My new gym

Barbara

After a three-year relationship with my gym, it's time for a switch. My new gym is in a closer location, has great classes and is significantly lower in cost. It's in my basement, consists of my favorite exercise DVDs and only costs the electricity to run a television and overhead lights during an hour workout.

The gym is an expense I have previously justified several ways — because of my health, because it was a location just for working out, and because I liked pampering myself in the steam room post-workout.

But as I look to tighten my belt a little to increase savings, I can't justify the expense any longer.

Perhaps this has been one of my splurge items over the past few years. But a girl can only have so many splurge items before she's living above her means, right? Paying a premium for membership at one of the top gyms in town means paying for all the added services — even ones I wasn't using, like fitness classes. Since I wasn't getting my money's worth at the gym, it was splurge I could cut.

However, I'm having a hard time letting go. I keep trying to tell myself that, given the right motivation, I'll still maintain a fitness routine. Here's why (I hope) life sans gym is going to be just as good for my fitness and much better for my pocketbook:

• My house is mere blocks from a local park and bike trail, so when the basement gym gets boring I can mix it up.
• I love rearranging my furniture. Lift with the knees and you have both a workout and a decorating opportunity!
• The outdoors rock — I can do tons of exercises while enjoying the fresh air. Just think of the sweat I'll work up shoveling my driveway this winter.
• With YouTube at my disposal, they'll be ways to vary my workout routines without spending money on new videos and equipment.

Have any of you ended a relationship with a costly routine? Did you have a tough time cutting yourself off? Any ideas for coping are greatly appreciated!