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Original poster

Help me decide if I should join David Lloyd or not

134 replies

rookiemere · 26/05/2021 09:19

So I've had a trial membership and am now at the deciding if I should commit phase. It would just be for me - DS 15 does his own thing as does DH.

I'm just swithering so much because it's so expensive - £88 per month for a non flexible years membership. But I love the outdoor pool and went to a class there and enjoyed that, plus my friends a member and can meet her for a coffee. There's no other outdoor heated pools where I live.

It doesn't really stack up on price per visit. It's a 15 minute drive away so realistically I'll only go on my day off and weekends, and then obviously there are other things to do so I don't want it to turn into a chore.

DH is encouraging me to join - I find it hard to treat myself as you might have guessed , and I hate the thought of wasting money. Last year was my 50th and none of the special trips I'd organised took place. We can afford it as a family. Should I just go for it?

OP posts:
CMOTDibbler · 26/05/2021 09:23

Is it just for the pool you'd go? TBH, I think I'd struggle to justify £10+ a visit, and would feel pressured to go more. But then I feel that with my £25 a month swim membership of the local pool!

Original poster
rookiemere · 26/05/2021 09:27

@CMOTDibbler there is one weekly class that ties in quite well with my timings, plus I use the gym a bit as well. But we've got a more or less fully equipped gym in the garage so I could just use that instead.

OP posts:
Palavah · 26/05/2021 09:31

Even if only you go once a month the price per visit is less than £7.40. Go for it!

TropicalFairyCake · 26/05/2021 09:36

Palavah how do you work that out? If she went 1 x month it would be £88 a visit.

Even 2 x a month would be 44 a visit.

If you manage every week its £22 a visit. Guess its deciding if its worth that to you?

It would be just over a grand a year.

Original poster
rookiemere · 26/05/2021 09:36

I wish that was true @Palavah but if I went once per month the cost per visit would be £88 Shock

OP posts:
Hankypranky · 26/05/2021 09:37

I agree go for it. I was in a similar situation and have never regretted it. This will sound wanky but the outdoor pool is so good for my mental health. No phone, can just look at the sky and chill out. I feel a sense of amazingness afterwards that nothing else gives me, mind you I haven't had a fantastic shag for years. You'll probably find that once you have membership you'll go more often.

Original poster
rookiemere · 26/05/2021 09:38

@Hankypranky I do love the outdoor pool and it feels a wee bit like being on holiday which I've missed so much over the past year.

OP posts:
TropicalFairyCake · 26/05/2021 09:38

Twice a week would be £11 a go. And thats if you go twice every single week. So school holidays/busy weeks would you go less?

If you think of say the next 2 weeks. If there was an option to pay say £14 a go, would you go twice a week and hand over cash (or once a week and hand over £22)? If you would then do it!

HunterHearstHelmsley · 26/05/2021 09:39

I'm a DL member and love it. But I go every day. I will often work from the cafe I do at least three classes a week as well as using the gym. It's my downtime.

Original poster
rookiemere · 26/05/2021 09:40

@HunterHearstHelmsley yes my friend who is a member works from the cafe and goes swimming every day. That's not something I'd feel that comfortable doing, plus need to walk the dog at some point- but can see if you're doing that it's totally worth it.

OP posts:
citycitycity · 26/05/2021 09:43

Would you use the outdoor pool during winter and bad weather?

Original poster
rookiemere · 26/05/2021 09:45

@TropicalFairyCake yes I've thought about it that way and don't feel that happy about handing over wads of cash - but I do so much enjoy the outdoor pool. I could get signed in by friend and pay £25 per visit which seems like a daft amount for a swim.

OP posts:
Original poster
rookiemere · 26/05/2021 09:46

@citycitycity yes I had a temporary membership in Winter and outdoor pool is surprisingly refreshing in the rain. There's also the indoor pool.

OP posts:
TropicalFairyCake · 26/05/2021 09:49

Why not get signed in by a friend once a week for the £25 as its almost comparable, for say 6 weeks.

Then at the end of 6 weeks decide if you want to go more/feel happy about the amount you're handing over?

You say £25 is a daft amount for a swim but if you go once a week thats pretty much what the pass is isn't it?

And if you can afford it and would enjoy it go for it.

I could justify it more for something that would get daily use like the above pp . A friend started out twice a week but fell into once a month/occasional and then rather shocked worked out her ppvisit...

emmathedilemma · 26/05/2021 09:53

I think only you can decide this and know how much you'll realistically use it. I'm of the mindset that if i'm paying monthly for my gym membership then i'm going to get my monies worth for it, try new classes and make sure it works out cheaper than paying per visit for a swim / classes elsewhere. I'm lucky that mine is practically next door so there's not really an excuse not to go (although the pre-booking and time slots is a bit annoying at the moment).
It seems like you're already looking for reasons why you won't go rather than looking for times when you could go.
Check the T&Cs carefully as some of these clubs have a 12 month membership but you have to give 1 or 2 months notice to cancel so end up paying for more if you decide not to stay.

emmathedilemma · 26/05/2021 09:54

Another thought - do they offer a swim only cheaper membership if that's the main thing you're interested in?

Original poster
rookiemere · 26/05/2021 09:55

@TropicalFairyCake it's a good plan, I'd just hate to be such a burden to my friend though. I agree that I'd hate to be paying that just for a swim and it would really bristle, but I can see my doing that once per month.
Maybe I need to look at the other classes and see if I can fit in another visit during the week. Just to complicate matters I also go to an outdoor exercise class that my friend runs that is £4 per class and it's been such a lifesaver when we've been allowed to go, that I will keep going with that.

OP posts:
Original poster
rookiemere · 26/05/2021 09:56

@emmathedilemma no swim only membership sadly.

OP posts:
Changemusthappen · 26/05/2021 09:57

I would break it down to what you will actually use. I used to be member of DL (not in the UK though so was much cheaper). I used to go to a class, sometimes a short swim afterwards and then the sauna and jacuzzi - you can't really do that anywhere else but a private health club. Additionally their facilities are nice and up to date. If you had to pay for these individually it would be a charge for each, so it worked out really well for me.

I would look at what's important to you e.g. if you are going for the classes - are they really good e.g is the pilates a proper pilates instructor? can you always get a spot when you want?

I used to love going, it felt really special, sitting in the cafe afterwards reading the papers on the weekend etc. That said we went as a family.

I'm not a member over here, DL 30 min drive so not worth it. For context I now do pilates at a studio and its £13 drop in £11 for 6. So actually DL is worth it if you use it all.

garlictwist · 26/05/2021 09:57

There is no way on earth I would spend that on the gym, unless at a push you were going every day.

I have just cancelled my (much cheaper) gym membership as I can run and cycle for free to keep fit and if I want to swim it's just a fiver a time at the council pool PAYG.

Faultymain5 · 26/05/2021 09:58

I was a family member for 17 years before I left. It depends on which one you are in, as to the quality of the gym. I used to go 6 days a week.

Mondays - spin & Yoga
Tuesday Spin/Orange theory
Wednesday n/a
Thursdays Orangetheory
Fridays Orange theory
Saturdays Dance fitness and Orange theory
Sundays - tennis/yoga

I also had swimming lessons there over the years. We used to have holidays abroad once every two years. The kids had their tennis lessons there and their names are still on the board as winners of the age groups Grin.

About 3 years ago we left, because they got rid of orange theory, we felt the service went downhill and the prices kept going up. No matter the economic situation of the country. Every year I've managed a family holiday, a couiples holiday, a girlie holiday and a boys holiday. Life has been amazing since leaving but i never knew better before.

Faultymain5 · 26/05/2021 09:59

All that said, I do not use public swimming pools, and that was one thing (and the yoga teacher was excellent) worth paying extra for.

Original poster
rookiemere · 26/05/2021 10:05

@Changemusthappen yes when I go, I'll often do a short workout before my swim and use the jacuzzi after. The sauna and steam room have just reopened so I haven't been to them yet.

For a year it is the price of a good holiday, but then I'd get a years enjoyment out of it and as we all know holidays are fairly ephemeral beasts at the minute.

I just wish it was a bit cheaper- at £50 per month there would be no dilemma .

OP posts:
Floralnomad · 26/05/2021 10:05

Sorry I have to ask @Faultymain5 what is orange theory ? With regards to to the OP if you can afford it why not , pre my down turn in health this year I was paying £90 a week for riding lessons , so it’s cheap in comparison.

TeenMinusTests · 26/05/2021 10:07

I'm a member, haven't been since covid, membership currently frozen.

I view it as a luxury but I really miss it at the moment. The changing rooms are kept beautifully clean, the lockers are near where you change, a few cubicles if you want them, committed to single sex (not gender) changing. I consider the lanes in the pool busy if there are 3 of us in the same lane.