top of page

Fit on a Budget: Maximising Fitness without Breaking the Bank


How to get fit on a a budget


Staying fit and healthy doesn't have to drain your bank account, which is why we want to share with you how to get fit on a budget.


Here, we explore various strategies and cost-effective solutions for maximising your fitness journey without overspending. From affordable workout equipment and free exercise resources to budget-friendly meal ideas and discounted gym memberships, we will guide you on how to make the most of limited resources.


#1 Invest in Affordable Workout Equipment to get fit on a budget


Investing in expensive gym equipment is not a necessity when starting your fitness journey, especially if you’re wanting to get fit from the comfort of your own home. That being said, here are some affordable alternatives to help you set up a mini home gym without breaking the bank:

  • Resistance Bands: Versatile and cost-effective, resistance bands provide a full-body workout and come in various resistance levels. They are portable, easy to store, and perfect for strength training exercises.

  • Skipping Rope: Skipping is arguably an underrated piece of equipment. It is an excellent cardiovascular exercise, affordable and compact fitness tool that you can take anywhere! It helps burn calories, improves coordination, and can be used both indoors and outdoors, in the gym or at home in your garden.

  • Stability Ball: A stability ball is an affordable piece of equipment that can be used for core exercises, balance training, and improving posture. It also doubles as a chair, promoting better posture when you’re sitting, this is a really good idea if you work at a computer day in day out.

  • Dumbbells: While traditional dumbbells can be expensive, adjustable dumbbells or even water bottles filled with sand or water can serve as budget-friendly alternatives for strength training. Plus, not to mention that you don’t necessarily need heavy dumbbells in order to get a good workout in, you can simply manipulate the weight by opting for higher reps instead.


#2 Utilise Free Exercise Resources


There are copious amounts of free materials online and even within your gym if you’re a member. Understandably there is the missing piece of motivation when you’re utilising free materials but nonetheless, it is a great first step and this is especially true if you’re not lacking in the motivational area.


Here are some common budget friendly tools that you can use to get fit.


Online Workouts


YouTube and fitness apps offer a wide range of free workout videos and programs suitable for different fitness levels. From yoga and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) to dance workouts and bodyweight exercises.


You can even search for dumbbell only workouts or resistance band only workouts to adhere to your equipment that you have at home.


Local Parks and Trails


Explore your local parks and trails, which often provide opportunities for walking, jogging, cycling, and outdoor fitness stations. Nature's gym can be a great way to stay active while enjoying the fresh air!


Plus, in many parks now there are alot of exercise equipment that are freely available to use. Making use of these especially on a sunny day can be a great way to improve your fitness level and look after your mental health.


Community Centres and Libraries


Many community centres and libraries offer free or low-cost fitness classes, such as yoga, Zumba, or aerobics. Check their schedules and take advantage of these resources.


Social Media Fitness Challenges


Participating in fitness challenges on platforms like Instagram can provide motivation, support, and accountability. These challenges often come with free workout plans and guidance from fitness enthusiasts.



get fit on a a budget


#3 Budget-Friendly Meal Ideas


One of the biggest challenges with how to get fit on a budget is nutrition. Sadly fresh fruit and vegetables can be costly, particularly if you’re eating them everyday, that being said, focus on making a lot from a little.


For example, volume eating is a method in which you eat a high volume of low calorie and nutrition dense vegetables. Choose affordable vegetables, ones that come frozen are a good way to keep budget down while keeping nutrients up, these include veggies such as:

  • Broccoli

  • Cauliflower

  • Mixed peas (good source of protein!)

  • Mixed vegetables (frozen bags)

Of course, where possible, fresh veg is always great but in the current climate we understand that it isn’t always plausible.


Aside from the actually shopping list, there are some planning techniques that can make eating a healthy diet on a budget much more accessible, some of these include:

  • Meal Planning and Batch Cooking: Plan your meals for the week in advance, create a shopping list, and buy ingredients in bulk. Batch cooking allows you to prepare meals in larger quantities, saving time and money.

  • Plant-Based Proteins: Incorporate cost-effective plant-based protein sources like beans, lentils, tofu, and tempeh into your diet. These alternatives are not only affordable but also offer various health benefits.

  • DIY Snacks: Instead of purchasing pre-packaged snacks, make your own nutritious snacks at home. Options like homemade granola bars, roasted chickpeas, or trail mix can be more economical and healthier.



lose weight on a budget


#4 Utilise Discounted Gym Memberships and Free Workout Classes


While gym memberships can be relatively inexpensive, you may be missing that motivational aspect, in order to achieve this, you can look out for cheap personal trainers that might offer affordable options.


For example, here at Infinity Performance, we offer affordable personal training for students. We do this by creating bespoke plans for students who have a limited budget but still want to stay fit or get fit.


It is super important that you’re able to still lead a healthy lifestyle even if you have a limited budget. In the current climate that the UK is currently in, prices are rising all around us and while it shouldn’t have to impact our diet, it does.


That being said, it is important to try to work at keeping a nutrition dense diet even when it requires more time and effort being put into it.


If you’re a student and are tight on cash but still want the luxury of a personal trainer helping you reach your goals, find out more about our personal training services for students here. We also have affordable PT options for people who aren’t students too, you can see all of our personal training options here for more information.


Comments


bottom of page