Week 177 :: What Percentage Of Your Budget Do You Dedicate To Your Fitness Goals?

[the_fake_webmaster]

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TOPIC: What Percentage Of Your Budget Do You Dedicate To Your Fitness Goals?

For the week of: October 30th - November 4th
Tuesday @ Midnight Is The Final Cut (Mountain Time, US & Canada).

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When times are tough we have to step back and take a closer look at our budget. And gym memberships, equipment, supplements, etc. can burn quite a hole in one's wallet.

What percentage of your budget do you dedicate to your fitness goals?

What is a reasonable budget to spend towards fitness?

What are some ways one can significantly cut their spending on fitness?

What is the most ridiculous budget for fitness that you've ever heard of?

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[History in Effect]

When times are tough we have to step back and take a closer look at our budget. And gym memberships, equipment, supplements, etc. can burn quite a hole in one's wallet.

What percentage of your budget do you dedicate to your fitness goals?
As a college student, my budget is pretty tight already. Thankfully, my school has an adequate gym where I get a great cardio workout and a good weight lifting session in. The school gym is included in fees that I pay to the school each semester, so I use it at least 5 times out the week. I spend between 50 and 100 dollars a month. I consider this very reasonable for a person like me who has to spend money on food, books, and tuition. This is a typical grocery list aka nutrition list of what I usually buy:

Creatine I consider creatine a must have on anybody's list. It helps your muscles get energy, helps them grow, and strong increases in strength. Creatine monohydrate is the most studied and has been proven effective more than them all. I take 3-5 grams a day usually with water. No need for it to be flavored.

Example:http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/hp/crea.html

Whey Protein You have to use whey protein ladies and gentleman.Whey protein is an excellent source for a person who wants to gain weight or perform better in a sport by getting stronger. There is nothing wrong with taking a whey protein and it keeps your muscles growing. If you want to be strong and give your muscles adequate recovery, you should take whey protein. I stick to whey protein concentrate when on a very limited budget or take in an whey protein isolate.

Example:http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/hp/whey.html

Multivitamin are the behind the scene workers for bodybuilders. They keep your workouts efficient and productive.Vitamins and Minerals are also great to consider if you have nutrient deficiencies. Many of us took Flintstone tables to keep ourselves strong and healthy. A good multivamin allows you to cover the bases if your lacking in minerals and vitamins


http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/hp/one.html


Others that Could be Included For People with Higher Budgets: Casein Protein, pre, intra, and post-workout products, prohormones( if you are of age) and many others.

What is a reasonable budget to spend towards fitness?
A reasonable budget should be between 50 and 100 dollars which should include the basics I listed. Whey protein, creatine, and multivitamin should be in anybody's stack. If you have money, you can include others that I mentioned before.

What are some ways one can significantly cut their spending on fitness
Research the products you are getting and don't follow for flashy products claiming to give you a 50% boost in strength in 5 days or weight gains of 30 pounds in a week. Don't try to go for products that you have no idea what they are. Most brands do work, but some include stuff you don't want. A lot of people want the basic protein powders and creatine and not all those fillers and extra ingredients. Those extras drive up the cost of the products. Stick to the basics and you will still get solid results. If you research and ask others who know about supplements, you will be successful.

What is the most ridiculous budget for fitness that you've ever heard of?
I have heard some people who spend 500 to 1,000 dollars a month on products. 50 to 100 dollars is suitable for me. The people who spend over 500 dollars usually get a lot of products. There is nothing wrong with that, but a budget like that would break my break. No doubt you will be spending money close to this if you are trying to be in a competition.

[velocityrob]

What percentage of your budget do you dedicate to your fitness goals?
If you wanna get picky, every dime you spend on food affects your fitness, if not your goal.
Let me hit a few of my personal expenses:
Gym membership- I have a good rate at a great club. 1% of my net income.

Equipment like gloves, gym shoes and shorts- this might average 2% a month. I don't have to replace this stuff much, but when its time, it ain't a cheap trip.

Supps- My local Viatamin Shoppe loves me: Protein powders, bars, creatine, vitamins, Pre intra and post workout drinks. This might be 10%. However- I use MRPs and protein powders to replace 1-2 meals a day, or supplement most meals. I drink 3-4 protein shakes a day.

And good old BB.com- I place an order about every other month, for stuff I can't get in town. Monthly average, another 1%.

Real food- Oatmeal, wheat bread, bottled water, chicken breast, olice oil: 3/4 of my grocery shopping cart is healthy food. Thats about 15% on food to fuel my fitness goals.

So, 29% of my take home income goes towards fitness stuff.
Add in what I spend on my bicycle...and it gets ugly!!




What is a reasonable budget to spend towards fitness?

Reasonable for me, is diff than reasonable for a college student. I understand this: At meal time, History in Effect gets to pillage the cafeteria. I miss those days...
I think a reasonable budget for FOOD is about $250 per person, per month.
And supps- $40-250 depending on how fancy you want your protein and creatine.



What are some ways one can significantly cut their spending on fitness?

Stick with basics, old school non-flash products. Tap water is free, generic house brand supps work pretty well. Generic bulk creatine mono is really just pennies a day.
If you see a 4 page ad for a product in a fitness mag, you'll be paying for that ad if you buy the product.



What is the most ridiculous budget for fitness that you've ever heard of?

I don't have any good examples here. I guess it would be ridiculous to buy a lot of supps and not use them, or buy the good stuff and still eat Taco Bell twice a day.
I say- spend like crazy! People need jobs, support the economy, and post your results on line!!

[InclineDBPresss]

I wasn't sure how to put it on here so I tried attaching this:

[TheSovereign]

What percentage of your budget do you dedicate to your fitness goals?

I am currently a college student so I workout on fitness and do not spend money on gym fees. However, for supplements, I figured a good price range would be $2/training day or roughly $10/week. When I did pay to use a fitness facility I think it was around $30/month.


What is a reasonable budget to spend towards fitness?

This depends greatly on two things. A) how much money are you making? and B) how dedicated are you to your fitness? Firstly, and most obviously, if you are making a comfortable wage you can afford to sped more money on recreational activities such as bodybuilding/fitness. However, if you are at the point where you're fretting over your budget, accessories such as fitness expenses might be the first to go. Secondly, if you are a serious athlete or really want to get into shape you will obviously spend more time and money than someone who wants to "stay in shape" or just doesn't care about their fitness. Gym fees can vary widely especially depending on where you are living. This variable depends greatly on the convenience of the facility. In the title of this post I mentioned training smarter. Part of this is to browse this website and many others to find effective training methods WITHOUT ever having to pay a gym fee. I mentioned in the first question that my budget for supplements was $2/training day. I thought this comparable to the price of a Gatorade that most people would not think twice about buying on their way out of the gym. Same price, exponentially more nutritionally significant.


What are some ways one can significantly cut their spending on fitness?

As I mentioned earlier there are many articles on this site written about how to workout at home or on a tight budget thus cutting out the expense of a gym membership. In the title of this post I mentioned being an informed consumer. This means you need to price shop. The newest, most expensive, most popular, or name on the bottle doesn't mean a dang thing. Read the labels and find out what you are putting in your body, compare prices and supplements to find out which is the best bang for the buck or if you can afford a little extra spending, the buck for the bang. If you're concerned over gym fees, than check with the local community college or high school and see if their facility is ever open to the public. If you do not have internet access or a computer, public libraries provide both of those services. BE A SMART SHOPPER! know what you're putting in your body, what it does, compare, decide, buy.


What is the most ridiculous budget for fitness that you've ever heard of?

Thinking that having the latest and greatest supplements, high priced lifting gloves, the most popular gym and a bunch of other stuff will make your training more effective. Sorry folks, the latest is by no means the greatest and bigger/more expensive is certainly not always better. The name on the bottle doesn't make it any better. If you're relying on gloves and other equipment to assist you, than you clearly have a lot to learn and a lot of work to do. Crumby hole-in-the-wall gyms may provide all the same equipment and mindset you require for your training. You don't have to spend a lot of money. You just have to be informed as to HOW to effectively train your body and WHAT supplements will help you (based on your goals) the most.

[burdetteinnc]

I would say that nearly every dollar you spend could be attributed to your fitness goals. Think about it. If you live right, everything should be for health, ambition and motivation. The money you spend on your mortgage is to be comfortable in a home so that you can rest and relax. Your food is a no brainer. Your insurance is to give you peace of mind and cover your health care. Your vehicle and all of its expenses are to get you to the gym... and to work ( so you have a budget), and to play (health of mind again). Your wife and children are motivation to be healthy to live longer with. Even taxes can somewhat be attributed to health....health care, care at old age, public services giving good water and clean surrounding, parklands to exercise in, etc. Your entertainment money, ( hopefully we make healthy choices in our entertainment. I would say all money that we spend can somehow be related to your health, mental health, and well-being. The only exception would obviously be if someone spends money on things that can harm them like drugs, excess alcohol, bad food, dangerous entertainment..... I know this comes off as sarcasm, but I think if you make the choice to live healthy then you will make all of your choices accordingly.

As far as a straight forward answer, you have too many varibles to figure in like familial status, household income, investment goals, area of the country or world, etc. With a set of perameters it would be easier to come up with a %. For now I would just say as much as you can without having to make household sacrifices that you and or your spouse can't deal with.

[BuffMother]

are you asking me to do math? LOL!

I don't budget for fitness~ it is VITAL to everything else in life...a gym membership, good nutrition and proper supplementation ALWAYS pay for themselves!

[mrkdrt]

mrkdrt's entry (**.doc attached below):

When times are tough we have to step back and take a closer look at our budget. And gym memberships, equipment, supplements, etc. can burn quite a hole in one's wallet.

It?s no secret - bodybuilding costs money. While some may consider gym memberships and extra food necessary and comparable to equipment for other sports, it?s easy to go overboard on unessential items.

What percentage of your budget do you dedicate to your fitness goals?

Personally, I am not ashamed to say I am on a tight budget. I don?t make ?the big bucks,? but I with discipline I?ve been able to meet all my needs with what I do get. In a month, for house payments, car and utility bills, I spend about 75% of my income.

Of course, groceries take priority. I fit them in my typical budget, but allot a few more bucks when bulking. While this is essential for bodybuilding, it is also essential for everyday life, so I make sure I have enough money in the fund that I don?t go hungry. I usually spend about 15% of my monthly income on groceries.

Second on my list in importance is the gym membership. I buy a year?s pass, but pay monthly for it. Luckily, my gym is fairly reasonable, and only takes a mere 1-2% of my monthly income.

For supplements, I stick mainly to the essentials. Whey protein, a multivitamin, and a creatine product are staple purchases. For me, anything above this is luxury. I spend less than 4% of my bimonthly income on supplements.

After these ?musts? of my fitness goals, taking about 20% of my monthly budget, I usually have about 10% of my income left over. Perfect for infrequent needs (like a new pair of wrist straps) and even bank savings!

What is a reasonable budget to spend towards fitness?

A reasonable amount of money to spend towards fitness greatly depends on what else your money is going to. If you spend so much on bodybuilding that you can?t make rent or your credit card is maxed out, obviously, you need to go over your budget and adjust accordingly. In my opinion, if you have spare money that isn?t going to bills and fitness is your outmost concern, then by all means, use it for your passion.

Its hard to judge someone who seemingly spends generously, using every spare dollar they have on fitness related products or services, if that is their passion and they use it to reach their ultimate fitness goals.

What are some ways one can significantly cut their spending on fitness?

There usually isn?t a way to get everything for free, but there are many ways to get deals and reduce overspending.

Buy in bulk. For groceries, buying greater quantities always cuts costs. Shopping at Costco has really helped me out. Also, always keep my eyes peeled for deals in the grocery store flyers. When meat is on sale, this is when I head down and buy up to the shopper limit. Meat can be easily frozen and lasts for a long time this way, and I can guarantee I will use it eventually. If it?s been an expensive month where unforeseen expenses arise, I may switch to a meat-free week or two. While it is not my dietary preference, eating soy, lots of natural peanut butter, with my usual dairy, is fine for a short while and is often a cheaper grocery trip than when buying meat. Buying fresh vegetables instead of frozen or pre-cut can usually reduce costs drastically if added up over a month. Often, if you are willing, many grocery stores put day old bread and over-ripe vegetables (that are still good) on a clearance price. If you plan to use them right away, why wouldn?t you buy them on sale?

Like bulk groceries, buying a year membership at the gym will save you a LOT more money than if you paid a monthly fee, or even worse, a day pass each visit. Consider the gym first. A lot of gyms have more than just a weight-room. Some include pools, basketball courts, wall climbing, and more, but don?t even have dumbbells over 60lbs and non-Olympic barbells! If all you want if the weight-room, then this place obviously is not for you. Why pay full price when you plan to use only 10% of the facility? Look for ?hardcore? gyms that are sure to have the equipment you need, and don?t make you pay extra for perks you likely won?t use. Usually these gyms are run by like-minded people, and aren?t typically out to rob you in fees. If you still are worried about costs, check out the classifieds for free weight and equipment sales. It?s not uncommon to see Olympic bars, dumbbells and plates for a mere fraction of retail cost.

Buying 10lb bags of whey instead of 2lbs makes the whey last for over a month, plus is cheaper. Scivation?s Whey (http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/sv/whey.html) I find is a great deal for a lot of whey. Multivitamins can range in price, but it?s easy to get one for really cheap. SportPharma (http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/sport/multiv.html) is a great budget option for a fairly comprehensive formula. For creatine, I like Controlled Labs? Green MAGnitude (http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/clabs/mag.html). Its cheap and it seems like it lasts and lasts and lasts. With each of these products, monthly purchases on supplements aren?t necessary, so you may be able to budget your supplement purchases over two months, for example. I buy all my supplements from Bodybuilding.com. Buying online alone can save me about half of what I would pay at a retail supplement store. The Bodybuilding.com store often has 10% off deals; so take advantage of this when you can. Another way to save money on supplements is to buy only what you need. Really consider your motivation for a new product, if you think it will help, but you don?t feel its necessary, then hold off on it or at least save up for it and treat yourself.

For equipment, my gym has new clean belts and wrist straps for members to use free of charge, so I don?t have to go out and buy any. Check to see if your gym has these, it could save you a good chunk of change.

What is the most ridiculous budget for fitness that you've ever heard of?

One of my friends in college was a supplement junkie. Lucky for him, his parents paid for his school, and access to the school gym was paid for in student fees. This left him with every dollar he made to be spent as he wished. Unfortunately buying into the hype, and products that ?guarantee? specific results, he spent nearly $400 dollars a month for supplements. I couldn?t know for sure, but I?m sure with his part-time job, this was a huge chunk of his income. On top of this, he bought branded straps and gloves from popular companies such as TLF. While you would think this would help out his goals, he improved in the gym no more than myself or our other buddy we trained with.

If someone has the money to spend on extra or unnecessary products, you can?t blame them for spending their money how they want. But, having no greater effect, it obviously was a waste of money that could have been put to better use.

[extremenergy3]

Ah crap. Too late to turn in one :( I'll have to jump on next week's. I had some good ideas for this one too!

[eagles56]

if you count food... the majority of my expenses are for fitness.

[velocityrob]

Are the winners posted in this thread?
I ask, because the 'winners thread' looks a little stale.