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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think gym memberships should be cheaper??

44 replies

curiousgeorgie · 01/05/2014 16:41

I decided that rather than keep thinking about taking the DD's swimming (other than their lesson once a week) I would join us all to a gym and it would force us all to go.

Me, DH, my 3 year old and my 10 month old.

Closest gym to me rattled on for about 30 minutes about membership giving you parking, creche etc before announcing it would be 180 per month.

This seems shocking for two children who can't do anything, but no, even the 10 month old needs membership!

I just thought I'd clarify the price, and what it included. Turns out not the creche,
(9.50 per hour) or parking (2.40per hour).

I thought it must be because it was a big fancy club so phoned the far less fancy looking one a bit further away... Practically the same. Except no creche.

Even the local leisure centre requires membership... (Â£55 per month in general, Â£45 pay & play??)

How are we supposed to all get fit and healthy in a lovely pool when these are the
ridiculous costs?! Does everyone pay this much or do you all not go?

OP posts:

manicinsomniac · 01/05/2014 16:47

I think gym membership is very reasonable actually.

My own membership is £50 in general and I'm not sure about my childcare bit off the top of my head as I do pay as you go but less than a childminder for sure.

Taking an adult membership alone and assuming £50 is around average (I know you can get £15 and £120) then even if you only go 3 times a week it works out at about £4 a session. If you do a class or two or use the pool as well as the gym floor then that's an absolute bargain.

ViviPru · 01/05/2014 16:47

I risk sounding smug but being as you asked if we all pay that much, I don't. I'm really lucky. My council (Serco) run gym is fantastic and only costs me £25 a month for full on-peak membership including classes. For this I get access to 3 sites all within a 20 minute drive which is handy because it means there's a class I like every night of the week. I do 5 classes a week which are about £6.50 each if you PAYG so it's a great deal.

I did pay to freeze my membership a little while ago but I think it's still only £34 pcm for new members. They're all pretty newly refurbished and the only gripe is that there aren't enough 3kg weights for the pump classes and the pilates mats are a bit gammy but other than that its a godsend.

Blankiefan · 01/05/2014 16:48

I was all ready to tell you that YWBU; market forces, supply & demand and all that but that they charge for parking - and the crèche seems pricey too.

Our cooncil gym is £40 PCM so about the same but the crèche is £2 an hour and run by some lovely ladies - tho is only available mon-fri 9-5.

weatherall · 01/05/2014 16:48

That sounds ridiculous.

I go to a council gym. £8 induction then £5-6 per visit.

Took dd swimming and it was £5.15 which I thought was quite expensive!

The local fun pool with slides etc is £20 for a family of 4.

No wonder poor people are fatter.

There are only so many long walks the kids can stand!

Ice skating was cheaper than I expected though.

Original poster

curiousgeorgie · 01/05/2014 16:53

If I had no children I'd pay it, but I don't see that I'll be able to go as much as I'd like, so it's a lot of money for essentially a swimming pool?

And a 10 month old needing full membership just to come in the door seems pretty ludicrous...

OP posts:

WooWooOwl · 01/05/2014 16:54

I think that's a reasonable price for a family of four, if on peak, but I'm surprised that they charge for parking. I've been a member a a few fancy gyms and parking has never been charged as extra. I'd completely expect the crèche to be extra though.

The only gym I've used with my dc did run a lot of good children's activities, so I can see why they were charged, but I wouldn't be keen on paying membership for them if they could only use the crèche, and that didn't include any special occasion parties or anything.

When I'm skint and want to swim I'd use council run pools and just pay as I go, and I tend to get off peak memberships at gyms that are cheaper and only go during the school day when it's less busy.

sparechange · 01/05/2014 16:57

Where are you based?
We've got a joint membership, which covers any under 10s off-peak, for just under £100 a month in central london
No creche or parking, but pay and display outside if we want it
The council leisure centre near us is a little bit cheaper and closer, but not as nice

SantasLittleMonkeyButler · 01/05/2014 17:02

That seems a lot to me! Our local (private) gym is £28 per month. There is no peak/off peak (probably because there are a lot of shift workers here, so evenings/weekends are not necessarily busier than 2pm on a Wednesday). There is no crèche but parking is free.

Original poster

curiousgeorgie · 01/05/2014 17:02

I'm in Surrey... I currently pay for swimming lessons for both DD's, ballet & tap for my older dd & Gymboree & Jo jingles for my younger one.. I thought a gym membership would eliminate some of those but it doesn't... The local council run pool is being renovated for the rest of the year.

I'm just shocked at the price just to swim

OP posts:

Original poster

curiousgeorgie · 01/05/2014 17:03

I never expected a creche would be free, he just threw it in as part of his becoming a member speech and then only when pressed admitted it was an extra..

OP posts:

Artistic · 01/05/2014 17:05

We have a £50 per adult membership at the local private club. DD is not a member but does group swim lessons at the group rate & £5.00 if we want to one-off swim with her otherwise. The monthly rate to include her is £10 or £15 but I haven't bothered as we rarely go to swim together, it's mostly either me or DH separately as its our only serious exercise. These rates are reasonable to me, but there is no way I would pay adult rates for a child, ESP since they can't do any classes or use the gym! So it's basically only for the pool?!

Original poster

curiousgeorgie · 01/05/2014 17:06

I just think that if you pay 180 a month...

Paying about 25 each time you go for let's say 2 hours parking and creche is madness!

OP posts:

LadySybilLikesCake · 01/05/2014 17:07

You went to David Lloyd, didn't you?

Why don't you have a look around some different ones. If you can go during 'off peak' (daytime) hours then it's sometimes cheaper. You may be able to get a discount card from your local council so it's worth looking on their web site.

Ememem84 · 01/05/2014 17:13

I pay £42 a month. For access to 3 sites with parking a pool and unlimited classes. I go 4 times a week. To just use the gym it's £6 a session. Per class £7.50. I try to do one class and 3 gyms a week. So get my money's worth.

MintyCoolMojito · 01/05/2014 19:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

googoodolly · 01/05/2014 19:22

Our local council gym is £32 a month and that includes access to the pool and classes for £1 a go. If you pay a bit more (I think £46) you get unlimited classes and pool access for free as well.

ForalltheSaints · 01/05/2014 19:27

It's reasonably priced if you go regularly. Though most people seem to join in January and are hardly seen after Easter.

SaucyJack · 01/05/2014 19:32

The last gym I was a member of was £16.99 per month unlimited use and classes. Definitely no frills like creche or pool tho lucky to get toilet paper.

FindoGask · 01/05/2014 19:45

I used to go to a basic gym which was about the same as Saucy Jack's - £9.99 a month for the first year (it had just opened) and then £18.99 a month. Those no-frill gyms are all over the place now, you don't need to pay loads.

All that said, I have my own weights now and use DVDs, apps, run/bike and just exercise from home: less hassle and even cheaper.

nickymanchester · 01/05/2014 19:51

As others have said the budget gyms really are all over the place now and there seem to be more opening all the time.

Like Findo I paid £10.99 a month for the first year as it had just opened and I now pay £15.99

pizzachickenhotforyou · 01/05/2014 19:56

Check if your council do deals. Mine do Wednesday classes for a mere £4 without a monthly fee. That's as many classes as you want to do on that day plus use of the gym.
Also free swimming on Fridays if you sign up with no monthly fees and lots of £1 deals.

LAlady · 01/05/2014 20:05

I'm a member of a health club which is part of a golf and country club. It's got a crèche and excellent facilities including an extensive range of classes. It's £83 a month peak or £64 off peak. I go a lot so it's good value for me. Took the children off as soon as they couldn't use the crèche and DH isn't interested otherwise we'd pay a similar monthly fee as you have quoted. It is quite exclusive but also very sociable which is the reason people tend to stay (I've been there 8 years now) plus car parking is free.

Having said that, the leisure centre does a great deal for £40 all in per month for all classes, gym and pool so it's worth looking around.

LAlady · 01/05/2014 20:06

Don't know why it doesn't like some of the words on my phone. The jumbled lesson are referring to a childcare facility !!

DarkJelly · 01/05/2014 21:07

Are you upset about swimming costs or gym membership cost? Surely if you only want swimming then joining a gym is never going to be cost effective.

Tbf I do find swimming relatively expensive if you are taking a family. We just do swimming lessons.

But if you can't afford it don't go. There are plenty of many and varied ways for your family to get exercise.

lurkerspeaks · 01/05/2014 21:38

I'm central london and virgin - both are pricey . I pay just over 70 /month for me,

Kids are about 30/month and that includes unlimited bookable crèche.

It gets used a lot.

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