Active’s Suggestions on Keeping It Cheap

I have been meaning to do this for a while. Take a fitness article about keeping things cheap, and analyze its varied suggestions and ideas to see if they are accurate, helpful, innovative, and worth implementing. This one is about “Staying Fit”, and all runners needs to stay fit to run at their best. 

http://www.active.com/fitness/Articles/5_Ways_to_Stay_Fit_Without_Breaking_the_Bank.htm

Recently I found it on active.com and skimmed through it, I thought I would take a look at their 5 suggestions Runcheap style, and offer some thoughts. 

1. Finding Cheap Gym Memberships

Active’s suggestions:

– See if you can make a deal with gym through use of your company/employer

–  Part time gym memberships, where you make a deal in cost in exchange for only using the gym certain hours

– Negotiate with a late night manager, who is likely to cut you a better deal

I belong to Lifestyles, which i certainly not the cheapest gym out there. You can build your own membership, but the best way to get reduced rates here is just to tell them you are leaving

Runcheap Says:

 People with jobs with companies who sponsor memberships or pay for memberships arent usually those looking to save a quick buck on the gym (although every little bit helps). It is typically those who they arent getting squat from their company looking for gym deals. As for part time memberships, I cant really speak to this except to say that bigger gyms probably dont make those deals, but I bet a smaller one would. Also,  I bet you could get a lot of leeway to using the gym at other hours once you cut the deal. Finally the late night manager idea is a good one, and I would also suggest the early morning manager, better to get people when they are tired

Runcheap’s Suggestions– If you belong to a big gym and want to pay cheaper, find a manager and tell them you are going to quit the gym. Even if you are not, gyms are desperate to keep people and initiating the conversation this way will show them you are serious and maybe prompt a better deal. I have used this before to some success.

2.  Purchase Discount Fitness Equipment

Active’s Suggestions:

– Build a home gym using purchases from Craig’s List and smart garage sale-ing

Runcheap Says:

Im definitely a fan of finding equipment or fitness products on the cheap. A friend of mine just got a Craig Listed version of Insanity for half of the retail price. I bet its a good option if you know how to maneuver the site so to speak (I really dont). A garage sale is risky business for heavy cardio equipment, but if they can prove it works and you have a cheap way to move it to your location it really could be a smart way to find something good. Be sure you need it before you purchase though, dont just get it because its a deal.

Runcheaps suggestions- Play It Again Sports could also work. My suggestion would be to find something you really need, just 1 fitness item and then make the effort to find it as cheaply as possible. Pick something you know you will use, and will last long, and is not difficult to transport so you dont add to residual costs

Garage sales are great, find someone who knows how to really work them and see what they think about buying fitness equipment at one

3. New Home Gym Options

Active’s Suggestions:

–  TRX Suspension Training System for $200

–  Bowflex 2000- $1000

– Assorted Valeo Dumbbells – $15

– Check amazon.com and overstock.com for bulk/bundle deals

Runcheap Says:

Go with the dumbbells, you can always put together a good workout with just dumbbells if you are smart about it. I like TRX, but it is expensive and not that easy to use. The Bowflex price makes my head hurt, and both of the last 2 suggestions will ultimately only pay off (financially) if you stick with them a very,  very long time. Their website suggestions are possibly the best idea listed here. Even in todays internet age it still amazes me what can be found on Amazon.

Runcheap’s suggestions- Go with the dumbbells and add a set of resistant bands (usually pretty cheap), add some plyometrics in tandem with those 2 things and you can always hit a good workout without leaving your house.

Small, durable, cheap, mobile, and easy to build a great workout from. Get yourself a set.

4.  Sports Equipment 101

Active’s suggestions:

– Buy it at Play It Again Sports, buy it online on sites already discussed

Runcheap Says:

I feel like what they are saying here belongs in a different place. Im certainly a fan of Play It Again Sports and it is a great place to pick up fitness gear on the cheap, but I dont get why a discussion of sporting goods is in this article? I thought it was supposed to be about staying fit. While sports certainly keep you fit, most adults arent purchasing tons of sports equipment to do so. If you are talking about kids, then that is a different story

Runcheap’s Suggestions– Nothing here, take a visit to Play It Again Sports because you never know what you can find that may help you get fit

I have purchased many sports and fitness items here at reduced rates

5.  Cheap Travel Deals

Active’s suggestions

– Use “aggregator” style flight websites to find the best deals for airlines if you are headed out to destination races or events

– When you find a cheap flight just book it because it wont last

– Avoid flying on Friday’s or Sundays to save cost

– Book a car rental reservation at the time of your flight, then attempt to find a deal later on. Look for the smallest car available at the lowest rate and try to upgrade later

Runcheap Says:

Im not really sure if people who are looking to stay fit on a budget are those planning on huge destination races, but Ill bite for the time being. I agree on using the flight “aggregators”. Plus I just learned a whole new word in doing so. Are there people who dont use these sites to book flights? I also concur with the “book it when you see a deal” mentality, airfare costs vary so greatly that you shouldnt pass up a bargain. As for Friday’s and Sunday’s, how can you avoid them? Most people work during the week, especially those looking to save a buck or 2. What they are saying may be true, but it is not feasible for a lot of everyday people.  As for car rentals? I cant admit to knowing anything about them. I have never rented a car in my life.

Runcheap’s Suggestions– Use public transportation where available. If you have just enough cash to get yourself to a destination race, make it in a city with good access to a bus/taxi/train system so you can move about without dealing with car rental nonsense. Or find a driving distance destination race, get a few friends, and carpool it.

If you have just enough money for a destination race, why waste on a car rental? Use public transportation!

Enjoy Your Run. Enjoy Your Day :0