When my parents renovated our basement while I was in high school, they installed a home gym. It eliminated the expense of a gym membership and was readily accessible. All we had to do was go downstairs to have a good workout.
Now that I’m on my own, having a home gym would be amazing. While I can usually go walking, sometimes it’s just too hot or rainy to exercise outdoors. It would be nice to have a small area set aside for indoor workout equipment that won’t break the bank. And building a home gym doesn’t have to be difficult.
What Equipment Do You Need to Build a Home Gym?
A yoga mat, weights or resistance bands, and a jump rope are all you need to build a home gym. With those items, you can do yoga or Pilates, strength training, and cardio workouts.
I’m not a personal trainer, but I believe those exercises will help you meet any fitness goal you want to achieve.
You’ll also need a good pair of sneakers. While they can be pricey, it’s possible to get supportive shoes for less than $50 on Zappos or Amazon. DSW also has clearance and sale items that are affordable.
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Whether you have a whole room or just a closet to use for your home gym, here are the must-haves for less than $100:
Jump Rope
A jump rope, which you can pick up for only $10, is not just for kids. Have you tried jumping rope for 10 minutes lately? It’s not easy, and you’ll find that your calves will be burning in no time. If you think that might be boring, try crisscrossing, high knees, and more to keep it interesting. You’ll be surprised how much of a workout you’ll get.
Weights
A set of basic weights is about $25 on Amazon, but to avoid possible injury, you may want to opt for resistance bands. Bands come in a variety of types, lengths, and tensions to help increase the level of difficulty as you get stronger. A set of five will run you less than $10.
Yoga Mat
Gyms have foam floor covering to protect your knees. Since those can range in price from $50 to more than $200, get a yoga mat instead for only about $11.
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Having spent a total of roughly $80 on a yoga mat, new sneakers, a jump rope, and resistance bands, you’re now ready to have a great workout. However, to mix it up a little, you could invest in some other products.
Extras You May Want to Consider for Your Home Gym
If you already have a bicycle, consider getting an indoor trainer. For those days when it’s too rainy, hot, or cold to bike outdoors, you can set up your bike on a trainer and cycle in place to your heart’s content. The best part is that the cost is about $80 for a highly rated piece of equipment. Buying a bike will increase your budget substantially, as they tend to cost a few hundred dollars or more.
Some people may want a treadmill, an elliptical trainer, or a rowing machine. You don’t need to spend $1,000 to get good equipment. Amazon has low prices, starting at $116 for a highly rated elliptical, $35 for a basic rower, and $85 for a treadmill. While these aren’t name brands, they will get the job done. You could spend a bit more for better equipment if your budget allows — about $200 for a treadmill, $220 for a rower, and $130 for an elliptical. These will probably last longer and work better than the cheaper versions.
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Your costs will all depend on what kind of workout you want to do and what products you’ll need to purchase. Regardless, it’s absolutely possible to build a home gym on a budget.
