A Home Gym on a Budget

Resistance bands are an economical and effective addition to a home gym

Sometimes it is better to just have your gym at home, but can you do it on a budget? Yeah, you can. I have a gym membership myself, but I also have some equipment at home, which keeps me going even when things are too busy. So here is my look at doing a home gym on  a budget.

Gyms are great. They are full of awesome equipment. They can have a great atmosphere that helps to motivate you and push you through your workout. There probably professional trainers and fitness people there who can answer  your questions. Unfortunately, they can also be very crowded and expensive. Worse, unless you’ve got a gym right on your doorstep, you’re going to have to travel to get there. This can be a hassle, especially when you’ve got a whole load of other commitments taking up your time. So, the question then, is whether there is a better option?  You see home gym equipment on the shopping channel the whole time, but can you actually set up a home gym that gets the job done, without having to mortgage your house?

Cardio Equipment

A lot of the big cardio machines that they have in the gyms – like treadmills and rowers – are expensive, so if you are going to invest in one, choose wisely and buy the machine that is the foundation of your exercise routine. Also keep in mind that you don’t need to go for the premium equipment that big chain gyms have – the treadmills there are built to withstand hundreds of people using them everyday. If it is just you and your family using yours, don’t be afraid to skimp a little on the price. If even that is out of your budget, then just go retro with a skipping rope, and do the rest of your cardio outside. I actually prefer to do my home cardio by pushing a DVD into my machine and working up a sweat to something like P90X or INSANITY, or just go out for a jog.

Weightlifting Equipment

You don’t need all of those fancy machines to get a great workout in – just keep things simple. The simplest equipment is a chin up bar and some resistance bands. I go really cheap on my chin up bar – I simply use the top of the security gate to out front patio. I also have some hand weights, but most of my home work I use simple resistance bands you can get on Amazon for cheap.

If you want to get more involved, you can invest about $100 in a good range of dumbbells, and if weight lifting is what you can splurge up past $1000 on an Olympic bar bell set and as many weight plates as you think you need. A bench and squat rack should complete the set up!

Home Gym Advantages

 The obvious advantages of a home gym are the time and money that you’ll save by not having to travel to, and pay for the use of a gym. If you live far away from your gym, then chances are you aren’t going to go very often, so setting up a home gym removes that excuse. Although it may cost a little to set up, it will definitely work out cheaper in the long run. As I mentioned before, I have a gym membership which I use, but I also know that sometimes when I need to workout is when the gym is packed. Having an inexpensive and convenient alternative at home keeps my on track when life gets wild.

Home Gym Disadvantages

Commercial gyms have a lot of specialist equipment. Sure, some of it is for show, but a lot of it is designed to give you as varied and stimulating a workout as possible. Unfortunately, a tight budget won’t allow you to replicate this set up in your home, so you will be more limited in your exercise choice.

Also, the more at home you got the more room you need. For me it is very easy – a shelf to hold my exercise DVDs, a cupboard to hold my hand weights, resistance bands and my exercise/yoga mat. If you are going all the way to bench sets and Olympic weight sets I hope you have a basement or little used room to dedicate the space.

So there we go, a few options to help you set up a home gym on a budget. Home training might not be for everyone, and does have its disadvantages, but if you are tired of paying for a gym that you never go to, then it is definitely worth the investment!