Cassie emailed in the following tip:
I recently read your post about 7 Ways to Save Money and Stay Motivated While Getting Fit. I wanted to add another suggestion that has worked for me: Work-Exchange for Fitness. It is a practice found at many yoga studios and could even be something asked of any privately owned fitness place.
I have been practicing at Amazing Yoga in Wexford, PA for six years. They offer a work-exchange program in which I check in attending students by taking their money and then tidy up the class after it is over.
It requires me to arrive 30 minutes before the class and stay about 15 minutes afterward. In exchange, I get to take the class for free!
I’m also a part of the work-exchange email group and can pick up classes that are in need of a work-exchange sub. This week, I attended four classes all for free. These would have cost me $60 ($15 per class) if I had paid out of pocket. -Cassie
When I left my corporate job, the gym had to go.
Sadly, parking my butt in front of the TV for an exercise video didn’t do it for me.
The lawn guy also had to go.
Doing the yard myself didn’t do it for me either.
But when I realized that push mowing the lawn was a free aerobics class, for some reason that did it for me!! Woot!
That is, I babysit in the gym childcare 1-2 mornings/week…. free perks!
I work 1-2 mornings/week in a gym. Get paid and a free membership. 🙂 The kids love going to play with the other children.
Some employers have an agreement with their local YMCA to offer memberships to employees at reduced costs. With my employer, there is a YMCA membership discount and even more savings when using the payroll deduction option to pay the membership fees.
Also, some medical insurance companies offer discounts for YMCA or gym memberships. So check your medical insurance company’s website or call the customer service number on the back of your identification card to find out if there are discounts available.
Jazzercise is another great option. Jazzercise instructors are busy with many aspects of running their classes, and they need people to help check in students coming to class. So in exchange for helping at the beginning and end of class, you get to work out for FREE!!! I did this for years, until medical issues got in the way. Many of them also offer babysitting, and you can take your kids for free or very minimal cost. You can look up Jazzercise online to find a location near you.
I’m a Jazzercise instructor (LOVE IT!) and I will second this. Our center offers half price, which with most medical insurance plan reimbursements makes it free for the class manager. Many centers do offer free membership to their managers, so it’s worth it to check with your lcoal center. It would be MUCH harder to run class without my class manger and I so appreciate their help!
The web site is Jazzercise.com. Note that Jazzercise is international also, so if you live overseas, you might want to check if you have Jazzercise where you live too!
Also, if you can teach a class at an exercise venue (yoga, spinning, weight training, etc. or, Jazzercise of course!), this is also a great way to get your exercise inexpensively. I only break even after my expenses, but I don’t pay anything out of pocket, I get a great workout, and I get to encourage others toward a more fit life! I love it!
What a great idea!!! I’m totally asking if my YMCA offers any kind of “volunteer” discount!! At $78 / month, that would be a great deal!
Also check with your employer about gym membership reimbursement. With the crazy cost of health insurance nowdays, employers are trying to come up with ways to get their employees healthier. My employer just announced it would reimburse us for $30 a month towards a gym membership (which is exactly how much my guy membership is a month). So free workouts for me! Check with HR or maybe get permission to start a committee to do some research on how your workplace can help their employees get healthier. You never know unless you try!
“gym membership” not guy membership. 🙂
I barter for my gym membership. I work two hours a week in the child care room in return for free membership!
I too work out for FREE! I volunteer ONE Saturday a month for 31/2 hours and get a free membership to our YMCA. I pay the difference to make it a family membership. It costs me $67 a year and 42 hours of my time. Totally worth it for our family and tight budget.
I didnt know ymca did that. Thanks for the heads up.
Sometimes local high schools will allow district residents to use work out facilities for free or very inexpensive prices. This was offered in the last district we lived in for one dollar per workout at a facility that was nicer than most colleges have! Our current district is nice, and it is free!