Are Gyms a Waste of Money?

Gyms are not a waste of money if you take advantage of all the services that gyms provide to their members.

Fitness is not a waste of money.

Let’s first address the fundamental issue here: fitness. It is never a waste of time or money to work on your fitness goals. In fact, working out is one of the best things that you can do for yourself.

The medical and scientific community has repeatedly talked about the benefits of exercise. For example, people who exercise sleep better and feel happier. That leads to better decision-making skills and more meaningful lives.

In 2020, the United States spent $4.1 trillion on healthcare-related expenses. That equates to $12,530 per person.

You would know how expensive medical care can be if you’ve ever had a health scare.

You need money to go to the doctor’s office, especially if you don’t have health insurance.

Going to the pharmacy also takes money.

Taking time off work to do these things might mean a missed paycheck.

What if there was a way for you to prevent medical issues and be proactive with your health?

This is where fitness comes in. Working on your fitness goals will help you save money on medical expenses in the long run.

Specifically, people who exercise during their younger years can save anywhere from $824 to $1,874 annually on medical expenses after retirement.

Now, is going to the gym the best way for you to stay fit and live an active lifestyle? The answer depends on what you do after signing up for a gym membership.

Are you one of those people who get a gym membership in early January as a New Year’s resolution and stop showing up by the end of January?

It’s a running joke within the fitness community. Some of these folks don’t even bother canceling their membership when they stop showing up.

Or are you one of those people who will keep showing up day in and day out? If this is you, then gyms are not a waste of money.

5 Things that gyms provide

What exactly does a gym offer?

Let’s look at the things that gyms provide for their customers and see whether these things justify the price of a membership.

1. Free weights

Gyms have dumbbells and kettlebells with weights that get progressively heavier. There are also barbells and plates.

2. Weightlifting and cardio machines

Machines allow people to isolate muscle groups and comfortably perform exercises.

3. Personal trainers

Qualified trainers make sure beginners do exercises with proper form. This is super important. Without good form, beginners will not be able to target the right muscle groups. They might also injure themselves immediately or over time as they continue to do exercises with bad form.

4. Fitness classes

Classes allow people to accomplish fitness goals together and keep each other accountable.

5. Showers and saunas

Bathroom facilities allow gym-goers to practice self-care and relax before and after workouts.

Do these things have value?

Yes, if you take advantage of them.

It may be difficult for you to access workout equipment without going to the gym. You need space and a decent budget to build a home gym. You also have to think about maintenance costs.

Gym equipment naturally gets worn out over time with normal use. It may not be worth the headache for you to repair and replace malfunctioning equipment.

A gym membership is a good choice for you if you want someone else to deal with maintenance issues.

Gym alternatives

Besides going to the gym, how else can you stay in shape?

You can try calisthenics, which describes the practice of doing exercises using just your body weight.

As mentioned previously, you can buy your own equipment and build out a home gym.

You can also go outside and play sports with others. Public parks are free to use.

To reiterate, the most important word is fitness.

How you go about achieving your fitness goals is up to you. You can get a gym membership. You can also try the gym alternatives mentioned here.

Networking benefits

Not a lot of people talk about this. Gyms are social environments. They are great places to meet new people. By regularly showing up, you will get to know other people who go to the same gym.

You will make friends.

You can also get new contacts for work-related purposes.

There is a vibrant networking scene inside the gyms near New York City’s financial district. Besides cold calling and meeting people in conference rooms, investment bankers and wealth managers source new deals by mingling with others at gyms near work. Playing golf at the country club also serves the same purpose.

Some of these deals can be worth millions of dollars. This outweighs the cost of a gym membership, which on average, is $58 monthly.

Business folks need to entertain clients. It can be difficult to cultivate deep relationships with people in formal settings where everyone is wearing a suit and tie.

Being in a more casual environment such as a gym is better. People open up when they feel relaxed. Then, you get to really know them as a person.

It depends on the gym.

This is one final point to think about.

Not all gyms are created equal. Some gyms offer better services than others. The equipment is regularly maintained by friendly staff.

Other gyms can be eyesores.

Therefore, the way management runs the gym is an important factor to consider before signing up for a gym membership.