Free by Fifty

StressedSteph

Morning Fifty,

Glad you had a nice weekend. De-cluttering does make you feel good, although think I am going too far - We have hardly anything left :).

Hope you have a nice day at work today, you made me chuckle when I read about the bank manager. I reality he is probably annoyed as he won't get any interest out of you .

speak soon
SS

freebyfifty

Quickly popping in while I am at work (naughty )

Had a letter this morning telling me my gym membership was up. Now I love going to the gym. In the better weather I can go 3-4 times a week BUT it is £295 to renew it :eek: or £29.50 a month.

I don't know what to do Can I? Can't I? afford it, but I like it? I will miss it if I give it up!!

The weird thing is, if I had still be using my overdraft I would have just have paid it, but it is different now I'm in the black.

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

Hi FbF, can I suggest you check Mortgage Reduction Novice's diary, as she paid annually and has worked out the cost of PAYG vs annual.

I'll edit later to add her link, it may help your decision making perhaps?

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/1687649


Tilly

beanielou

I suppose the gym all comes down to how many times you use it in a month.
Do you have a bike you could go out on?

maddiemay

Hello, I am a sometimes lurker, I read your previous diary and think you are doing so well.

Re: The Gym - I am of an age, with an aversion to sport and excercise other than walking, that has never set foot in a gym, however, I am not going to tell you it is a waste of money that could be better spent debt busting, quite the contrary, if you feel you can get there often enough to make it more cost effective than one off sessions, I think you should continue, for the sake of both your physical and mental wellbeing. Cycling and walking are great, but not so easy in the winter and carry their own dangers, if you were to have a fall, or come off a bike it might really mess up your ability to look after your family and work. Keep on plugging away you are doing great.:D

Olderbutnotwiser

I totally agree with Maddiemay if £30 a month can make you feel good and keep you healthy its got to be worth it. If you go several times a week it is a bargain for the feeling of wellbeing you get. If you didn't go and hated it obviously chuck it in. But you do still need some life whilst you are going through this.

freebyfifty

Thank you all so much for your words of wisdom.

I have however decided to let the membership lapse
I am going to be starting to work full time. I currently work 30 hours a week but getting my promotion means I have to go up to 36 a week. I usually finish at 3.30 and go to the gym and then go home and I am in the house for about 5.45. When I start my new hours I won't finish til 5 then I either come straight home (half an hour drive) get the kids sorted etc etc then go to the gym and, be honest, who can be bothered going out once they are in???? Or go to the gym straight from work and not be home until after 7 :eek:
I have decided to see how the full time working goes (and how tired I am after a full day at work ) and if I think I can fit the gym in then re-join later in the year. And maybe by then I'll be able to work it into my budget too

After all, I have two dogs who probably wouldn't mind an extra walk/jog/run/fast shuffle :rotfl:

StressedSteph

freebyfifty wrote: »

Thank you all so much for your words of wisdom.

I have however decided to let the membership lapse
I am going to be starting to work full time. I currently work 30 hours a week but getting my promotion means I have to go up to 36 a week. I usually finish at 3.30 and go to the gym and then go home and I am in the house for about 5.45. When I start my new hours I won't finish til 5 then I either come straight home (half an hour drive) get the kids sorted etc etc then go to the gym and, be honest, who can be bothered going out once they are in???? Or go to the gym straight from work and not be home until after 7 :eek:
I have decided to see how the full time working goes (and how tired I am after a full day at work ) and if I think I can fit the gym in then re-join later in the year. And maybe by then I'll be able to work it into my budget too

After all, I have two dogs who probably wouldn't mind an extra walk/jog/run/fast shuffle :rotfl:

Hi Fifty

That sounds like a very good idea. Like you said, you can always re-join if you find a new easy slot to fit the gym in . Or you miss it so much you think you would be happy to go back out in the evening.

Is there something you could do at home instead? Maybe a work out video. Keep an eye on Freecycle or cheap on #bay for free weights etc.

Well done you for being so sensible and :money:

beanielou

Good decision me thinks

rising_from_the_ashes

freebyfifty wrote: »

if I think I can fit the gym in then re-join later in the year. And maybe by then I'll be able to work it into my budget too

mmmmm and you'll maybe get a couple of months free as an introductory offer being a *new* member