Rethink the Fancy Gym

The average gym membership is $58 a month. In cities like St. Louis, New York, and even Charlotte, it’s north of $100. But two-thirds of would-be exercisers never use their gym membership, according to Statistic Brain, based on data compiled from the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and more. For the rest, the equivalent of $39 a month goes to waste because of underutilization. Stay fit for less. Your health insurer or employer may subsidize a gym membership. At Blue Cross Blue Shield, for example, members get access to some 9,500 fitness centers nationwide for $25 a month. Or try a discount gym. Planet Fitness has opened locations in 48 states, and memberships start at about $10 a month. It doesn’t offer all the benefits of a fancier gym, but if you’re looking for a place just to jump on the treadmill or lift weights, it’s a good bet. Or join a gym at the end of the month, when many clubs offer discounts to hit monthly quotas.

*Based on switching from a gym charging the average membership fee to a low-cost one.