We cancelled our gym membership and put together a mini-gym in our basement after we moved. I loved my gym and I miss it, but once we moved to a different part of town, it wasn't as convenient to get there and so we both stopped going on a regular basis and decided it would be better to invest in our own equipment than to keep paying monthly fees.

Yup, I love it. I'm a member of Equinox and it's such a beautiful gym. Working out in the presence of others keeps me from quitting after 5 minutes.

Yes! And now that I've finished my 3 year contract period, it's only ~$20 a month! I definitely get my money's worth. It's become a part of my routine, so it's a bit easier to get the motivation to go.

Yes! I'm such a dork - it's $17 per class at my yoga studio, or you can get a monthly membership for $80, 3 months for $200...(price keeps going down), etc. So I calculated how many times I needed to go for a package to be cheaper than paying the drop in fees. Usually I hit that number within the few weeks of my membership package and then I feel like I'm cruising along for free the rest of the months. Since I started an annual membership, I'm there at least 5x per week now.

*meant first few weeks.

Ever since I moved into my new condo, I simply go downstairs to our condo building gym which is fully equiped with weights, elipticals, treadmills and bikes that I hardly go to my regular gym anymore. I eventually cancelled and saved myself $65/month. I like the fact that I can just put on my workout clothes and go downstairs for a quick workout when ever I want versus dragging my butt and go to the closest gym which is 20 mins walk away.

I am dedicated to my gym and I hate when I miss more than 2 days at a time...I usually pay for subscriptions 6 months at a time.

I have a membership that I paid on an annual basis of £450 -about $900, which is incredibly expensive, but not for where I live. I exercise at home in the mornings during the week, and try to get to the gym on the weekend for a spinning class, but it's tough.
I have to take my daughter to school during the week and then rush to work, and have to be out of the house by 7.45, so don't have time to get to the gym and back.
I wish I could use it more!

definitely do. i go daily. when my boyfriend & i moved into our first place & had no money, we used our gym memberships like no other b/c it was a great way for us to do something we felt good about w/out spending additional $.

Yep. At the very least I go three times a week, and at $19 a month, I'd say that costing less than $2 a visit is me getting my money's worth.

I hardly ever go, but I downgraded from my nice gym to the local rec center that's still fairly nice but only $30/month for residents of my municipality. I run a lot, and I refuse to use a treadmill. I also go to Bikram yoga, which is at it's own studio. So basically, I only keep my gym membership to use on the off chance that the weather is bad outside and I want to use the exercise bike or elliptical machine. I just really hate the atmosphere of crowded gym cardio areas and would much rather be outside running and enjoying the scenery.

Yes, I go 6 days a week and ours is also $19 a month.

I am actually a member of three gyms. It sounds excessive, but it's really not. The first is an women's only gym right across the street from my house. They have the best treadmills I've ever seen, and early morning hours on the days where I fly - which is often. It's also only $30 a month.

The second is just a normal gym. I had only been going to the women's gym, but my husband will not work out if I don't go with him. I joined that one, which has the best equipment I've ever used. I thought about dropping the women's gym, but I don't have a car - and it's just too hard to motorcycle there in the snow.

The third is a rock climbing gym - which is a total blast! My husband and I were looking for something new to do. It's a cheap date, and it's also something we do together which is good for our marriage.

awesome spacekat... my hubby and I went to a rock climbing gym for our Anniversary this year, it was so much fun! I want to go back soon. Of course we do rock climbing in the canyon on our hikes with the children too, but it's just free style climbing and scrambling. No rapelling - we only do that at the indoor place.

sometimes i prefer to work out outside but knowing i'm paying for the membership does keep me motivated, so while i don't use it as much as i should, it's not like i'm not being active...i just don't always go to the gym to work out

Isn't it a blast, Kim? It's a good trust building exercise too, since you'd break both legs if the other person makes a mistake.

I'm so lucky that my work provides a gym right downstairs. The only thing we don't have is an indoor track, but it's worth it for the convenience of missing rush hour and the cost savings!

I pay only $10 per month for my gym, so even if I went only once or twice a month I think I would still be getting my money's worth. I do go more than that though,

I go to a little hole in the wall gym that costs me about 150 for the year. It's not much, there are no classes, and the treadmills are a little jenky, but it gets the job done. And in this recession, 150 is a steal.

i have my periods where im there 5days a week, and then the months where im there 1 a week... at $20 a month though, its not that bad. and the great thing about it is since LA fitness is nationwide, anywhere i go i can use one! plus, all the classes are included, they have a pool, and (my favorite part) the sauna!!!

my parents actually sat me down the other day about my gym membership and made me add everything up. 170 a month plus the twice weekly training sessions does not come cheap at all. but it's entirely worth it and even if i just leave my stuff in the locker room and go running in the park RIGHT outside, it's the greatest gym and worth every penny.

It is great, spacekat and so true about the trusting issue! It was funny because my hubby is much larger than I am and I was nervous about me being able to belay him down, but then they bolted me to the floor so he couldn't catapult me into the air as he rapelled down lol it was so much fun.

I used to go to the gym every single freaking day And got my $50 per month money's worth. . . then I fell off the wagon, tried getting back on, but it's mighty rickety. Been going to the gym maybe once or twice a week now :\ but I love having my membership because I enjoy taking classes and my complex doesn't have a gym.

Next week. Yes. I can get back into my old routine ^_^ I just got to do it. Lol.

I bought a fancy (read: expensive! But I saved for it...) treadmill and several weights so our "gym" is at home. It's a great machine and gets used several times a week.

I paid for the whole family, but I am the only one who goes there. But having said that, I think I still get my money worth, I just used the facility for my entire family.

Gyms just gross me out, I'm kind of a germaphobe. I do take a class at a yoga studio. I'm still wary of germs but at least I only have to touch my personal mat.

I go 3 days/ week, but that's because I only use it for the pool. The rest of the week I'm running outdoors and riding outdoors -- or riding on my bike trainer indoors.

I HATE that I pay $80/ month to just use the pool, but I guess after IM I'll get back to some of the classes I used to go to...

I use my at-work gym membership all the time, but I also work out at home. I have my own elliptical machine and free weights, but I use the treadmill, stationary bike, and weight machines at my gym. Plus, I only pay $19 a month...it's definitely worth it to have access to a gym at work.

runningesq - How's your training for IM? I am looking forward for your post-IM report. Almost to taper time now, right?
I am seriously thinking of a HIM next year now.

Absolutely!Every morning 6 days/week - it makes me feel great too. Sometimes I take classes outside my gym as well (something fun, like zumba or capoeira class:)

lydialee - it's good!! last long ride this week - 100 miles - and then, yup, it's TAPER TIME! (which coincides with PMS.. my poor poor husband ). I'll PM you my training blog ... I'll put a HUGE write up there. where do you live? what HIMs are you looking at? exciting! and -- if you can swim, HIMs are easier than marathons, IMO.

I love my neighborhood gym/tennis/racquetball/swim club! It's expensive but well worth the $, and it truly is my form of entertainment AND therapy. Instead of going to the movies, out to dinner, and all the other mass pop culture stuff, I am content working out, spinning, dancing, swimming, etc., at this place. I also have a membership to a Bikram yoga studio -- this one not so enjoyable, but I understand and really do feel its positive effects on my health. And I'd like to try the rock climbing clubs some of you mentioned -- sounds interesting!

Not really. I like working out at home being my schedule.

For years I was at the gym 5-6 times a week, now it's more like 2-3 times a week, need to step it up again.

runningesq - this is the one that I am considering - http://www.vineman.com/ironman.htm
I am comfortable with my swim and run. The only factor is bike - It's the beginning of rainy season now in CA, I will go to spin class and then real road ride starting next March. There should be enough time for that.

Ohh I've heard good things about Vineman ! If you can, I would buy a used roadbike and a bike trainer now and bike indoors at your house. Spin class is useful, but it's much MUCH more beneficial to be on YOUR real bike 1

yes, i try to go to the gym at least 3 days a week, it's an expensive and beautiful gym, with a great selection of classes. it's not as close as my other gym, but it's much better in quality.

I have just cancelled my membership due to dirty changing rooms and equipment regularly out of order. Unfortunately there is no other Gym near by.

I joined a gym when I moved, unfortunately, I did not calculate with the fact that it is just the teensiest bit too far from my house to get to when the weather is less than good (I have to have two buses - as I don't have a car).

I joined it because it was one of the chains which had a gym both close to where I work and where I live, but I usually just try to do it after work now.

I go to the gym on campus here at my school, so I don't have to pay anything extra. I've only just started going again after months of being lazy... But I'm trying to get up to going 3 or 4 days a week!

i had one, but cancelled as I wasn;t going there. I actually went 2-3 times in 4 months. That's terrible. And it was 3min walk from my house. It's a good thing I got month to month contract, and wasn't stuck with the fees.

EvieJ, I guess you haven't been following the economy in the last 3 years or so 400 pounds is 660 US dollars, that's how this whole recession thing started...

I'm in college, so I guess my tuition counts towards my gym "membership"? I go nearly every day though, so I guess I'm getting my money's worth!

HECK YEA! If I calculate my monthly fee with the number of days I go... UH EVERY DAY of the month: It turns out I pay 83 CENTS a day to work out!! That's awesome!!!

i go 5x a week because they have a childcare area where they watch my 1 1/2 and 2 1/2 year old toddlers for an hour and a half, for free with my membership! NOTHING is more motivating than that!!

Pay ridiculous amounts of money to be given dirty looks by people like some of the ones on this very site who named "overweight women" as their gym pet peeves? No thanks. I'll stick to running and biking outside for free.