It’s predicted that in 2018, Aussies will spend a whopping $712 million each month on health and fitness activities, despite 1 million health and fitness passes going unused each year. With other expenditure items like fit-tech, fitness apps, activewear, and trainers eating away at your hard-earned cash, it can feel like your health and fitness spending is getting out of control. So what can you do to stay fit on the cheap and avoiding spending on a gym membership you don’t end up using?

Best workout apps

Skip paying for a $90-an-hour personal trainer and start taking charge of your own fitness with these free workout and exercise apps.

• Sworkit – This app is designed for people who struggle to find the time to workout and want to do it at home. Sworkit offers video workouts that can be done in the comfort of your living room in 15-minute sessions and at your convenience.
• KINETICOACH – This free app can be used anywhere — whether you’re working out at home or travelling. Tell the app what equipment you have access to, enter how much time you have, and the app will come back with a customised workout for you.
• Runkeeper – Runkeeper is a leading app that lets you track your runs. With the GPS in your phone, you can log your speed, distance, and route. Set goals and create a playlist to stay motivated using the app.
• Nike+ Training Club App – Nike’s free personal-trainer app features more than 100 workouts with audio and visual guidance from fitness experts for every move — whether it’s yoga, endurance training, or specific body areas you’d like to work on.
• Adidas’s All Day App – This free app from Adidas targets the four key drivers of athletic performance: movement, nutrition, mindset, and rest. Access workout videos, recorded meditation sessions, nutrition tips, and insights for achieving a better sleep.

Free exercises: workouts you can do at home

Working out at home without an expensive gym membership could be just as effective if you do it right. Check out some of these ideas to get inspired.

• Body weight workouts – Home-based workouts that use your body weight can be sufficient for keeping fit. Experts suggest mixing moderate cardio, such as jogging in place or shadow boxing, with dynamic stretching and functional body weight exercises, like squats and lunges. Add focused isolated movements and cool-down static stretching at the end.
• Online videos – One of the easiest ways to work out at home is to explore the free workout videos available online at sites like YouTube or Fitness Blender, or through a free smartphone app or podcast.
• Cheap equipment – Mix up your workout with inexpensive fitness accessories such as hand weights, resistance bands, kettlebells, or skipping ropes.
• Walk, run, or cycle everywhere – If you cycle to work, you’ll  save yourself transport costs while burning up some serious calories. Also, consider running or brisk walking to the shops instead of driving.

Best home gym equipment

Creating your own at-home gym with these four key pieces of equipment might be cheaper than buying an expensive gym membership.

• Suspension trainer – consider adding a suspension trainer to your home gym. Widely available in commercial gyms, this piece of equipment can be used to activate the core, for unilateral training, and more than 300 bodyweight exercises, without any bulky equipment or weights.
• Rowing machine – Rowing machines are also great additions to home gyms. You can get a heavy-duty cardio workout in a short amount of time while working every muscle in your body.
• Speed rope – A third piece of equipment to add to your home gym is a speed rope, one with ball bearings for maximum speed and workout effectiveness.
• Barbells and weights – Complete your at-home gym with barbells and weights so you can round out your workouts with weight and strength training.

A brand-new gym may sound tempting, but used gym equipment in good condition could be bought at a fraction of the cost of a new one. Consider shopping around for quality equipment instead of buying new, and you could end up saving thousands of dollars.

Cost of gym membership vs. supplying your own equipment at home

Gym memberships typically cost around $1,000 a year when you include initial joining fees. If you’re looking for a premium membership with all the extras, you might end up payingaround $1,500 a year.

In contrast, while setting up your own gym requires a large initial outlay, investing in this equipment will save you more in the long run. Depending on your preferred workout style, you could equip your home gym with the following:

• Dumbbells – $50 to $200
• Yoga mat – $50
• Pull-up bar – $30
• Resistance bands –$15
• Kettlebells – $50
• Skipping rope – $15
• Barbells – $50
• Weight plates – $35 per 10kg

NB: The above are estimated costs.

A starter gym like this could cost you under $500 — much less than the $1,000 annual subscription you would pay for a gym membership that you might not use. You can build up your home gym in stages without a huge upfront outlay, and best of all, you can take time to find pieces — preowned but in good condition — that match your needs and budget.

Stay active on a tight budget

Setting up your own gym at home is one of the best ways to have 24/7 access to equipment that’s perfect for your workout needs. If you don’t have the cash on hand, a short-term personal loan can finance your home-gym setup, so you can start working out right away.

SRG finance is a leader in short-term personal finance to Aussie consumers, and we offer solutions that major banks often can’t. To find out more about getting a short-term loan to help you set up your at-home gym, apply online now.