Along with living healthy and being a ‘goal digger’, my other lifestyle habits include living green. I am that person that saves grocery bags, uses reusable ones (when I remember), keep many containers from various foods that I use as food storage and I even recently gave up paper towels. If you have been checking out my pictures lately, you can also see I have dreadlocks. You could definitely put me in the ‘crunchy’ category.
One way to go green is with a home gym. The best part about it is it is also frugal. If you don’t have the money to get a monthly gym membership, there are many ways you can create your own with a few already made things as well as some stuff you DIY. Let’s look at how to create a frugal home gym for less than $50.
Scour Craigslist and Freecycle ($free)- Many times, you can find amazing free gym equipment that is in perfectly good shape on Craigslist or Freecycle. I have gotten free weights, manual treadmills, kettle balls, and resistance straps from there. Ask your friends and family, too. I just got a free stationary bike from a friend that is in perfect working order.
Invest in a low cost yoga mat ($10)- I got my yoga mat when I first started doing yoga because I found that it helped me with grip in some of the positions as well as cushioning. You can often find yoga mats for less than $10 at outlet places or even second hand stores. Just make sure to disinfect them if you get one second hand.
Make Your Own weights that can be adjusted ($free)- Milk jugs are amazing for making your own weights. A gallon of water weighs about 8 pounds, and if that becomes too easy, you can simply pour out the water and add in sand for more of a challenge. Plus, milk jugs have handles!
Purchase a jump rope ($10)- Don’t go cheap on your jump rope by getting one from the toy section. Not only will it likely be too small, but it won’t move the way an athletic cardio one will. Jumping rope is an amazing workout and one you should do for getting in some great cardio. Just maybe take it outside if you live in an apartment.
Make your own medicine ball from a used basketball or soccer ball- ($10 for sand)- If you have an old basketball or soccer ball, you can make a medicine ball with some uncooked rice or some fine sand that you can get at the hardware store. Just cut a small hole large enough for a funnel to fit, fill it and plug the hole with something (make sure you add hot glue around whatever you plug it with so it stays in place.) A medicine ball is great for upping your lunge routine.
Buy Rubber Kitchen floor mats for your gym ($20)- The other day at a big box store, I saw a set of 4 rubber kitchen mats (that fit together like a puzzle so you can add more and link them) for $19.99. These are great for putting on the floor of your home gym so you can work out and have something that absorbs noise and strain on your joints.
Watch free workout videos on Youtube- I got started with working out and yoga from watching YouTube videos. There is an endless supply of them for free and you can switch things up all the time.
Written By Christine Tolhurst from Saved By Grace Blog
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