty five days of gym time, but how many of those days are you there exercising? The more often you attend, the cheaper each visit becomes. If you go only once a month, the yearly membership gets really expensive. Experience has shown that most memberships start in January (New Year’s Resolutions). The people attend regularly (daily) for about a month, then they rarely go unless a friend suggests a workout. It is much better, if you are only going to attend once in a while, to set up a monthly membership, or pay by the visit. Paying each time you go can get pricey, but at least you will save money over the course of the year. Of course, the yearly membership is best if you go three to four times a week and really use the advantages of the facility. Bottom line is, choose the membership option that fits the number of times that you will actually attend. In the long run, you save some money.

2. Construct your own gym. As nice as the equipment is at any of the commercial gyms, it can get expensive to maintain a membership. Instead, why not clean out the garage or basement and make your own gym. The start up cost is very low, just some weights and a few two-by-fours. Most people can find weights and other work out equipment at yard sales for next to no money. The sellers are happy to get rid of the equipment for a couple dollars. Another way is to get together with a neighbor or friend and share the cost at a yard sale. Most gym equipment is in great condition because it is rarely used. Once you are set up, there is no cost and you get to work out as often as you wish. Compare the cost of a few bucks, a few two-by-fours, and can of spray paint with any standard gym membership and you will see some great savings in money, in convenience, and in travel expenses.

3. If yard sales aren’t your thing but you still want to get a great work out, you can use your body weight to exercise. No gym needed. It is doubtful that you will be challenging Jay Cutler for the championship, but you can get a good work out and build a nice body by using calisthenics and stretching. The most expensive part of this method is buying a small book or two to learn how to stretch properly and to use the right movements. Combining a walking or running routine with push ups and crunches will give you a very good work out and you will be able to accomplish everything in less than an hour. If you are older I would suggest walking or bicycling one hour per day. Add in as many push ups as you can and a few minutes of stretching and you’re done. You save money, you save space in the garage, and you boost your health.Not a bad deal.