3 Must Haves for a Budget Friendly Home Gym

We all know that when you are trying to save money, cooking dinner at home is more cost effective than eating out. The same goes for exercise! If you have the floor space, working out at home can save you hundreds of dollars in gym memberships and class fees. While you could go crazy spending money on equipment for your home gym – you don’t have to! We’ve combed through the top fitness websites to identify the three core components you need to build a home gym on a budget:

1. Floor Protection There is a reason that all gyms have rubber flooring. All of the experts agree that proper, padded floor protection is safer for you, safer for your floors, and safer for your equipment. Check out Amazon for a variety of reasonably priced options or watch for a sale at your local sporting goods store. Depending on your square footage, you might be able to get away with something as simple as a heavyweight yoga mat.

2. Cardio Tools Even if you plan on only doing strength workouts at home, most fitness experts recommend a short warm-up to get your heart pumping. And, while you can run or walk outdoors 90 percent of the time, having some strategy for indoor cardio is a smart move for those rainy or cold days. If you don’t want to invest in an expensive cardio machine, a jump rope is a quick and easy solution. Cheap and simple to use, a jump rope takes up almost no space and can help you to quickly warm-up at the beginning of your workout.

3. Strength Tools This is where it is easy to get overwhelmed. Start by taking stock of your goals and preferences. If you are new to working out, it makes sense to make small investments first and establish regular fitness habits before investing in a high-tech weight bench or power rack. A “starter” strength set-up might include:

Resistance bands – Mentioned in every resource we consulted, they are often the first tool recommended for home-gym strength training.
Adjustable dumbbells – Arguably a small investment, but Michael Mathews at MuscleForLife recommends adjustable dumbbells because they save space and are easier to work with than more traditional plated dumbbells.
Stability ball – A powerful, inexpensive, easy-to-store tool for building core strength.
And if you want to go all out (or if you just like checking out fun fitness gear), Men’s Health has a great list of 20 Ways to Build a Better Home Gym.

Do you work out at home to save money? Share your tips on the FamilyWize Facebook page! Looking for some great home workout routines? Check out our Pinterest board for ideas!

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