February 2022
If you’re on the verge of creating your own home gym but want to keep things budget-friendly, consider these tips before splurging on unnecessary equipment or additional expenses.
Choose the right space
First, you need the space to create a home gym before doing anything else. This could be a garage, basement or a spare room. The key is making sure you have enough room to do all of the exercises that you enjoy while also being surrounded by equipment.
Second, find out if it’s reasonable to exercise in that environment. For example, see how hot it gets in a garage in the summer to assess if you’re willing to put yourself through that when pumping iron. Or, if you’re using a spare room or have an upstairs apartment, consider what – or who - is below you. You may need to avoid doing noisy exercises, like burpees or jumping jacks.
Determine your core workout needs
Plan your workouts so you don’t buy a bunch of cool-looking equipment that you don’t need. Write down what exercises you’re going to do or input them into an exercise app. This will help you create a list of equipment that you will need and can keep you from purchasing that Superman-designed kettlebell for $65 if you don’t need it.
Search for multi-use equipment
Once you know what you need, searching for multi-use equipment can save you money and floor space. One example is adjustable dumbbells, especially if you plan on doing a lot of arm workouts. This can save you from buying a large assortment of weights and can free up some space in your home gym. The up-front cost may seem daunting, but if you continue to strengthen your arms, you’ll eventually need heavier weights, and that will end up costing more in the long run. Other options could be weighted medicine balls, foam rollers and resistance bands.
Don’t be afraid to buy used
It may sound gross at first, especially when you consider how much you sweat when working out, but buying used equipment could save you a ton of money. Head to various marketplace sites to search for people selling items that you could use. Just be sure to sanitize everything as soon as you get home and before you starting using it.
Setting up a home gym doesn’t need to involve a construction crew. Once you’ve got your space and equipment set up, add some inspiring décor and get a good speaker to play your pump-up jams.