Wednesday, December 31, 2008

5 Ways to Save on a Gym Membership

“One too many holiday cookies have you feeling as soft and squishy as Santa around the middle? Join the club. Thousands of remorseful holiday eaters think about joining a gym at the turn of the New Year, but only a fraction actually carry through. The excuses vary, but one that often pops up is the prohibitive cost of membership. The median annual cost for a new gym member is a whopping $775, according to the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association (IHRSA), a trade group for the health club industry. (This amount is based on a sample of IHRSA gyms.) Now armchair warriors have no excuse: Between now and the end of January, gyms will advertise all sorts of enticing deals, including zero initiation fees and low monthly dues. Before wholeheartedly giving in to such temptations, however, try to follow these five tips to make sure you're getting the best deal: 1) Negotiate, 2) Tap Into Employer and Insurer Discounts, 3) Make Sure the Gym Fits, 4) Track Down Affordable Alternatives, 5) Sign Up for a PassBook.”

http://www.smartmoney.com/Spending/Deals/5-Ways-to-Save-on-a-Gym-Membership/?hpadref=1

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