Yesterday I posted about how working out doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. There are, however, some things where it is probably a good idea not to choose the cheapest or the free option.
First, anything that keeps us safe is worth spending the money on. Buy the helmet. Get the knee pads. Wear the supportive shoes. All of those things are much cheaper than visits to the emergency room.
Many gyms offer a free fitness evaluation and/or orientation session. (I, too, offer assessment and the first workout free.) It is a great idea for anyone new to exercise or anyone just getting back into the exercise habit. However, none of us is going to learn everything we need to know to work out by ourselves in a single session. Paying for a few personal training appointments can be a good investment because we learn a lot about form, about different workout approaches, and about what reasonable goals are for us.
After we’ve been working out a while, we can make better decisions about what equipment we might actually like to have. I rode my inexpensive mountain bike around town for a long time, but as I got into better shape, I realized I wanted a real road bike to get to the next level. Keeping an eye out at garage sales or searching the local Buy Nothing groups or shopping at used equipment stores can be a good way to get the stuff we want without spending way too much money.
One more pro tip: spend money on stuff that can be used in lots of ways. The infomercial gadget of the week may look spiffy, but a set of dumbbells is way more flexible and useful.
Go play.
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