I heard the talk show hosts on my local radio station discussing exercise gyms and if their fees are expensive or is it worth spending the money in these hard economic times.

If you are a regular exercise facility user, what's your opinion?

Our local gym - 1.5 yrs old is around 200$ a yr for a fam memebership for 4


I have no idea if that is expensive or cheap and the only reason I know the amount is JT's girlfriend goes and she told me what her fam pays

luv4u said:

it really depends on where you go

Some places have alot of fancy perks you may or may not want like dvd players on each treadmill, smoothie bar, complimentary towels and other crap.

Other gyms are more stripped down to just the essentials and can be pretty reasonable...In my city we have this place called Planet Fitness that is literally just equipment in a facility, and it's only like $15/ month to join.

I always tell people who are looking for a bargin to consider going to a local university and taking up a fitness membership there.
You can use the machines and weight room, go to workout classes, use the pool, etc.. all usually for one yearly fee (thats cheaper than most yearly gym memberships)

Plus at universities, it's usually pretty clean, open at a wide range of times and not too crowded during non-peak times

Mach said:

now thats a bargin! for a family of 4? Oh yeah

thekidsgirl said:

It's really nice too - not fancy fluffy tons of extras

it's a workout gym perhaps 300' x 150'

Mach said:

my mom took a tour of a local fitness center here, and she loved it and was about to join until she found out it was like $235/month (not including the sign-up fee)

she bolted out of there, when they said that

thekidsgirl said:

I wonder if I have my facts mixed up - I'll ask Kaitlyn when I see her again

i do $39a month.

since i'm interested in someone who is a personal trainer i highly recommend people stikcing with their training programs during these tough times cause the trainers don't get paid if you don't train.

Mach said:

maybe ?

I know here I couldn't even join the YMCA for $200/year
but it could just be because of our different locations

luv4u said:

it can be:

I am a member of two gyms at the moment.
Ballys is 30.00 a month
and
LA FITNESS is 30.00 a month

60.00 a month total, which is 720.00 a year.

If I go directly to the gym from work, I go to Ballys.
If I go home, then go to the gym, I go to LA FITNESS.

I just purchased 2 yrs for $289 for 24 hr fitness, which is $12 a month. I think I got a very good deal! I was paying $16 at Bally's and their hours did not work for me.

It totally depends on the gym itself. The more perks there are the more it's going to be.

I belong to two. One cost 45.00 per month and the other is 39.00 per month. The one that is less money has more perks than the other one.

Check out a few of them before you join one.

A lot of it depends on where you live. I live in an Ivy League college town where there are a lot of people with a lot of money, so gym memberships are quite expensive. Lucky for me, I have free access to an adequate gym since I am a student.

thekidsgirl said:

that's insane!!!

When u consider that you can purchase your own 4 the cost of a single year membership. I'd say they are expensive.

Planet Fitness is 10 bucks a month and a one time fee of $30...that lasts for 3 years. Cheap!

veronikka said:

10 years ago when i first watned to join 24hour that's about how much it was. now you say $12 i should go back and take a second look.

I think the average gym in Canada is about $50 a month usually with a join fee of a couple hundred bucks (give or a take a promotion here and there).

Of the gyms that are accessible to me on a busline, $55 a month is the cheapest I've found, and I think I get a 10% discount. I get discounts through where I work and my insurance pays me back $20 a month if I show up at least 8 times in the month.

I joined my local gym last year for a six month plan($ 199). I love it, it's just down the street, never crowded(unlike my old Gym @ Bally's), and Gay friendly. I probably pay 4 bucks more at BodyBuilder's then at Bally's Gym chain, but it's totally worth it.

Our corporate gym doesn't cost a thing.

veronikka said:

they justify thee insanity by giving you a personal trainer, spa access, counseling, etc. etc. etc.... but if all you want to do is work out then psshhhh forget that!

I'd never pay that much just for membership to a fancy gym!

ehuffnsd said:

I got that deal through Costco I went in in person too and they wanted to charge me $24 a month, so if you have a Costco memership or know someone who does take advantage of it!

CarrieLee said:

I would rather spend extra money than go somewhere that has nonsense rules such as no grunting and no cut off tee-shirts.

Darwintheorgangrinder said:

I hear lots of grunts...haven't seen any cut off tshirts yet though. Maybe I'll wear one tonight and see what happens!

probably cheaper than a double bypass surgery!!

You're buying a gym? Do you know anything about managing one?

With the economy the way it is, you can negotiate a lower rate than what's offered. They're desperate to get customers now.

Damn, I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who's a member of 2 gyms

24Hr is about $16/mo for me ($199 per year)... Golds is $29 but I think I'll quit after this year - I only joined b/c they have better fitness classes than 24, but my ass hasn't been going so it's a total waste of money. Plus they canceled some of my favorite classes!

Okay the 200$ a yr for 4 was right -

that's a GOOD price

if you break it down per person per month it's under 5 a person/month


damn

no wonder they are alwys FULL