By Tanisha Williams
Staying in shape and looking great has become a staple in most women’s lives today. Whether it’s keeping the weight off, losing that stubborn baby weight or just staying fit and healthy to keep up your daily routine, I want to show you how to save a buck while you shape your butt.
We know it’s not easy – or cheap – to stay in shape. Gym membership costs have soared in some areas and then there are the many exercise crazes we want to try – Pilates, Zumba, spin classes, kickboxing and boot camps … how do we choose without going broke?
Let your fingers do the walking …through the Internet. With the explosion of coupon and daily deal sites, some specifically geared toward exercise, you have no excuse for paying full price for any workout ever again.
Sign up for Groupon, Livingsocial and Bloomspot and indicate you’re looking for exercise and healthy living deals. The savings will land right in your inbox.
Videographer Jamiah Adams found it a waste to keep her gym membership because she hardly ever used it. When she discovered Groupon and realized she could use it on her smartphone, she was excited.
“I’m always traveling to different cities. I can pick a city that I’m going to be in and take advantage of the opportunities in that city immediately,” she says. “I love the deals these websites offer. I use them all interchangeably.”
Most recently, Adams snagged a terrific deal at a sought-after spin cycle class. “I picked up five spin classes for $25 at Kinetic Spin in Brentwood, Calif.,” she says. “Each class is usually $20 per class. I saved $80, it was that easy.”
Most of the companies provide discounted offers that you can try for a limited time. The savings are based on a minimum number of deals that are sold within a certain time.
If you are in a pinch and can’t loosen those purse strings, these fitness freebies are for you. The fitness industry is saturated with the next upcoming “thing” and gyms continue to try and lure in new members.
Request a tour to check out the gym facilities and score a free two or three week trial membership. Also, most boutique fitness spots that specialize in one type of exercise activity will give you the chance to take one class for free to help you decide if you want to sign up. You can move around and do this at several different places and get in shape without spending one dime.
For those of you who have services to offer, you can do what I like to call Body & Trade. For example, if you are a graphic designer and you know a personal trainer you are dying to work with, offer that trainer your graphic design services in exchange for a discount or free training session.
Lakeyta Smith, a coffee-shop owner in Inglewood, Calif., was finding it hard to motivate herself and found a personal trainer she wanted to work with. She offered to advertise the trainer’s services for free in her cafe in exchange for workouts two or three times a week. “It’s a win-win for both of us,” she says.
One of the easiest ways to get a fitness steal is the old Rave & Refer. Most instructors and trainers and even gyms will be more than willing to offer free or discounted classes or even memberships if you refer others. Chat up your friends, offer to do reviews on Yelp or other websites or bring a friend to class. The instructors will appreciate your enthusiasm and want you to come back.
Now you have exciting ways to get into the best shape of your life and save a bundle.
Got a money-saving exercise tip to share with us? Tell us all about it in the comments section below.
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