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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:
Faultymain5 · 26/05/2021 10:08

@Floralnomad

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.
www.orangetheory.com/en-gb/workout/

Rowing/Cardio/Strength in short. It was very addictive. I loved it but they coudln't afford the licence and brought in Blaze instead.

Floralnomad · 26/05/2021 10:18

@Faultymain5 thanks , I can’t do anything cardio so I’m hopelessly out of touch .

idontlikealdi · 26/05/2021 10:22

If you can afford it I think it's good value.

I pay £70 for unlimited classes in a local PT studio. DL membership is a lot more than £88 p/m here.

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

Yeah I'm now thinking if I could do one more class a week then it would just about stack up cost wise, so I've signed up for a Blaze session on Monday ( still on trial membership)

OP posts:
Triffid1 · 26/05/2021 10:27

You can afford it as an individual/family and you get pleasure out of it. Surely it's a no brainer - you sign up. If it was a choice between DL and the kid's swimming lessons. Or DL vs food then of course that's a different consideration. But why is it even a concern if money isn't a problem and you're going to use it at least once a week?

Women have a bad habit of feeling that they can't take or do or spend money on things for themselves. It's bollocks. You are thinking of it as £10 per visit. Don't. Think of it as £88 a month that you invest in your own mental and physical well being. (but please don't stop getting your hair done, visiting your favourite restaurant etc because you feel bad about the money you are spending). I have never ever met a man who feels bad about spending money on himself IF the family can afford it. But at least half the women I meet agonise over this, even when there is no genuine financial concern.

(oh, and David Lloyd outside pool in the summer is an absolute glorious thing).

Jokename · 26/05/2021 10:29

Don’t do it. Honestly it’s just such waste of money. I had a membership for 4 years, mainly because the kids swam on a Saturday and even then it wasn’t worth it.

Every hot day the pool was packed and unless you are a serious gym bunny the cost per outing is just astronomical.

Take your friend to a spa once every 3 months instead!

emmathedilemma · 26/05/2021 10:29

Ask if there's any room for negotiation, I'm always suspicious about gyms that don't quote membership prices on their website as I'm sure they vary them (I left a previous club because they were offering new members lower membership fees than the loyal customers had been paying for years). If you can afford to, ask if there's any discount for paying 12 months up front, I get 12 months for the price of 11 doing that.

chocolatesaltyballs22 · 26/05/2021 10:35

I've been a member for years and I love it, especially the outdoor pool. I swim there in all weathers and have even been outside in the snow. Having said that I also do a couple of spin classes a week in addition to two swims a week so it stacks up for me price wise.

Why don't you see if there are any of the other classes which you might be interested in? They're always changing the schedules and adding in new stuff. Also if you pay a year's membership upfront (if you can afford to do that) it works out cheaper than a monthly membership.

Original poster
rookiemere · 26/05/2021 10:36

It's so funny how the responses are so conflicting. I read @Triffid1 and I'm like yay Go Me that makes so much sense, but then the next replies are totally contradictory.

@emmathedilemma I've tried all my negotiation skills and no budging, I think there's a lot of demand at the minute as council facilities have so many restrictions.

OP posts:
chocolatesaltyballs22 · 26/05/2021 10:39

OP it really comes down to the number of times per week you're going to use it. I base mine on a minimum of 4 visits per week.

Sssloou · 26/05/2021 10:41

Definitely negotiate. Loads of people are not returning to gyms as they were forced to discover free outdoor exercise during lockdown.

DL gyms vary their membership prices widely across the country. If you know someone in a cheap area - register there and then just use your local one. I know someone who did this.

bellsbuss · 26/05/2021 10:46

@Sssloou if use another DL more than your registered one they will stop you now. Members have been complaining at the DL I use as too many members from other clubs have started using it and it's got too busy.

Triffid1 · 26/05/2021 11:10

@rookiemere

It's so funny how the responses are so conflicting. I read *@Triffid1* and I'm like yay Go Me that makes so much sense, but then the next replies are totally contradictory.

@emmathedilemma I've tried all my negotiation skills and no budging, I think there's a lot of demand at the minute as council facilities have so many restrictions.

Of course responses are conflicting. But all those people agonising over cost per visit are wrong Grin.

Seriously though - just because someone else couldn't justify it doesn't mean you shouldn't when you an afford it and your family are supportive because of the benefit they see you get. I considered cancelling ours at one point but didn't because DH got so much pleasure out of it and used it a LOT.

Original poster
rookiemere · 26/05/2021 11:15

I think you're right @Triffid1 , and when I think of the cost of things DH has committed us too - rookiedog with monthly dog walking, insurance and vet bills and much more expensive car because he likes a posh car - I should just go for it and forget the cost per visit providing I'm going at least once a week.

OP posts:
Carriemac · 26/05/2021 11:48

Go for it ! I've been a member for years and it's my me time - worth Every penny

HunterHearstHelmsley · 26/05/2021 11:50

If the outdoor pool is important to you then double check that it is usually open during the winter. At mine, it is usually closed from October to March. It was kept open this year but that's not the norm.

DarlingWithoutYou · 26/05/2021 12:39

Hi OP, I've been having the exact same dilemma as you! I had a membership for two years when DS was younger (8 years ago now) and he was at nursery. It was such a luxury, I could barely afford it but I loved it.

I'm now out of work for health reasons and considering rejoining. Unlike you it would put a massive financial strain on us, but the mental health and physical health benefits would be huge. I'm thinking of going 3 times a week during school hours and having a swim (I also love the outdoor pool). I don't use the gym, but I would consider joining a class or two. I'm very overweight so a bit embarrassed to do that but I know it will help.

Anyway, I think I'm going to go for it. Someone told me you can get a 3 month membership now, it costs more but would be a good trial for me.

Ilovechoc12 · 26/05/2021 12:56

Check out how easy it is to get a car parking space - I did in 2 and couldn’t park 😂😂😂 lots of classes on at the same time.

Also, you might not mind but look how many separate individual changing rooms. I don’t want to see all the school mums totally naked with no pants on 🤣🤣🤣🤣 I like to get changed in private.

For those 2 reason I went to a country club x

weegiepower · 26/05/2021 13:12

I think you'd honestly find it's worthwhile.

I'm not currently a member but was for about 10 years and will probs join again soon. We paid about £150 for a joint membership or something, I'd go everyday to work out when kids were younger and ex h was flexible with work and we'd all go, they'd play in soft play and I'd workout and then we'd swap or one of us would take kids swimming while other was in gym. Outdoor pool in summer was great. We'd go and meet friends for coffee all the time.

We split up so hence stopped membership but now I'm nearly at a place where I can justify it because would be great to take kids swimming whenever.

Original poster
rookiemere · 26/05/2021 13:15

I've double checked and outdoor pool is open year round, there's loads of parking and I'm of an age and mindset that I really don't care who sees me changing.
Opting towards going for it.

OP posts:
Labradabradorable · 26/05/2021 13:49

Ooh, an outdoor pool. That sounds amazing.

I’m a member of a local club 5 mins from home. It’s £79 per month. The cost per visit maths perhaps doesn’t stack up. But there are no other pools nearby. So my logic was, pay £79 a month and get to swim 5 mins from home. Or don’t get to go swimming. As I love swimming I figured it was worth paying to give myself the opportunity. As it happens, I’ve now cut my work hours and also enjoy a weekly yoga class ( as well as a swim alone, and one with the kids).

sar302 · 26/05/2021 14:01

If you can afford it, do it. It's a luxury, but it's a nice one to have. Every time I go I feel happy. It's almost 3 times the cost of the local leisure centre, but it's about 10 times as nice. It's also turned us both into fairly regular exercisers to justify the cost!

ElderMillennial · 26/05/2021 14:03

15 mins drive isn't that much op

Is it on your way home from work?

For me personally I think I'd need to be going twice a week to justify that price

But then again going to the gym and exercise is so good for your physical and mental health that I think the price is justified

I used to enjoy a long session at the gym in a weekend with a gym session and then some time in the pool area, steam room, sauna abs jacuzzi

chocolatesaltyballs22 · 26/05/2021 14:19

Which club is it @rookiemere? (You might not want to say...I'm being nosy!)

Silkiecats · 26/05/2021 14:38

I used to be a family member for years and take the children - was £200 a month for 4 of us by London. We all loved it - dh didn't really go so he's part was a waste of money - but we went 3 times a week and got good value from ours, kept fit and used to meet people there so did most socialising there too. I found the adult prices subsidised the kids prices - the kids were £30 a month but for that got tennis, towels, swimming, up to 3 hours kids clubs a night, outdoor pool in July / August (whole year for adults). We were about 10 minutes a way and used it 3 times a week.

You can also get a 3 month membership - we got that initially (and got 2 months free with it as an offer at the time) and that was useful to test it if that's an option. Another thing is our membership came with free guest passes, one a month. We also did a 2 week free trial though again they are only at certain times of year.

I would recommend it but does depend how much you would use it and what is included - if you want use it regularly I wouldn't bother but if you will its great, you will keep fit, see your friend and have great facilities to use. But have known people buy it with good intentions and not go and then its very expensive and they are strict on contracts. A lot of the people at ours were retired so had all day or families as kids effectively subsidised. Our closest since we moved is 30 minutes away and much as I'd love to have membership I know we wouldn't use it enough to justify costs.

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