9 Budget Friendly Tools To Stay Fit

9 Budget-Friendly Tools to Stay Fit 💪

By Mariam Khawer

As per a survey, an average American between the ages of 18 to 65, spends about $155 per month on fitness – that’s $112,000 in a lifetime! So clearly, staying fit is important for most of us – but does your pocket really have to bleed so much to get healthy?!

The inspiration, power, or ability to look or feel good about your body doesn’t have to come from your wallet. A $50 bottle may be ‘cute’, but it takes a lot more than that to stay hydrated, and stay disciplined to get fit. None of this depends on “how much” you spend on equipment or tools.

Fitness, like many other things, isn’t reserved for the “rich only”. If you know where the table is and why you’re there to begin with, you are cool enough to sit at the table.

If you’re a complete noob, start simple. A $1000 gym membership and an entire line of sportswear is definitely extra at this point.

 Here’s a quick guide on staying fit – mentally, physically, and financially:

1. YouTube ▶️

Isn’t it great to be alive in this digital era, with all kinds of content being constantly churned out every day? You most likely have an internet connection and a digital device at our disposal. Use the two to browse through the hundreds of exercise routines available on YouTube – all for free!

You can find content ranging from varying fitness levels to different types of exercises to suit your different fitness needs. A single search is all it takes for a gazillion options. Plus, YouTube workouts give you the freedom to choose which exercise regime you want to follow and when. 

2. Step Out 🚶

Going out for a walk is an extremely easy, affordable and effective form of exercise. Whether you’re an early riser who prefers exercising first thing in the morning or, a night owl who likes sweating it out at the end of the day, going out for a walk is an extremely easy, affordable, and effective form of exercise.  Grab your favorite pair of sneakers and go for a walk or a sprint in your local park. 

Alternatively, walking in malls is a great option during the summer months. #NoExcuse

3. Skipping Rope 🏃‍♀️

If asked to suggest a piece of pocket-friendly fitness equipment, skipping rope is probably going to be your first one.

Skipping is an aerobic activity that can help you burn excess fat in your body. Fitness coaches and athletes have suggested that skipping could be a better method of shedding body fat than jogging and running. There are different weights and categories of skipping ropes, depending on how fast you want to reduce your weight.

 All this for an average of less than $15? *Woohoo*

4. Turn your Home into a Gym 🥊

Look around your house. Chances are you have overlooked opportunities to exercise all along.

A staircase can provide an incredible cardio workout. A spacious hall or room can double as a walkway or a jogging track. Daily household items like a full water bottle can be used in place of dumbbells. Even routine tasks like doing the vacuuming or sweeping can be transformed into exercise routines.

5. Dumbbells 🏋️‍♀️

If you want to build your muscles, then a pair of dumbbells is a must. Dumbbells help provide you lean muscle mass without necessarily having to hit the gym. You don’t even need much space for exercises using dumbbells. Dumbbells come in different weights, so choose what is healthy and the right weight for your fitness regime. You can even get dumbbells with adjustable weights.

The price of dumbbells varies depending on the amount of weight you would like to press. The average dumbbell costs about $3 per pound. That means you can get a pair of dumbbells, each weighing ten pounds, for about $60.

6. TRX System 🤸‍♀️

Total Resistance Exercise (TRX) is a body-weight exercise technique that makes use of your body weight against gravity to enhance your body’s endurance level. The TRX System is a fitness tool invented by a US naval officer in the late 1990s.

It consists of two straps that you can hold in such a way that you are leaning your weight against gravity and improve your stability. It is an efficient way of working out without the use of a machine. It targets increasing metabolic rates that help you build lean muscle consistently.

7. Yoga /Fitness Mat 🧘‍♀️

You can perform a number of body-weight exercises on a yoga or fitness mat alone and enhance your fitness. Examples include push-ups and figure-four bridge,  among others, that require you to have only a mat, which costs around just $16.

8. Bands & Balls 🏐

Stability balls are one of the most underrated, affordable fitness equipment. They are really useful in improving your stability and flexibility. The elastic, resistance bands that come with them can help you build lean muscle. Most of them cost $10-$30 on Amazon.

9. Use your Body Weight 🤾‍♀️

The best things in life are free. If you’re on a tight budget and cannot afford to invest in any form of exercise equipment, there’s good news. There are dozens of exercise options that don’t require anything besides using your own body weight to have an intensive work out. You start out with exercises like squats, lunges, crunches, pushups, and jumping jacks for a great workout at zero cost.

In a nutshell, being fit isn’t necessarily an expensive affair. You must know the most available, affordable, and effective fitness tools and regimes by now. The ultimate ingredient to gain and maintain your fitness is your discipline and commitment to a consistent regime.

So make no more excuses and get sweaty for good! 🏋️