

  1. If you haven't already, sign up for Body by Glamour - it's FABULOUS. Exclusive workouts, healthy eating advice, motivation tips and easy online tools. And did I mention it was free??

  2. Invest in a couple of exercise DVDs. Get a few of your friends together for a regular DVD workout party!

  3. Drag your boyfriend or BFF or whomever to the local park to walk/jog/run laps/run stairs/play Frisbee/volleyball, etc.

  4. Avail yourself of employee fitness discounts or classes provided on your job premises. You'd be nuts not to!

  5. Check with your health insurance, too. You might have a fitness stipend and not even know about it!

  1. Join a softball league/runners club or other team sport.

  2. Sign up for a race.

  3. Cool off in your municipal pool. It's cheap--and you can probably get a season pass for the summer for close to nothing. At my local pool, there are free water aerobics classes twice a week!

  4. Check your newspaper for local listings. Sometimes there are free fitness programs (well, actually, your tax dollars are probably paying for them) happening in your hood and you don't even know it!

  5. Buy a fitness magazine for new ideas to keep you inspired. I find that innovation is often the key to motivation! And according to celebrity trainer Jackie Warner, your body will "adjust to any workout routine in six weeks, so you've got to switch things up." For more tips from celebrity trainers, go here.

  6. If you have digital cable, check out the workouts on Exercise TV for free.

  7. Invest in a bike. Ride it everywhere, and save the planet while you're at it!

  8. Search eBay and other web stores for the best deal on basic fitness equipment like dumbbells, a yoga mat, and some exercise tubes.

***And if you still want to belong to a gym but want to save money, I would suggest:

  1. Consider your options. Is a two-year contract going to give you the greatest bang for your buck, or is month-to-month really your best bet? For me, contracts are a huge waste of money. I once had a two-year contract and rarely went to the gym. I basically forked over lots of money for five days at the gym. Never. Happening. Again.

  2. Seriously consider location. Is the gym you want to go to close to your home? Close to your job? Or completely out of the way? It should be convenient enough that you can make it part of your regular routine.

  3. If you want a personal trainer but can't afford one all on your own, consider splitting the cost with a friend or two!

So those are my ideas. Let me know if you're inspired to use any of them! And do you have any other brilliant, money-saving ways to stay fit? Do share!

Plus, check out the 5 Affordable Fitness Gadgets That Can Boost Your Workout and the 3 You May Not Need.