6 Ways to Keep Fit for Less

Gym memberships and fitness clubs can cost a pretty penny, but you don’t have to spend big bucks to get in your daily calorie burn.

Try these low- to no-cost exercise fixes that will keep you and your budget fit and trim.

1. Go back to school. Many local high schools offer their field houses, gymnasiums, basketball courts and running tracks for use by the community after hours or on weekends for free or very little cost. Also, check in with your local junior college or university, which may offer membership fees for much lower than your neighborhood hard bodies club.

2. Be your own fitness editor. Magazines like Self and Shape offer extensive expert advice, exercise trackers and workout plans online, as do independent sites like FitTracker, so you can create your own customized routines. They also have calculators, meal plans, community outreach and inspirational tools to keep you on track—all for free. All you need is the motivation to log on and challenge yourself.

3. Think outside the gym. Good workouts don’t have to involve sets and reps. You can burn more than 200 calories an hour just doing chores. Gardening, shoveling, painting all do double duty: They spiff up your home while keeping you in tip-top shape. Sure, overhauling the garage stinks, but if you knew you could bank almost 300 calories for clearing clutter, suddenly the proposition is less daunting. And not only is it free, you don’t have to pay your kids to do it.