Frugal Fitness Tools for Beginners

You can build a home gym without breaking the bank with these frugal fitness tools.

When I started out with a fitness routine, I didn’t have a lot of money. I had spent many years making the excuse that I couldn’t afford to get fit because I couldn’t afford a gym membership. The truth is, there are free ways to create a home gym and there are some very low-cost items you can buy that you can use for a variety of exercises. You don’t need a lot of heavy equipment in your home gym. You don’t even need an entire room for it! you just need a few of these frugal fitness tools for beginners.

Frugal Fitness Tools for Beginners

A pedometer– This simple tool can help you count your steps when you are away from home to help you make a more conscious effort to be more active even if you are busy. Using a pedometer allows you to set goals, too!

Jump Rope– Remember how much of a workout jumping rope was when you were a kid? It is actually still an amazing cardio exercise for adults! Just make sure you pick up a good jump rope made for this kind of workout so it’s durable.

Medicine ball– A medicine ball is a weighted ball that is about the size of a soccer ball. You use it for strength training and core exercises. Don’t be fooled into thinking you need a heavy one to make any difference. Even a 10 lb medicine ball can really assist you in your goals. Alternatively, you can make your own DIY medicine ball with this tutorial from Wupps, I’m Domesticated.

Kettlebells– I first discovered how much I enjoyed Kettlebells about a year ago. They are great because you can easily maneuver them for lots of weight training exercises and they make great handles for challenging pushups, too. They are very reasonably priced, too.

Yoga Blocks, Yoga Strap, and Yoga Mat– If you are just starting out, you will find yoga much easier if you have access to these tools. A yoga block is for modifying stretches you may not quite be able to do yet. A yoga strap is for helping to pull yourself into tighter positions and a yoga mat helps provide stability and cushion. Yoga mats are also great for providing a little extra cushioning for your back or knees while doing sit-ups, push-ups, and other floor exercises. All of these items can be bought for less than you think.

Resistance Bands– When starting out, there is no better resistance for strength training than simple resistance bands. Resistance bands allow you to use your own body weight and adjust the intensity. Most sets are 3-4 different bands with different levels of resistance. They are great for home gyms because they essentially take up no room.

A Foam Roller– A foam roller is useful for not only strength and flexibility exercises, but also for muscle recovery because you can roll it over your muscles after a workout to help them recover faster and hurt less.