MeVest Money Tip: Affordable Fitness

You’ve got high fitness hopes for this year and so do we. But, for the MeVest team, our fitness plan spans beyond bicep curls and squats; we’re firm believers that your financial fitness is as important as your physical fitness. If you want to balance between these two important priorities, let’s review some affordable fitness fundamentals.First, the average cost of a gym membership in Canada is $500 per year – a significant portion of your disposable income – that’s the income you have left over after paying for your essential expenses like your mortgage or rent, groceries and loans.For the fitness committed, they’ll use their membership three to five times per week. But, 75 percent of well-intentioned Canadians that sign up for these expensive memberships only hit the gym six to ten times throughout the entire year. That means the cost per visit for the majority of gym members is over $50!Rather than signing up for a gym membership you may not use, try these affordable fitness ideas:

• Running, walking, biking, hiking, skating – use your outdoor space.
• Boot-camps – attend one that’s local or become entrepreneurial and start your own.
• YouTube yoga.
• Fitness routines found in magazines.
• Exercise band routines – don’t buy fitness elastics from a fitness equipment store. Winners andHomeSense sell these for $6 to $10.
• Climbing the stairs in tall office towers.
• Free instructional videos like those provided through the Nike Training app.
• Share a personal trainer with a friend (or two).
• Check out your local community centre (fees are often half that of a mainstream gym).
• Tow your kids on a toboggan or in a carrier for your bike (check out used equipment on Kijiji).
• Enjoy a little more ‘love’ in the bedroom.
• Plyometrics baby! (i.e. jumping jacks, burpees, and good-old-fashioned push-ups).
• Workout videos from your local library.
• Buy a 10 pass to a workout class or favourite facility before signing up for a membership.

There are a variety of fitness activities you can integrate into your daily routine too. Think about taking the stairs vs. elevator, walking a few extra blocks rather than getting off at the closest stop, lifting rather than dragging bags and equipment, and standing at your desk rather than sitting.Doing a variety of physical activities is exactly what experts like Dr. Oz recommend because it “keeps your body guessing”.  Best of all, most fitness activities are totally FREE.You can put a price on fitness - one that fits your budget and waistline.  Don't get hustled into a gym membership you can't afford. It's amazing what you can do with a pair of running shoes, exercise elastics and $40 in your pocket each month.