This could really go for anything, but especially something like CrossFit where you can so easily replicate it at home. My wife and I love watching the CrossFit games and YouTube videos of it, it kind of motivates us. I don't really need motivation from it because I've always been self driven, but I love the group atmosphere concept. That said, with inflation in our country, unpredictable future, 2 kids age 1 and 4, I just cannot in any circumstances justify 2.5ish k a year, and possibly even more if our kids eventually go.
Before anyone says I justify it as being important to my health, at my house I have squat stands, a bar with 500 lbs of bumper plates, a pull-up bar with rings, a 40 lb weight vest, a glute ham raise machine, power belt, Olympic lifting shoes, fat grip handles, adjustable kettlebell, home made box jump, chalk, music, jump rope, tire to sled drag with, foam roller, and a classic air dyne bike that works great. I train for strength with my lifting and incorporate wods as often as I can by myself. All of this equipment was just under 2k, which is cheaper than 1 year of CrossFit for my wife and I, AND it will last us our whole lives. And yes, we use it all at least 4-5 times a week, as well as go to a half a mile hill weekly and run up and down it. So the claim for it has to be done at a xfit gym for ones health, to me, is false.
I think about how my kids will need a college fund one day, unexpected emergencies like car repairs, or when they're in sports and need money for stuff etc.
And yet, I keep coming back to really wishing I was at a CrossFit gym. I just can't get past though what all else that money could be used for over the course of 20 years.
Sorry long rant, now over lol.