Some of us like the convenience, some of us live too far from the gym, and some of us just don’t like working out at the gym (hey, we don’t blame you).
So if you’re thinking about building a home gym on a budget, you wouldn’t be alone!
And here’s the thing: it’s not as overwhelming as it might seem.
In fact, we’ve rounded up the steps you need to take, no matter whether you’re stepping up your home workouts or just starting out, in this brief guide to building a budget home gym.
Before you invest, don’t forget to also check out home gym equipment reviews (plus more pro tips on all things fitness) at Fitness Fahrenheit!
Consider Your Goals And The Type Of Exercise You Enjoy
The first step is to consider your fitness goals. This might be to lose weight, build muscle, or simply get fitter – or something else!
Either way, the benefit of thinking about your goals is that it can also help you find out what type of exercise you should do, as well as the home exercise equipment you’ll need to invest in.
For example, if you want to lose weight, you might only want to get a treadmill and a few weights, or some rubber flooring for HIIT.
If you want to build muscle and get strong, on the other hand, you’ll need to invest in weights and resistance machines.
Decide Where To Set Up Your Home Gym
Where you set up your home gym matters. It should be practical and inviting, as both of these will improve your home workout experience.
Common spaces to set up a budget home gym include spare rooms, garages, undercover patio areas, or even in empty corners of living rooms and guest bedrooms.
Other things to think about are natural light, space, electrical sockets, and windows. For example, you might want lots of natural light, space to move around freely, or increased privacy!
Make A List Of The Equipment You Need
When you’ve decided on the type of exercise you want to do and the space where you’ll set up your home gym, the next step is to make a list of the equipment you’ll need, which will help you set a budget.
For strength training, as an example, you might require resistance machines and weights, such as an all-in-one gym machine, power tower, dumbbell set, barbell, weight plates, and weight training bench.
For weight loss and cardio, you might list a treadmill, stationary bike, or cross-trainer, as well as some functional fitness equipment, like kettlebells, resistance bands, and a stability ball.
If you plan on doing yoga, on the other hand, then all you might need is a yoga mat, a few cheap yoga props, a mirror, and some plants!
Set Your Budget
With your list of home gym equipment, you’ll now be able to research and get an idea of the budget you need, or the total it will cost in comparison to the budget you’ve already set.
If you have a long list of equipment to buy, you might think that you’ll be spending a lot of money. That isn’t always true, however, as home gym equipment can vary in price depending on what it is!
For example, resistance bands, yoga props, and plastic dumbbells can often be bought cheap.
Other equipment can also be bought used, such as weight plates, metal dumbbell sets, barbells, and kettlebells.
Some equipment, however, might need a higher investment if you want long-term quality, such as cardio machines and resistance machines.
Buy The Most Important Equipment First
Something worth knowing before you start building your home gym is that you don’t have to buy everything at once.
In fact, with your fitness goals in mind, you can actually opt to just buy the most important equipment first, then add more home gym equipment over time.
If your goal is weight loss, pick up that treadmill or stationary bike first. If your goal is to start powerlifting, then invest in a barbell, rack, and some bumper plates before anything else!
Knowing your fitness goals will help you to spread your home gym investment over time, instead of splashing out on everything all at once. As you plan, consider resources like Pro Playgrounds for outdoor fitness equipment options that can complement your home gym setup.
Conclusion
So there you have it, all the top tips you need in a simple guide to building a budget home gym. To summarize, consider your fitness goals first and the type of exercise you want to do, list the equipment you need to get an idea of budget, then buy the most important equipment first!
