Wellness on a Budget: How to Stay Fit for Less

I asked two accredited financial counselors for their advice. How can we embrace the wellness trends that work without blowing through our budgets?

They told me to lean on free workouts, trial periods and workplace benefits.

“I’ve been on my own health and wellness journey for the last 10 years and I’ve tried it all,” says Laura Adams, accredited financial counselor and financial coach in Wilmington, North Carolina.

She discovered that for her, the best way to stay fit doesn’t cost much. For her, it’s important to be active every day, even when she’s tired. Movement could be as simple as going for a walk or a bike ride.

Take trial periods for a spin

For apps and other membership programs that have subscription fees, Adams suggests giving yourself a temporary trial period before committing. Sometimes programs offer free or reduced-price trials, but you have to remember to cancel the subscription when the trial ends.

“Find a gym that will let you come for a month without completing the contract, or sign up for one month for a fitness app rather than paying for the entire year,” she says.

I took this approach when considering whether or not to buy a Peloton bike. I tried out cycle classes with free YouTube videos using an old bike before committing to any new equipment or subscriptions.

Adams adds that you might think you’d enjoy Pilates but then realize you hate it after trying free video classes online for a month.

“Make sure you can really commit before investing financially,” she says.

Get more out of your existing subscriptions

If you already subscribe to an entertainment streaming service or pay for cable, it may offer fitness classes for free.

“There are so many at-home workouts you can do with a YouTube subscription,” says Jasmine Johnson, an accredited financial counselor and certified financial therapist based in Chicago.

That’s what she does, which means she’s paying around $16 a month for YouTube Premium, which comes with access to many online workouts. (You can also watch many workouts on YouTube with just a free account.)

Lean on (but don’t necessarily copy) friends

Who needs to pay for a fitness coach when you have a support team available through social media or a phone call?

Johnson suggests asking a friend to meet you at the gym or go for a walk together. She also likes to share on social media when she’s walking.

“People will engage with me while I’m walking, and that keeps me consistent," she says.

At the same time, Johnson adds, try to avoid feeling like you need to buy what you see friends or fitness influencers touting online.

“Just because someone else is suggesting it doesn’t mean that’s what you need. Staying frugal comes down to doing something that you enjoy,” she says. For her, that means a lot of walking and hiking, two activities that are generally free.

Apply available discounts

Adams points out that sometimes workplace benefits might include a discount on a gym membership or certain health-related discounts through insurance coverage. It’s worth checking out those potential discounts before making a purchase.

If you’re going to sign up for a gym membership, Johnson says, try to do so during a promotion period when extra discounts are available. Promotions are typically offered during the end of the year, beginning of the year and early summer.

Similarly, if you’re in the market for substantial gear like home gym equipment, you can save by making your purchase during annual or semi-annual sales. Black Friday, three-day weekends such as Memorial Day and Labor Day, and the beginning of the calendar year tend to bring discounts on home gym equipment.

Certain credit cards also come with fitness-related rewards. When I eventually decided to purchase a Peloton bike, I was able to offset some of my monthly membership costs through the rewards on my Chase Sapphire Reserve card.

Other credit cards come with wellness benefits such as rewards on drugstore purchases, fitness club expenses and purchases at sporting goods stores.

Factor in the long-term benefits

Some wellness investments can pay off over time and might be worth an initial investment, Adams says. She puts mental-health therapy treatments — such as chiropractic care or acupuncture — and healthy food into this category.

“All of these things might seem like splurges, but they are ways to invest in yourself that will pay off long-term. Your dividends will be a longer life, less health expenses and less lost income due to illness,” she says.

I’m feeling better about my Peloton bike investment already.

The article Wellness on a Budget: How to Stay Fit for Less originally appeared on NerdWallet.