Like fashion, fitness goes through fads and phases, but you don’t need to spend a lot of money for a decent workout. Forget about expensive gym memberships, pricey workout gear or trendy fitness programmes and check out these budget-friendly ways to exercise and get fitter affordably.

Workouts at home (no equipment needed!)

Weights and fancy equipment are nice-to-haves but not necessities. Bodyweight exercises like squats, lunges, push ups, planks, and the many variations on these can be done in the comfort of your own home without any equipment.

These can be modified to cater to all fitness levels. From strength training to pilates, yoga to interval training, there are plenty of options to exercise at home and you don’t need a lot of space to do it.

Walking or jogging outdoors

The ultimate simple outdoor cardiovascular exercise – you can do it anywhere, regardless of the weather and opt for low impact walking or high impact jogging. Take the first step straight outside your door or head out for a park jog, forest run, a beach walk or a hill climb if you’d prefer a change of scenery.

It’s a good idea to own a decently supportive pair of shoes for your preferred walking or running activity to help prevent discomfort or injuries later on.

Low-budget training gear

If you want to level up your workouts and add more variety but don’t want to spend a fortune, there are some key pieces of fitness equipment you can invest in that won’t break the bank.

Items such as a decent set of resistance bands or a skipping rope don’t cost much but can add more variety and intensity to your training sessions. Easy to store and lightweight to carry around, they are great options to add to your routine.

DIY training gear

Skip the purpose-made fitness equipment and use some items you already have at home to make your workouts more difficult. Use water bottles, canned goods or a sack of potatoes instead of weights. Fill a backpack with books to add weight to your squats and lunges or walking. Chairs can replace benches for tricep dips, elevated push ups or step ups. Towels can be used as sliders for core training, and a bath robe tie or belt make a great yoga strap.

Get creative and see what you have on hand that can substitute for gym equipment. It can be just as effective.

Community fitness classes or groups

Many community centres offer free or low-cost group fitness classes, or you may find there are local walking clubs, jogging groups or social sports catch ups at community parks and grounds.

These activities not only help improve your fitness, but you also get to meet new people – and that social experience may add the extra element of motivation and support that will help keep you going.

Fitness challenges

Challenges can be a great kickstart for your fitness journey and help keep you engaged and on track. Grab a friend or accountability buddy and choose a challenge to do for a set period of time. Some options could include:

• Walk 30 minutes a day for 30 days
• Do 10 push ups a day for 20 days
• Go on a lunchtime walk every day for two weeks

Check it off each day and use it to get consistent!

Get stretching

Getting into a decent flexibility routine doesn’t have to cost a lot. Stretching reduces risk of injury, improves mobility, and helps reduce stress – not to mention you can do it anywhere at any time. Easily add it to your daily routine without any cost.

Try adding 10-15 minutes at either the start of your day for a morning stretch to get ready for the day ahead, or to wind down at the end of your day.

To sum up

You know you need to get moving regularly for good health, so it’s important to figure out what exercise will work for you week to week as the best workout is the one you’ll stick to.

If you need to take budget into consideration, focus on all the things you can do rather than what you can’t. With a little creativity and determination, you can achieve your fitness goals in a sustainable way without straining your budget.

Image / Depositphotos.com