First off, don’t get me wrong – I’m certainly not trying to dissuade you from exercising and living a healthy lifestyle. I’m a firm believer in exercising and staying in shape; I just don’t see the need to pay an arm and a leg for it.

Gym memberships cost, on average, between $30 and $50 per month, and usually require an initial one time membership set up fee of between $50 and $200. So, over the course of a year, to be a member of a gym will typically cost you between $400 and $800.

It’s hard for me to justify spending that amount of money for things that can very easily be done outside the gym for free. For example, it doesn’t cost me anything to jog outside, do push ups, pull ups, play pick up basketball at the local courts, etc.

However, if you feel the need to actually use “going to the gym” as motivation to work out, you may want to check a couple of other places before you make the commitment to fork over $400 or more of your hard earned money.

For example, more and more employers are realizing the benefits of having a healthy workforce and are putting a work out room in their facilities. Also, many communities have a gym in their clubhouse – which is probably something you’re already paying for if you have homeowner association fees.

Or, if you felt the need, you could take that $400 to $800 you’d be spending on gym membership fees and put it towards getting some small gym equipment for your own house. Then you can get the gym like atmosphere without having to leave your home – and you don’t have to make reoccurring payments.

The moral of the story is you should definitely find ways to get out and exercise, but joining a gym should be one of your last options.