to think gym memberships are mostly a rip off?

[StuckintheBellJar]

I used to be a member until I was forced to give it up due to financial circumstances. Instead, I bought a couple of dvds and some weights. I'm just as fit if not more so.

Anway, I worked out that with my gym you have to go at least three times a week, every week, or you'd be better off paying as a casual user. I know a few people who are members of the very same gym (council run) and all but one go less than three times a week, every week. Sometimes they'll be good and go every other day and then not go for a month.

I could afford to rejoin, but I can't see the point. It's an emperors new clothes scenario in my opinion.

and our local leisure centre is £40, and takes 15 mins to drive there, and another 15 min drive to work, and I don't take the car. If I got a bus, it would take me 45 mins there, 30 mins to work/vice versa. My private gym is within walking distance.

Paying for SKY TV is a rip off if you don't watch it enough, you would be better off renting DVDs.

Paying to run a car is a rip off if you only use it once a week, you would be better off getting taxis.

Paying for nice food is a rip off, you eat it then it's gone. You could survive on porridge oats and carrots.

Something is only a rip off if you do not feel it is worth it. Otherwise, it is worth the money.

PavlovtheCat what gym do you use please?

posey i mailed you.

I would probably join a gym if I had time to use it, but the travel time to a gym is just an extra time in my day I simply do not have. I used to love going to the gym pre DD, however a DH who is away a lot, plus working 4 days a week, plus a 2 1/2 hour commute each day = no gym time. I have a selection of bloody hard DVDs though, and i run. All exercise of that nature can either be done in an hour (inc shower) or at home (if DH is away.) Plus DH bought me a good quality cross trainer. If we go away we usually book a hotel with a gym because I enjoy the novelty factor of using it.

I think unless you are lucky and have plenty of leisure time (and child care), you will probably end up paying for something you don't use.

It could be construed as a 'rip off' but that's only if you let it be. You know what you're getting in to surely, and need to work out the benefits against the disadvantages. The benefits for me are that I get away from the house into a lovely palce where I can do what I want, for as long as I want to, and feel better about myself. That's worth the money for me!

Our council swimming pool, gym leisure centre etc is reasonable. you can pay per visit or pay for 3 months of 3 different levels of activities. you get what suits you. I intend to join in the autumn as in the summer I can usually get outside and exercise (this years very rainy spring/summer is making that difficult)
If you think it's too much money then you don't join. I don't see this as an AIBU. If it's a rip off for you then you don't join, if it's a good deal for someone else then they do join. I see golf clubs as a rip off as i don't play golf, but if you play 3 times a week and love it they'd be good value.

My OH has just shocked me by paying for gym membership at "The Gym" for only £16.99 a month. It's 24/7 open which is handy, and now my son is starting full time school, I will have the time during the day to get myself back into shape.

Mine is just under £30 a month and well worth every penny. If I didn't actually go and take classes with other people I wouldn't do anything. I go 4 times a week usually.
Also we have had a lot of new people lately who used to use videos and such and they said they couldn't believe the difference. They thought they got a good workout at home, but now realize they weren't pushing themselves nearly enough and are loving excercise along with other people.

What about this for a rip off.
My DH cycles to work mostly so doesn't need a gym.
Our council leisure centres offer family membership £80, "lone" parent family £56 and individual £40. All of these prices are halved for job seekers, Income Support etc (fair enough) So... having a husband.....(who won't use it) and a job. I'd have to pay £80 for my family to join. EEEK!
Can that be legal to effectively discriminate against me for having a husband at home? Surely I should get it for £56.... but they say no!!!!

I have to drive ti the gym as it's 3 miles away.
I try and go 3 times a week, it has an amazing swimming pool with a retractable roof and it's not chlorinated.
I love it...I don't cycle or run outside the gym but love weights.
£39 a month for Surrey..not bad.
I do have a personal trainer as well.

DH paid £39 a month for a gym near his work, so half an hour from the house, meaning he wouldn't go at weekends. He said he would go every morning before work. He went about 8 times, 3 months ago. I cancelled the direct debit yesterday and am waiting to see what fallout we get from them.

No a rip off no, you know what you're getting and how much for

Mines pissing me off though. I requested 3 weeks ago that my contract be cancelled. It's in it's first year though so usually this isn't allowed, but in some circumstances it can. On the advice if the receptionist I wrote a letter to the maapnager explaining (my ex boyfriend has started the same gym, knowing I go, and is making me feel very very uncomfortable. There's more to it but there you go...) but it's been 3 weeks and still no contact from her. I've rang and just get 'she's a busy woman'. Grrrr

ZOMBIE THREAD

Cyclemum could you get a joint membership with another adult who is NOT your DH? This is possible at our gym & means that 2 families can bring all their kids, suddenly much better value.

Depends what you mean by rip off. yes, we pay a lot of money as a family to use our gym, but we do go at least 4 times a week, use the free kids groups (of which there are about 30 each week, and of which dd uses at least 6 or 7 during term time ) This summer, we have taken them swimming at least 5 out of 7 days, me and dh have gone three or four times a week on top of this, and i have finally statred going to the pilates and legs bums and tums classes Works out about 50p a time each the amount we go And the bar is a lot cheaper than pubs, child friendly and has lovely food!

I pay £20.00 per month. I go to three Body Balance classes, two Yoga classes and an Abs class every week. I am more than happy.

Just because people choose not to use it does not mean its a rip off.
My gym as a 1 month notice period is £40 pm for me unlimited use of facilities. Has a full size pool and a childrens pool
the kids membership is £10 per year each. Every week day they have a free kids club, 2 hours so I can go the gym. We go swimming 4 times a week.
I go to the gym 5 days, do classes and swim. I get full value for money.
that's because I chose to. I didn't join but decided I actually couldn't be added.

I pay £64 a month to use all Fitness Firsts whenever time I wish and this membership includes all classes. I travel fairly often so to be able to use Branches in Birmingham, Brighton or wherever is great. I go about three or four times a week and not only is it great for weight maintenance obviously, it provides a boost to my mental health. The money I pay is terrific value and something I wouldn't give up unless I absolutely had to.

Btw, the Black Label Fitness Firsts are much better than the other types. I can happily spend hours at the Baker Street branch.

I used to go to a private gym at £55 per month (ouch!) although that did include use of the pool. I agree about losing out due to holidays/sickness/can'tbearsedness although I tried to be consistent. The good thing about that gym was that it opened at 6.30am, so I would arrive on the nose, and work out before work, and get it over with.

Since I had DD, and given up work, I joined a council run gym. I pay £30.70 per month. It includes all classes and up to two hours of creche time daily Mon-Fri. Aside from using the gym facility, I do at least 3 Spin classes and 1 Body Pump and Total Toning classes per week and use the creche facility for DD 4-5 times a week. Even with the odd weekend off-I am away this weekend, I still believe it's good value for money.

Gym membership fees are not supposed to be "value for money" - they serve a psychological purpose, like paying £50 for a tiny bottle of perfume.

They need to be high enough to be a significant but just-affordable outgoing cost according to the budget of the wealth-level of people they want to attract. You need to wince very slightly at the amount of your monthyl gym fee to guilt you into going regularly. Also, what better way to ensure that the equipment you want isn't going to be monopolised by some oik than to join somewhere "exclusive" that oiks can't afford to join.

It's "value for money" because I use it more due to the creche facility, which my previous, private gym did not have. I made the mistake of re-joining a few months after DD's birth, thinking I could still utilise it well, but with DH's shifts (He is a Police Officer) it was much more difficult. So, I cancelled the membership and joined the council one with a creche, which whilst not exclusive, is "oik" free ;)