Save $100 In 10 Minutes: When Saving Money Costs You Money: The Gym Pass

Sometimes our own good intentions and the desire to save money can get in the way of smart spending. We all want to be healthier and spend less money at times, so a gym pass is an item that many of us have bought at one time or another.

I don’t know about you, but going to the gym all the time is tough for me. I go in spurts – lots one month and barely at all the next. However, with a year-long pass I’m still required to pay – even when I’m being lazy, sick or out of town.

If you are a regular gym-goer, this might not apply to you, but as a well-intentioned-workout-skipper, this change of thinking has actually saved me money. Instead of getting another gym pass when my recent one expired, I started paying for each session individually.

Instead of being on the hook for $45/month, I pay $7.50/session. That means, I would need to go to the gym six times/month to pay off my previous membership. But if I go only five times (pretty realistic) I actually save money over the year-long pass.

Additionally, I’m able to try out different gyms, other classes or even a movie/dinner (when I’m being REALLY lazy) instead of spending all my workout time at one place. This lets me vary my routine, keep things fresh and have more active/financially-savvy fun.

**Where Else Does This Work? **

Any subscription-based service is worth looking at for a chance to save money. If you pay for sessions/items/papers/magazines/websites on a case-by-case basis, you will probably save some cash and not feel forced into participating to get your money’s worth.

Sometimes our best intentions can cost us more money than it’s worth. Be sure to be honest with yourself before getting into a year’s worth of recurring expense.