To give up a gym membership I hardly use or not?..

[pudding]

I have a gym membership for $38 a month and it will stay at that price as long as I keep it.

If I use it its a great deal. Its access to 8 gyms, 2 have swimming pools. One is top class with sauna and towel service.

I keep thinking I'll use it more often, but then work takes over and I rarely get around to it, though fitness is high on my list of important things I sort of get most my work out from working construction, riding my bike and lift occasional weights at home.

Not a lot of money at the end of the day, probably an hour at work and pays for a month membership.... then again its a $50 sauna if I only go once every 5 weeks or so..

[ltt]

If I had it, I would drop it.  It's $450+ per year it's costing you.  I've never figured out why people continue to pay money to exercise---and I used to.  Getting in a car to drive to a place to exercise just doesn't make a lot of sense to me anymore when I could spend the driving time exercising. 

[frugledoc]

If you live somewhere with pleasant weather, I don't understand why anybody would ever choose to exercise indoors.  Here in unsunny Scotland, I can empathise a bit more.  I would always rather do natural exercise than he gym. 

I do have a soft spot for a nice pool and steam room though.

[Frankies Girl]

It's low hanging fruit. Cut it.

If you go a few months and genuinely miss it, you can always re-enroll right?

But if you work construction, bike and have basic equipment at home, I'd not see any real reason other than the sauna, then maybe see if a friend can hook you up with a guest pass occasionally?

Or move to the Gulf Coast, where every day is a sauna the minute you set foot outdoors from May through October. :)

[Trudie]

Drop it.  I exercise regularly, mostly outside (running, biking).  When the weather doesn't cooperate I move inside with DVDs.  I don't live in a great climate either, but I find options.  The only thing I pay for is a yoga class, but I buy a "pay-as-you-go" punch card and never get roped into a membership.

You always have alternatives -- DVDs, outdoors, park and rec (usually less expensive)....

[Lagom]

If I had it, I would drop it.  It's $450+ per year it's costing you.  I've never figured out why people continue to pay money to exercise---and I used to.  Getting in a car to drive to a place to exercise just doesn't make a lot of sense to me anymore when I could spend the driving time exercising.

Depends on your goals. For general fitness, I agree, but if you aspire towards an elite level in something, whether it be a sport, crossfit, powerlifting, etc., the expense can be well worth it. I pay $100/month (granted I get a $65/month discount for being one of the first members of the gym) for unlimited personal programming and group training (as in a coach is always around to offer advice to whoever is there at the time) at a powerlifting gym. I can guarantee I would have made nowhere near the progress I have trying to work out on my own, not to mention the cost of buying all of the equipment. Also, many people (myself included) find that paying a monthly fee actually motivates you to use it.

Although if I was in OPs position, I would definitely cancel, especially with the advantage of working in a highly physical job.

[renata ricotta]

If it were me, I would figure out what you'd think is a fair price for an ala carte drop-in visit. I think I'd pay about $5 to drop into a gym. So, if my gym membership costs $100/month, I better go 20 times, or I'm paying more than I think it's worth.

As a general "why have a gym membership" response, I'm a lot more likely to go to the gym and get a harder workout if I attend a class instead of doing a solo workout
(I like yoga and barre best, powertone or cardio circuit are also fun). External motivation, loud music, peer pressure, and accountability all work wonders on me. I get into much better shape when I'm in that group setting. I'm an awful lot less likely to just go on a run by myself. So, I pick reasonably priced gyms that have classes I like, and sign up in advance for classes so I am registered for a spot and feel obligated to attend, even if I'm not feeling like it.

[Hotstreak]

If all you use is the Sauna, is there a salon nearby that has one?  I just checked price for me, and I could get a 30 minute massage AND use of their sauna for $45 (less than the $50/visit you estimated).  I bet if I asked, they would let me use just the sauna for $10 - $20 or something like that, during non-peak hours, since they basically would just be throwing an extra towel in their laundry.


Another way to look at it what's the drop in fee at your gym?  Do they limit your drop ins (I think my gym limits to XX/year, but with all the gyms in this city it would never be a problem).  There are people that go to my gym for tournaments hosted twice per month (basketball, indoor volleyball, etc.) and they pay $12 for the day.  Otherwise it's $40/month so obviously it makes sense for them and it may make sense for you too.  Look - gyms make money on memberships.  The only way you come out ahead is if you use the gym more often than most.  Obviously you are not doing that, so find another solution.

[pudding]

If it were me, I would figure out what you'd think is a fair price for an ala carte drop-in visit. I think I'd pay about $5 to drop into a gym. So, if my gym membership costs $100/month, I better go 20 times, or I'm paying more than I think it's worth.

As a general "why have a gym membership" response, I'm a lot more likely to go to the gym and get a harder workout if I attend a class instead of doing a solo workout
(I like yoga and barre best, powertone or cardio circuit are also fun). External motivation, loud music, peer pressure, and accountability all work wonders on me. I get into much better shape when I'm in that group setting. I'm an awful lot less likely to just go on a run by myself. So, I pick reasonably priced gyms that have classes I like, and sign up in advance for classes so I am registered for a spot and feel obligated to attend, even if I'm not feeling like it.

Hi Bridget, me too on working out a lot harder in a class environment.

I checked out another gym, its the YMCA and its recently renovated. Has lots of classes, a pool, 5 a side soccer and basketball and all included.
Also has more of a community feel to it. I went there 3 times and saw 5 people I know. Went to the other gym that is super duper for years and I dont think I've ever met anyone in there I know.

Sometimes I think its work thats too hard thats the problem... in an ideal situation I'd have more time and energy to go to the gym a bit more and the occasional class.

[Tyson]

You are using the idea of a gym membership as a way to try to motivate yourself to work out.  It's not working.  So cut the membership.  It will allow you to stop lying to yourself that "I'm going to get in shape".  No you are not. 

OK, that's a bit harsh, but it's something I went through myself.  Then I found Convict Conditioning and biking and I'm finally making a real push toward fitness and my first step was getting rid of the time and money suck that is a "gym" and focusing on fitness I could do locally (i.e., with just my body), and I am MUCH happier and more successful with that approach.  Saves me time, money, and also gives me better results.

[eljefe-speaks]

Convict Conditioning

I googled it. Veeeeeeeery interesting. Heck, may have convinced me to cancel my gym membership too!

[pudding]

Convict Conditioning

I googled it. Veeeeeeeery interesting. Heck, may have convinced me to cancel my gym membership too!

I'll check it out... actually I live next to a huge park that has gym bars and a big bike path that goes around it and and is next to the ocean.... why pay to run on a track in the gym

[gggggg]

If you don't use it, cut it.

[MasterStache]

Drop it. I dropped my membership years ago. Biking, running, push-ups, pull-ups etc. etc. Plenty of ways to get good exercise without the unnecessary cost. I'm up to about 200 push-ups every other day.

[RobFIRE]

I'd say, if you don't use it, cancel it.

If you'd like to be making use of it but don't make the time, address your prioritization/work-life balance and rejoin the gym later after you've established you will really be using it.

[esq]

I have a gym membership for $38 a month and it will stay at that price as long as I keep it.

If I use it its a great deal. Its access to 8 gyms, 2 have swimming pools. One is top class with sauna and towel service.

I keep thinking I'll use it more often, but then work takes over and I rarely get around to it, though fitness is high on my list of important things I sort of get most my work out from working construction, riding my bike and lift occasional weights at home.

Not a lot of money at the end of the day, probably an hour at work and pays for a month membership.... then again its a $50 sauna if I only go once every 5 weeks or so..

Sounds like time is your problem.  Because it is the same for me, I work out at home.  Nothing fancy; I put Netflix on my laptop and do a lot of planks and other body weight exercises.  I don't even put on special clothes - too lazy LOL.  The alternative is to not exercise, and let my muscles and bones atrophy and end up getting winded on the stairs, among other things I witness daily in my coworkers.  Fear is my motivation! 

+1 on Frankie's Girl comment about Gulf Coast free saunas.  Some people go for it (not me).

[aaron3719]

drop it!! if you don't use it, that's throwing money away man.

[snogirl]

I cut mine out my gym dues and exercise outside for free.
Some of the membership money went into a fund towards a vacation.
The rest I invested. 
Rather than give my money away, I was able to work out, relax, and save.
Probably what the gym owner is doing with all the members monies.