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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:

Original poster

curiousgeorgie · 02/05/2014 00:26

I can afford it, it just seemed extortionate.

I wanted to take my DD's swimming as a family rather than watching from the side but it seems to be out of the question

OP posts:

eatmydust · 02/05/2014 00:41

I think it is overpriced. They may reduce the package price for you if you say you are going to look around. I pay £40 pcm for my single peak membership and use it lots. Last time I had family membership it worked out around £90 pcm, no parking costs, for a very nice, social gym with lots of kids activities in Cheshire.

itsbetterthanabox · 02/05/2014 00:51

Do you live in Central London op? That's crazy! The fanciest gym where I live is about 45 a month. The cheaper ones 35 and if you do off peak hours then 25. Then there's some tiny gyms that are about 15. 180 is shocking!

Meloria · 02/05/2014 08:20

It's expensive but so what? It's not gone out of business so some people are obviously happy to pay. You, on the other hand, are not - so don't, no big deal, go somewhere else.

MissMooMoo · 02/05/2014 08:35

op where did you go?
if you have a virgin nearby check it out, kids do not need a full on membership there.

MinesAPintOfTea · 02/05/2014 08:41

Have you looked for just swimming pools? I go to a private pool on its own and that's fairly reasonable.

glasgowstevenagain · 02/05/2014 09:06

Our local VERY posh gym is 52 a month - free towels included.

Gym- classes-sauna - pool

Go 5 times a week - 2.50 a time...

leedsgirl231 · 02/05/2014 11:32

me and DP are going swimming today and I am astounded at the prices. £4.60 each?! I'm sorry but when I was 16, it was £2. with a breeze card. Even with a Leeds Card it's still £4.60
But, we're going anyway.

chipshop · 02/05/2014 11:34

That does sound like David Lloyd prices to me? DP pays £90 a month to not go there, I pay £50 at Virgin.

LadySybilLikesCake · 02/05/2014 12:40

The one here (David Lloyd) wanted to charge me £100 a month for just me and ds. It was far too expensive.

kaizen · 02/05/2014 12:44

I thought VIrgin and David Lloyd were similar but obviously not as Virgin is a really good deal for families and they provide loads of activities for the kids. I think gyms are better value now as swims and seperate classes can be 5 -10 a pop now, so 13 a week for me to swim 5 times and use the gym and some classes is cheap.

LadySybilLikesCake · 02/05/2014 12:47

Na, David Lloyd is a tennis centre. They have the same equipment (most of them do) but focus more on racquet sports. It's not as family friendly as Virgin, and they seem to focus more on adults. David Lloyd is twice the price of Virgin, roughly.

ephemeralfairy · 02/05/2014 13:01

I've just moved and had to leave my amazing 24/7, no contract gym which was £24.99 a month including classes. This is in London, same chain is much cheaper elsewhere.
Only gym near my new place is a council gym run by Better Leisure who seem to have a monopoly on council gyms in London. It's £30 per month just for gym membership, if you want swimming and classes included it's £45, and the joining and admin fees come to nearly £100. I've just been looking at my monthly budget and I don't think I can afford it.

Original poster

curiousgeorgie · 02/05/2014 13:31

I'm in Surrey and it was David Lloyd.

I'll look at virgin though, thanks.

DD has hypermobility and the wait list for Physio in the pool is way into next year so thought swimming on tap would be the next best thing... It might be cheaper overall to just go private!!

OP posts:

LadySybilLikesCake · 02/05/2014 13:44

Ds has the same condition. Private physio for him was £38 a session (ouch!). Pilates helped a great deal though, and it was cheaper (£18 for a private session). Swimming is good but if he's hypermobile it may not be the best things to do as it can be easy for him to over extend his arms. I'd get a physio assessment first to see what his range of movement is and to get some general advice about joint preservation and how not to over extend, then do pilates as this is cheaper and will help with his core muscles and balance.

Hope this helps

Original poster

curiousgeorgie · 02/05/2014 13:50

Okay, thanks...

She has been to Physio regularly before, but in the hospital gym and not in a pool. It helped her to walk just after the age of 2 and even though its 18 months later she's still very unsteady and nursery have brought it up as a concern.

OP posts:

LadySybilLikesCake · 02/05/2014 13:54

Can you get a referral back to the physio? It may be helpful to contact your local council, you may be able to get a discount as it's for a medical condition rather than a splash around. Do you get DLA for her?

Original poster

curiousgeorgie · 02/05/2014 13:58

No, I don't get anything for her. I have managed to get an appointment with her consultant for 2 months time but am getting pretty concerned myself now as she's complaining of pain a lot (nursery picked up on this too), is 3.7 and still can't do a stairs (or even a single step up or down) jump, climb or do things like ride a scooter or anything. Now she's in pre school the difference between her and the others is totally eye opening. I thought she was doing well!

OP posts:

LadySybilLikesCake · 02/05/2014 14:05

I get you. Is it pain anywhere specific? Ds has very flat feet too and gets pain in his ankles, feet and wrists. I think she needs to see a physio really. A small balance ball may help in the mean time, sit her on it and hold her hands. She'll wobble but holding her hands will help. You can check her feet by looking at her soles when she's standing. If there's no arch there she'll need orthotic insoles, so a referral to orthotics for these. They need to be shock absorbing ones, not hard ones.

You can apply for DLA. It's not a lot but it will really help, and you may be able to get a discount if you use the council's pool. She doesn't need a diagnosis, she just needs additional support that a child her age doesn't have, so if she needs help getting down the stairs. There's loads of support and practical help on the special needs boards about this

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