If you’ve read my previous posts on the gym, you know that, despite my frequent emphasis on bodyweight exercises, I am also a proponent of belonging to a gym; I strongly believe that going to the gym supports rather than detracts from a minimalist lifestyle.

With that said, I also think it’s important for minimalists to reduce recurring monthly expenses. I’ve read many personal finance posts that suggest canceling gym memberships to save money. I think the smarter approach is to cut gym costs. Here are eight ways to get the most bang for your buck at the gym. Do you have any to add?

  1. Don’t belong to a fancy gym. This probably sounds like the most obvious advice possible, yet may be the advice that is least often followed. One does not need amenities like whirlpools, tanning booths (save your skin – don’t tan), steam rooms, and disposable toothbrushes (ugh..).
  2. Get a longterm contract, and then continue month-to-month after it expires. This is a bit counterintuitive and many will tell you otherwise, but I highly recommend this approach under certain circumstances. If you know you will be living somewhere for a few years, and you really like your gym, don’t be afraid to go with the longterm contract. A two year contract will be a good bit cheaper than a one year membership, and much cheaper than going month-to-month. After the two year contract expires, you will have the benefit of the low rate, but will also have the flexibility to cancel since you will be month-to-month. I have been month-to-month at the two-year rate for three years now!
  3. Try different gyms out for free for a long time. Don’t be in a rush to sign a contract. Instead, try a bunch of gyms out for free. Here’s an article about a girl who did this for an entire year. This has two benefits. First, you get the free gym membership. Second, you will end up joining a gym that you’re likely to love, which will result in you not paying unnecessary cancellation fees.
  4. Milk your gym membership for everything it is worth. Suppose your gym membership costs $50 bucks a month. If you frequently shower at the gym and not at home,  the actual cost of the gym may be closer to $40 a month after considering savings in water, gas/electric, and shampoo/soap. Similarly, if you take a weekly exercise class outside of the gym, you can avoid this cost by going to a free one at your gym.
  5. Don’t be afraid to negotiate prior to joining. Gym salespeople are often desperate to sign up new members. Don’t be afraid to act hesitant and ask the sales person to knock a couple of dollars of the monthly fee. This may be particularly effective if you are looking to join with a partner. If it doesn’t work, there’s no harm to you.
  6. Don’t be afraid to negotiate after joining. Just a few months ago, I saw my gym was offering a discounted monthly rate for partners of current gym members to join. Both my wife and I were already members, but we were both month-to-month at this point, and could cancel at any time.   I spoke with the manager and told him I thought it would be fair if he gave one of us the discount. He readily agreed.  If you are a longtime member that is month-to-month, you have a lot of negotiating power.
  7. Join a gym where you can “freeze” your membership. My gym allows me to “freeze” my membership for a small monthly fee (I think it’s about $5 a month) instead of paying the full amount. Thus, when you are traveling, you don’t need to cancel your membership if you plan to return within a few months. This is also helpful for when you are sick or injured (I froze my membership for two months when I broke my thumb).
  8. Utilize health insurance discounts. I admit I’m bad at this. But most insurance companies offer discounts in premiums if you go to the gym a certain number of times each year. The downside is that you have to maintain a log, and this can get very tedious.