Building a home gym can be expensive and when you have a budget to stick to it can be a bit of a challenge.
The best thing you can do to build your budget home gym is to start small and work on adding to your gym as you find the things you need – building up until it is complete.
With some planning and a little hunting, it doesn’t take long to go from a yoga mat and some resistance bands to a full home gym without breaking the bank.
Benefits of having a budget home gym
A home gym is great to have because it allows you to workout anytime, anywhere.
This means that there are no more excuses for not working out everyday!
You can work out whenever you want and enjoy the privacy of your own home.
This is especially helpful if you aren’t yet confident or feel uncomfortable working out with a bunch of onlookers.
Working out benefits your mental health too!
Working out is often associated with physical health, but it can also be beneficial to your mental health.
Many of us think that working out is only good for losing weight and building muscle, but there are many other benefits.
Not only does exercise help you stay physically healthy, but it helps keep your brain sharp as well!
It may seem like a lot of work on top of an already packed schedule, but the more you work out the better you will feel.
Working out benefits mental health through a variety of different ways.
It is known that exercise releases endorphins, which help to combat depression and anxiety symptoms.
Additionally, it helps with stress relief, as well as increasing self-confidence and self-esteem.
Exercise also increases brain function; specifically memory retention and processing speed.
Working out also has long term effects on mood and emotional stability due to physical changes in the nervous system.
How to budget for your budget home gym
The first step is to set a budget and stick with it.
There are lots of different ways you can go about this, but the best way is usually just deciding on how much money you’re willing to spend before browsing new equipment.
This will help keep yourself from overspending and getting caught up in sales and deals that seem like great ideas at the time!
When creating your workout plan, make sure there’s enough variety so you don’t get bored while still allowing room for new things as they come along.
What works today, might not work tomorrow and we all have those days when motivation seems hard or impossible.
So even if it isn’t on your budget, you may find it is important to have some backup equipment on hand.
If you need an easy way to save up some extra money, you can try a 30 or 60 day savings challenge.
What is the best home gym equipment?
Remember, the best home gym equipment is whatever you will actually use!
I have purchased countless expensive home gym gadgets and most of them have never been touched.
But that $20 dumbbell set I picked up at a garage sale? They get used every day!
While the equipment you choose to have in your home gym depends entirely on you, I would suggest the following two to start:
Buy an adjustable bench
If you want to do any type of chest workout at home it will almost certainly involve some form of flat bench press.
With that in mind, many budget home gyms opt to get an adjustable flat bench.
While buying an adjustable flat bench is not the cheapest budget home gym equipment option, it will save you money in the long run and save space.
Consider budget resistance bands
Resistance bands are a great budget exercise tool to have around the house for those starting out or just looking to work out on a budget at home.
These high quality rubber bands can be found online for under $20 depending on what kind of package you want (single band vs multiple) which makes them one of the best budget home gym alternatives that won’t break your bank account either!
Some even prefer them to traditional weights. They also take up less space and can go with you easily if you want to take them on a trip.
It is important to keep in mind that budget home gym equipment does not have to be junk and can still provide a great workout, let you do everything you want and even look nice as well!
Buy used
One of the best ways to save money on your home gym is to buy your gym equipment used.
Many people buy gym equipment to work towards their New Year resolutions and by summer time, are looking to get rid of that equipment that is just taking up space in their homes unused.
Gently used gym equipment can be found for sale on buy, sell, trade sites and apps all the time, and this can be the best way to build up your gear without breaking the bank.
Be sure to test anything electronic to ensure that it works properly when purchasing things like exercise bikes, treadmills, and ellipticals used.
Weight equipment is highly expensive and is one of the hardest things to find a deal on, but this equipment can often be found used for a fraction of the cost when you search for used equipment.
TIP: Amazon Warehouse offers items that they sold and returned for a huge discount.
Most of these “used” items are still in their original packaging and have never even been opened.
This is a great way to get deals on all kinds of fun equipment if you keep your eye out regularly.
Hit the sales
While buying used is gonna be the best way to save money on your budget home gym equipment, it is far from the only option.
For things you have had no luck in finding used, fitness equipment often goes on sale between November and February every year.
These deals on fitness equipment are focused on those looking to start working on their fitness goals but are perfect for adding to your home gym on a budget.
Mix and match
When it comes to a home gym, everything doesn’t have to match to get the job done. Sure, a well-coordinated home gym looks nice but it is not necessary.
When putting together a home gym on a budget focus, try to focus on quality and value.
As you build your gym bit by bit, take what you can get a good deal on even if it doesn’t match what you already have.
The exception here is that sets of dumbbells for each weight should match to prevent throwing off your balance to different shapes.
Get creative
While it can be easy to run to that site you saw on TV and buy things you want for your home gym, you can also get creative and give a little DIY a try.
There are some great DIY home gym equipment projects out there that allow you to save money while putting together your home gym on a budget.
From items found in your home or garage for lifting weights to making your own pull up bar, the possibilities are limited mostly by your imagination.
Use your body weight
One of the best budget home gym equipment options is to use your own weight.
Whether you are just beginning or have been working out for years, body-weight exercises can be incredibly effective at building muscle and burning fat without costing a thing!
Exercises like pushups, lunges, squats, sit ups and planks all work great with no weights needed which makes them perfect for budget home gym enthusiasts.