Allocating Funds
2010 July 25
I preach the importance of keeping your workouts simple enough to do for free at home. I make suggestions on where to buy workout clothes on sale. And yet, I’m having trouble deciding on how to allocate my fitness budget.
My fitness wish list includes:
- Indoor Cycling Classes (something to do in the winter)
- Bar Method Classes (I’m mildly addicted if you haven’t noticed)
- Race Fees (I’d love to sign up for a big race in November)
Two things can stay, but unless a company decides to sponsor me, one thing has to go from the list.
Here’s a reminder for all of you fitness professionals out there: Take fitness classes, and take them often. It’s the best way to learn and stay fresh. It also helps to create balance in your own life as a part of the “give & take” philosophy. Not taking classes would be like being a writer who doesn’t read.
How do you decide how to allocate your fitness budget?
I’ll let you know what I decide.
31 Responses
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I don’t really spend my money on too much during the school months, since I hate traveling into the city after school during the week. During the summer I decided to spend basically whatever I wanted (within reason) on new classes. I’ve had so much fun doing it so far. I will sign up for a couple races each season too. It’s hard though! I want to do everything!
I would definitely keep race fees – and then maybe decide between one of the two classes. I’m biased though; I love racing!
As a fitness professional, that does IN-HOME training, I find taking classes to be SO challenging
All of the classes I want to take are at times I am working, hence, popular times for peoples schedules. I do a lot at home, doing new workouts On Demand, I get excited when my sched frees up and I can take a class…however, I lose money on my client session and spend money on a new class. I have a few trainer friends, one that works in a Y, and isn’t always busy in the AM and was able to take all the new classes…honestly, I almost get jealous that shes able to take the new kettlebell TRX and other classes…and I can’t because of my sched…. I get some lessons from her… but it’s still frustrating! I am looking forward to the Thrive conference in Miami in Nov, I plan to take as many classes as poss!!! I guess that’s why I steer so much towards nutrition, because I can read everything possible and take cont ed easily with that…because On Demand workouts are great, but learning brand new stuff I am unfamiliar with is so much better with an instructor present!
I budget whatever I can do…and see what is going to benefit my business and my clients the most
I have a gym membership and would love to add a Yoga membership as well. Cannot do both. I love the gym, and they have good yoga classes so it works. It’s hard to budget, considering apparel, shoes and race costs. A girl must look good, right?!
If you’re addicted to the Bar Method classes, you should keep those and the races until you get sick of Bar Method!
That’s tough and something I’ve been playing by ear lately buying new running gear and stuffing in a trampoline class here and there. I haven’t been doing many races lately, just training for a half. I also bought a trampoline class discount card that gets x amount of classes for half off and discovered many local gyms offer similar discounts through radio station sites, publications and etc.
I think it’s worth it to do all three. But I’m a bad influence.
I pay for a slightly more expensive gym (for my area) so that I can go to the classes for free and do less races. But I have to travel to races so there is more than just an entry fee involved usually.
This is such a toughie! I am on a pretty strict budget, so everything suffers. I have been paying to go to a YMCA, but the school I attend also has a gym free to students. But I really like the Y – it has better pool hours and more equipment. I haven’t decided yet.
They all sound great – I understand your dilemma! I would stick with race fees and Bar Method for now. To me, racing is the culmination of all your hard work, so I wouldn’t skip out on that…and you LOVE Bar Method!
I currently pay for the gym, pay for races, and also enjoy yoga at a studio. Something’s gotta give, so I’ve decided to only go to the yoga studio on Sunday when they offer a free community class. I make do with my gym’s classes for the rest of the week.
Can’t wait to hear your decision!
This year we are spending a lot on fitness….I have the weight sets and exercise ball and bands, but I have always wanted to get cardio equipment so I can give up the gym membership. I don’t like trudging to the gym in the winter and haven’t taken advantage of classes in the past. Since we just moved into our new house and since I am having a baby in October, we just bought a great elliptical. And in the fall, when the baby comes and I can run again, we’ll get a treadmill. I am so excited. And in the end, the machines will pay for themselves with the money I save on gym fees. But it sure is a lot of money up front.
I know I need a gym to do all of the physical therapy exercises I do for my knees, so I pay for that and nothing else. I have a free gym in my apartment but it’s small and doesn’t have everything I need. I know I could save money going there, but recovering from these injuries is much more important. I think it’s all about needs v. wants.
Maybe Bar Method will sponsor you. All your blogging about it is certainly getting the word out!
When we started tri-training it was a little hard to budget. You learn what you can and cannot sacrifice. Splurge for the must-haves and prioritize. I love finding free classes online to take around town, great way to save $$:)
I would definitely keep the race fee, and then choose one of the two classes. It can be hard to budget though!
This is a great question! Usually, I spend semi-liberally on running and my gym membership because it’s a really important to me. However, to save elsewhere I do physical therapy exercises and yoga at home rather than paying for classes or sessions. I’m trying to reign in my budget a bit right now, so I try to stay away from running stores – they just suck the credit card right out of my wallet! And I realllly want a Garmin…
Hmm this is a tough one. Do you belong to a gym? If you do, can you just stick with the classes they offer? Race fees can also add up so maybe limit the races you enter?
I should probably add that it’s a specific race that I’m debating on that requires some travel (via bus) but will require 2 nights in a hotel.
Classes are so great to get you outta your groove. I always think I just want to go to the gym and do my own thing, but when I do participate in a class, I’m always really happy afterward…although I’ve taken some yoga classes I haven’t been too satisfied with. Luckily for me I can take all the classes at my school for free. Race fees do deter me from racing a lot though.
I so understand the need for a budget (even blogged about not long ago. However, the way that I look at it, when it comes to fitness and health can we really afford not to invest in ourselves?
I’ve decided that I’m only allowed to run 2 races each fall and spring (one half, one shorter). Otherwise I get sucked into every little race that happens to fit into my training plan! Also, I belong to a gym that offers a variety of classes. Sometimes I want to join a yoga studio or take some additional few classes, but I can’t justify it.
my two cents:
How about different classes for different seasons? Maybe Bar Method now since you are TOTALLY addicted (haha) and Spin in the late fall/winter. That way you do it long enough that it seems worth it but give yourself a break to remind yourself how much you love both activities.
Ha ha… yes you are right I am TOTALLY addicted, not mildy addicted. =)
i try to make fitness a priority so i would rather pay for these things than new jeans-terrible i know!
Right now I am trying to justify spending 170 bucks a month at Equinox just so I can go to IntenSati classes lol…but I know that right now it is not the best decision
I don’t, that is my problem. I buy and do whatever I want, which always leaves me in a bad situation!
Easy for me.. I am broke so it all goes to new running shoes!
i hate fitness budgeting! im so bad. this year in race fees alone i dont even want to think about what ive spent.
my ironman next year alone is going to cost me upwards of $1500.
gear gets me too. sneakers, bike stuff, wetsuits, goggles…
the bottom line. i need a sponsor! Nike, Adidas, where are you when i need you?
Seriously!! I wouldn’t complain if Lululemon wanted sponsor my activities… any takers???
I LOOOOOOVE FlyWheel! My favorite instructors are Aleah and Kate! I actually left Crunch for FlyWheel… I used to go to Crunch at Union Sq. but the people that worked there were obnoxious, so I ended my 6 years with Crunch!