It’s a common situation: You want to work out in your home, but you’re stymied by the lack of space or equipment. Accessing equipment at the gym can be time-consuming, expensive and inconvenient. This can be a major barrier to exercising for some people. But you don’t have to spend a fortune on fancy machines and home gym equipment. Here are some tips for creating the home gym of your dreams without breaking the bank:
- Buy used. You can find all kinds of exercise equipment at garage sales, flea markets and thrift stores. Even if it’s not brand-new, it will be much cheaper than buying something new.
- If you have some space outside, look for quality second-hand treadmills and elliptical machines for sale at local sporting goods stores and online.
- Research before buying. As with any major purchase, do your research before dropping money on one piece of equipment or another. You may find that you don’t really need a sit-up bench or resistance bands — a flat bench and free weights provide plenty of opportunities for strength training exercises and stretches. Consider how much space each machine takes up and how easy it is to store.
- Choose multiuse products whenever possible. If you’re looking at an exercise machine, remember that most of them offer a variety of workouts — they’re not just one thing, like an elliptical trainer or stationary bike.
- Will it fit in your home? Some items require assembly while others are ready to use right out of the box. If you live in an apartment or other small space, make sure the item won’t take up too much room.
- What will you use the equipment for? Do you want to do weight training or cardio? Will it be used by one person or many? Make sure you adapt your home gym to your own personal fitness requirements.
