It’s no secret that the cost of living is rising. With prices of food, gas, and even housing skyrocketing at unprecedented rates, many people are looking for new ways to cut costs. One way to do this? Invest in a home gym.
A well-equipped home gym can provide you with all the necessary equipment for an intense workout without breaking the bank or taking up too much space in your house. However, not all home gyms are created equal; if you don’t do it right when setting up your fitness center at home, you might end up wasting money on something that doesn’t work as well as it should.
Read on for some helpful tips and tricks to set up your home gym on a budget.
Utilize What you Have
When setting up a home gym, many people assume they need to go out and buy new equipment from the store, but this isn’t always necessary. You might be surprised at how much free fitness equipment is available in your house already.
Consider getting creative with what you have at home first. You can use old water jugs, used milk crates, or even stacked paper towels to create weights that can help give your muscles the resistance they need during workouts. Throw on some old clothes and some tennis shoes, and you might not even need to buy anything to get started.
Make the Most of Your Space
Even if you don’t have an entire room in your house dedicated to fitness, it’s still possible to fit everything you need into a smaller space. Make sure you utilize every square inch by putting up mirrors on the walls and hanging storage racks for equipment use. Doing so will help you avoid wasting time looking for something in your home gym and give it a more organized feel.
You’ll also want to include enough room for people to move around freely so they don’t hit anything or get injured during their workouts. Going cheap doesn’t mean you have to skimp on your safety gear either, but you can find some low-cost exercise mats to make sure your floor is padded and non-skid.
Purchase Smart
Fitness equipment can be expensive, but it doesn’t mean you need to spend a lot of money on it. Instead of looking for the most costly workout machines or dumbbells at your local sporting goods store, consider some of the more affordable options.
For example, adjustable dumbbells are an excellent investment because you can use them for just about any fitness exercise you’ll do at home. Many models adjust from 5-50 pounds each, giving you almost 100 possible weight combinations to choose from without buying an entire set of dumbbells that you might not use. Other examples include adjustable benches and exercise mats, which can help give your home gym the variety it needs for a range of workouts.
Protect Workout Area
One of the people’s biggest mistakes when setting up a home gym is not protecting it from the elements. It is crucial to have your equipment stored outside or near an entryway to your house.
As a bonus, keeping your workouts in a covered space can make them more enjoyable when it’s raining or snowing outside. But, take measures to protect everything by improving your roofing. Plastic sheet suppliers can give you the best deals to keep everything dry, but you could also consider getting waterproof tarps for your equipment.
Maintain your Flooring
Even if you have a covered workout area, it’s still essential to protect your flooring. Some people prefer the comfort of an indoor carpet, but with all the equipment you use at home, this could be dangerous for your feet.
Instead, consider protecting your floors with some towels or rubber exercise mats. You can even make them yourself if you have old yoga mats at home and can use spray adhesive to stick them together, so they don’t slide apart. It is a low-cost alternative that will save your flooring from any damage and keep it safer for everyone who uses the equipment.
Personalize to your Liking
You might have a home gym to save money, but that doesn’t mean it has to look cheap. Instead, personalize it by adding color and flair with paint or decals. It can give you the motivation to get through those workouts while also giving your equipment an upgraded look that makes them feel more inviting.
So, if you’re looking for a way to get fit without spending a lot of money, setting up a home gym is a great option. Just make sure you follow these tips to make the most of your space and purchase smart to keep costs down. And don’t forget to protect your equipment and flooring with some basic safety measures, so you can stay safe and healthy while getting in shape.
