Want to get fitter and save Money? Ditch the Gym Membership

08-Jan-2010

It's that time of year when our collective overindulgence during the holidays has sent us all running to the treadmills, planning a 5-times-a-week workout schedule as a form of penance for eating too much turkey and stuffing.  However, data from market research group Mintel shows that in fact, we might be far better off - both financially and health-wise - if we simply tried incorporating more exercise into our daily routines.

For a start, a gym membership is expensive. The Mintel report shows that the average revenue that a UK health club makes per member stands at £442 (including VAT) or about £37 per month, although it also makes the point that the fees can be far higher at some of the major health club chains such as Fitness First, LA Fitness or Nuffield Health.  

Because health clubs know that the urge to get fit is highest after the festive season, 20% of all advertising is carried out in January (Mintel/Nielson). If you are considering joining a gym, the one benefit of being bombarded with all this advertising is that the health clubs have to compete for your business, and many offer incentives such as waiving the joining fee (usually around £70) or offering free months.

After the flood of signups in January, the usual pattern is that by the time that the summer comes around, people's spend on gym attendance drops significantly because of summer holidays and the fact that it's more pleasant to exercise outdoors.  Then in September and October, the attendance picks up again as we all flock to exercise indoors as the long winter nights draw in.

If, like 58% of the population (Mintel) you find that 'exercising in the gym is quite boring or repetitive', or are part of the 48% that lose interest after several weeks, it definitely does not pay to sign up to an expensive yearly contract.  If you imagine that you're spending an average of £37 per month, and then perhaps not going along to the gym from May through to August, you are wasting £148 each year.  Also, if you go to the gym just once a week, each gym session is costing you almost £10.

In July 2009 consumers were asked if they had changed, or planned to change their exercise habits as a result of the credit crunch/recession (Mintel).  23% of respondents had already cancelled their membership with a further 6% planning to.  38% said that they did exercise that did not require fees, such as jogging outdoors, cycling or exercising at home. People who have cancelled their private health club membership are most likely to be from the 25-34 age range and to have pre-school age children, so increased financial pressures are likely to be a deciding factor.

The most popular type of health club in the UK at present is the public leisure centre, with 25% of all gym-goers choosing to use these facilities (GMI/Mintel).  The main attraction of a public gym is the flexibility, you are usually not tied into a yearly contract, meaning that if you do decide not to go, you are not penalised financially.

So what are your options if you would prefer to save the money on gym membership but still make healthy changes to your lifestyle?  Within your daily routine, you could decide to walk more, perhaps using Google Maps or a similar service to plan a route to work.  Opting to take the stairs at work rather than the lift would provide further benefit.   

To avoid the pressure and guilt of a contract gym membership, find out about public health clubs in your area where you can pay as you go.  You can find a list on the website of your local council.  Alternatively, join a local pay-as-you-go sports club, for example to play football, hockey or netball.  You would have the added benefit of a new social scene, which would incentivise you to go regularly.

And how to save money if you are dead-set on heading to the gym?  Some health insurance plans will give you free or vastly reduced gym membership when you sign up (to encourage you to stay healthy), so this could be a cost-effective option.  Click here to apply to speak to a health insurance adviser and find out more.

If you have work colleagues who are also keen to join, band together and ask for a reduced corporate rate - you'll also probably have more motivation to go along if your workmates are also there.  Also, don't be afraid to bargain at the health club, they want your business and are likely to offer you a discount if you ask.  

Of course, the more you use the gym the more cost-effective it becomes.  If you do plan to go regularly, it is a great way of meeting people, and means that you are likely to spend less time on unhealthy and expensive pursuits like drinking in the pub.  However, if the gym is not for you, or finances are tight, you should be aware that there are many other options available when that mince pie-fuelled guilt comes around each January.