Gym Membership - how many visits makes it worth it ?

HoneyPie_2

Good Afternoon everyone,

I am looking for some MSE opinions on Gym Membership.... I have had gym membership in the past. Pre MSE days. and have never really got my moneys worth.

Anyway.. I am now looking into joining a new gym, and wondering how many visits I would have to make a week to get £60 worth !!! :eek: ... And whether the benefits of paying in one lump sum (10% off) outweigh the risks!! BUT if I had to sign a 12 month contract anyway - are there any other risks ??

I would love to hear your opinions. :A


Thank you..

Rainvision

Word of warning from my experience with ESPORTA...make sure you 100% want to sign up for a 12month contract as there is pretty much no chance of getting out of it unless you get a medical cert (but your case has to be quite severe). I think Fitness First only ask you to sign up for 3 months so you may want to check that out if they have to facilities you require.

I am with Esporta and have found them so unhelpful. I've tried to transfer my membership to another club local to me as I moved job but it would cost me another £20 a month. I already pay £62!

In answer to your question I reckon if you can get there at least 15-20 times you've got you money's worth if you pay £60. That's roughly a fiver a visit. But bear in mind that you will need to probably pay to park if you need to drive there so this can add another couple of quid to each visit!

There aren't that many gyms that offer a pay as you go service these days as they all want you to be tied in a contract - guaranteed money for them!

Check out this link also from the CAB.

http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/index/pressoffice/press_index/press-050203.htm

Hope this helps a bit? All the best!

moneypooh

When my OH joined a gym a few years back he never used it much, consequently it was VERY expensive for the visits. We did an experiment last year and wrote down our leisure centre useage (full family with gym etc..) for 6 months. It was over a period where we would actually have used it the most and surprise surprise we wouldn't have saved money at all, in fact it would have cost far more than if we paid as we went (as we actually did do).

So my advice would be to look how much you would use it, and I don't mean intend to, be far more realistic. Add up the costs and you'll see if membership is the way to go. Everyone joins these things saying they'll use them nore - but how many ever do. I have found loads of other ways to exercise without being a member of a gym. So we really only pay to swim nowadays.

I'm a bit biased because I'm not a gym person, but I do like to save pennies!

geri1965_2

I'm guessing it's a private gym rather than one run by the local authority as £60 a month seems quite high to me.

If so, it might be worth looking into a local authority run one - the one I used to go to was about £30 a month (more if you wanted to use the swimming pool as well) but if you paid yearly in January you got 20% off the price (this is what I used to do).

They also did "pay as you go" sessions which were around £5 each.

bonnie_2

I've just joined a private gym for £27.50 a month which includes classes as well.
Pay as you go would have been £5 a time.
The council gym wanted £37 so big difference.

bargainhunter90

Rainvision wrote: »

I think Fitness First only ask you to sign up for 3 months so you may want to check that out if they have to facilities you require.

Fitness first tie you in for the full 12 months and you need to be very carefull when cancelling any membership send recorded delivery and keep it for a very long time.

I cancelled mine with fitness first for a medical condition just after my 12 months, didn't hear from them in writing but they said yes thats ok on the phone. A month later their debt recovery said they was unable to collect payment and trying to get me to pay up, called them up explained and said if they want to issue proceedings they can and sent my original letter and hospital letters recorded to them and never heard from them again.

Gyms dont give a stuff about their members they just want money.