21 Ways To Stay Fit When You Can’t Afford A Gym Membership

When you’re trying to stay in shape, or even get in shape to begin with, the last thing you want to have to overcome is a money hurdle. Fancy gyms and expensive personal trainers might have you believe that you need to have a few extra hundred dollars (at least) lying around each month in order to pay for your fitness.

But the great news I’m happy to share is that’s simply not true! 

You can seriously get in the best shape of your life while spending $0.

For real.

While you won’t be spending money, you will be tapping into a level of determination and concentration to make these healthy habits stick.

The thing with health, wellness, and fitness is that no one can do it for us, we’ve got to do it ourselves.

Since you’re here reading this post, I know you’ve got that inner fire to take care of your body and mind and be able to live your best life.

And you’re not going to let money or a tight budget stand in your way!

Ready for 21 ways to stay fit even when you can’t afford a gym membership?!

Here they are!

1. Bike to work

Make sure your helmet fits and you’ve got a good backpack, and you’re on your way! Biking is such an awesome way to travel; not only will you use your commute to get in shape but you’ll also save a ton of money on gas.

2. Walk to work

Even if your job is located a couple miles away, it won’t take long for you to get in the habit of leaving half an hour earlier. You’ll notice your mind has an incredible chance to think, process, and daydream while you’re outside and moving. Especially if you have a sedentary job, the walk to and from work will help you balance out all that sitting.

3. Get off the train or bus a stop early

If you commute by public transportation, a walk from home to work might not be possible. No problem! Just hop off the bus, train, or subway a stop or two early to give yourself that pre-work walk. Depending on whether you pay your travel fare by distance, you might end up saving a significant amount of money each week by getting off at an earlier stop.

4. YouTube!!!

I mean, for real. YouTube has EVERYTHING from yoga classes to ab workouts to H.I.I.T. routines. Take your pick! I am loving this ab workout right here!

Intense Ab Workout – YouTube Video

5. Run outside

Lace up your kicks and off you go! No need for a gym treadmill when you have the outdoors completely free.

6. Make family time exercise time

Family time is so precious, and you can create extra special memories and healthy habits for your loved ones when you make activity the central focus. Hiking, swimming, and biking are some of our favorites.

7. Playground!

I’ve found myself more than once sitting on the park bench, watching my kids play on the playground. That’s why the bench is there, right?! Well yes… but when my son asked me to do the monkey bars with him I realized I had this entire “gym” for free right at my fingertips! Monkey bars are no joke, and they’re a great upper body workout! When your kids ask you to take them to the playground, take that as an opportunity to get a workout in for yourself too.

8. Babywearing Exercises

As a new parent, squeezing in a workout seems absolutely impossible, especially when you’re home with your little one who just wants to be held all. the. time. Am I right?! Embrace it … if you can 😉 Strap your kiddo in the carrier and head out for a walk. Carrying around those extra 15-20 pounds will make your core so super strong and strengthen your bond with your cutie.

Want to get extra creative? Do a legitimate workout with your baby:

• Squats with your baby in the carrier
• Push ups over your baby and each time you come down, give your cutie a smooch
• Bicep curls using your baby as the weight

The great thing, from my experience, is that the kids love this!

9. Go for a walk during lunch

Alright, if you have a long commute by car and you work late hours, you can still get fit during the day for no cost! Set aside your lunch hour for a brisk walk around the city or surrounding area. You’ll likely come to your desk with fresh ideas and energy to finish out the day.

10. Skip dessert and save that $$$

You know what they say about abs … that they’re made in the kitchen! Honestly, what we eat makes such a big difference in how our bodies feel, so if you literally cannot squeeze any kind of physical activity in, at least make smart food choices. Skip dessert, opt for water rather than booze or soda, and double up on the veggies. Healthy doesn’t have to be expensive, and often times they aren’t.

11. Work Study/Work trade

If you’re the local fitness or yoga studio type but that membership just doesn’t fit in your budget, reach out to the business owner to see if they have any type of trade program. Being the owner of a small yoga studio myself, I can’t even begin to explain how valuable my Work Study team is! Seriously, it’s SO WORTH IT for me to extend free classes for them when they commit to a few cleaning shifts per week. This can be the perfect solution for you to continue with your classes and remain an important, dependable part of your studio’s community. TIP: If you’re new to the stuio, as in have never been before, the owner won’t likely extend a Work Trade position right off the bat. Be prepared to meet him or her in person, bring references, and even save to be able to buy the studio’s intro special. That will at least show the owner you’re serious and will give the staff a chance to get to know you.

12. Another type of trade

Maybe classes aren’t your thing but you love the idea of a personal trainer. This can get quite expensive, so aim to find a trainer who needs something you’re good at. Maybe you can exchange personal training sessions for babysitting or yard work or cleaning. Really anything that’s of value to you both!

13. At-home workouts (done with a friend or partner is best!)

Sometimes it’s just easier to have a few H.I.I.T. workouts listed out, and you can bang them out in the basement or the yard. Think push ups, squats, crunches, jumping jacks, mountain climbers, and burpees.

14. Play tag

You know that time in the later part of the day… in our household it’s either after the kids’ afternoon nap but before dinner … or after dinner but before bathtime? You might even call it the “witching hour.” Whatever you refer to it as, it’s the time of day where time just drags. I’m often tempted to turn on the TV, dig into my secret stash of cookies, or just get idle. And idle is not good for anyone. During this time, take your little ones outside and play tag with them. Seriously! They will love racing around with you involved, and you’ll instantly be reminded how much energy kids have. If you went the whole day without breaking a sweat, this game of tag will ensure you get your heart rate up before the sun goes down.

15. Walk to do your errands

Need a gallon of milk or a book of stamps? Consider whether you can walk to do that errand. You might have been planning on taking a walk later that day anyway, but walking to get your errands done is a great way to maximize your time and stay fit — and it costs nothing.

16. Increase your dog-walking time

I swear, having a dog is great for your fitness level! Even in the winter, you’ve got to get your pooch out for at least a quick stroll. So if you’re out anyway, use is as an excuse to take a longer walk than you normally would.

17. Walk a neighbor’s dog

Don’t have a dog? No problem! I’m sure your neighbors would be psyched to have you walk their pup when they’re out! Depending on your relationship with them or if you start walking lots of neighbors’ dogs, you could even create a littls side hustle for yourself and get fit and stay in shape at the same time. Win-win!

18. Free local classes

From time to time, local studios and even gyms offer free classes. Lots of times this happens around back-to-school season, Thanksgiving, and the New Year. Sign up for their e-mail newsletters and you’ll undoubtedly be notified when a free day or class is scheduled.

19. Free outdoor class

In the summertime, check out what free outdoor classes your community is holding. The Parks and Recreation department is a good place to start.

20. Sledding!

Nothing gets your rate rate up like trudging up a snowy hill! For real! Embrace the cold, snowy weather and head for the hills.

21. Do a track sprinting workout

There’s just something about being at a high school track that makes me feel like an energetic 15-year-old again! Simply putting yourself in that setting, you’ll feel a resurgence of energy, so run with it! (Pun intended). I like a simple workout of sprinting the straightaway and jogging the corner. At most standard tracks, four laps is a mile, so you can use that as reference point for choosing your workout length.

It’s totally clear to see how you can stay in amazing shape while spending absoltely nothing, and sometimes even earning money!

Let this list be a reminder that everyday opportunities exist for you to take care of the most important thing in your life … you … so that you’ll have the strength, energy, and determination to take care of those around you.

Happy sweating!