How to Exercise at Home on a Budget

Everyone knows how important it is to get the right amount of exercise to stay healthy, but the truth of the matter is, not everyone can afford a gym membership. The costs associated with regular fitness classes, gym memberships and equipment can add up rather quickly, leaving your body in better shape than your bank account.

While exercise is important to your overall health and wellness, your finances are also in great need of a wellness check. If you find yourself struggling to pay those hefty membership fees, it may be time to start exercising at home.

There are several different exercises that can be performed right in the comfort of your own home or community with very little equipment necessary, helping you to avoid the gym fees and keeping your finances in check.

Couch Crunches
Make the most out of your TV time and get your abs in gear at the same time. This workout is best performed on a couch with a chaise so that you will have more space, but a normal couch will also do the trick.

Elevate your legs and position yourself as close to the edge of the couch as possible. Roll up slowly until you can feel your ab muscles are engaged. Crunches don’t have to go all the way up, so just go until you feel a bit of strain and then return to laying down and repeat.

Dance
Dancing is a fantastic way to get some exercise in at home and the good news is, it’s free. Simply put on your favourite playlist and dance like no one is watching. Not only will dancing help you to burn calories but it will also help to tone your muscles.

Walk it off
Going for a walk is a fantastic and free way to get a good cardio workout in. Challenge yourself to go further each time, explore new paths and parks in your area and just get out. A great way to get a good workout in is to find a route that has a large hill to climb, this will engage many different muscle groups and get your cardiovascular system working.

Go Swimming
Don’t have a pool? No problem. Visit your closest beach or public swimming pool and go for a dip. Swimming laps is an effective way to get in a great workout that doesn’t cost you an arm and a leg but instead builds muscles in them. Water aerobics can also be an effective form of exercise and can make a huge difference when you are attempting to build muscle.

Getting exercise doesn’t have to come with hefty gym fees, time consuming classes or costly equipment. Finding easy to perform exercises that you can do in your home or community will not only take the weight off your mind and maybe even your body, but it will also help to lighten your financial load as well.

Elizabeth Lampman

Elizabeth Lampman is a coffee-fuelled Mom of 2 girls and lives in Hamilton, Ontario. She enjoys travelling, developing easy recipes, crafting, taking on diy projects, travelling and saving money!