Affordable Ways to Workout From Home

When it comes to working out, you’ll want to make sure that you know how to save on your fitness journey and how to save on gym memberships so you don’t have to break the bank to feel good. One easy way you can guarantee yourself to save money while moving your body is by opting to work out at home. 

Working out from home doesn’t have to be expensive or difficult, so be sure you check out our handy tips so you can get that endorphin rush, for less! 

No Equipment Needed

Go for a Run

Running is a great way to work out for a number of reasons. Firstly, it requires near-to-no equipment - just a decent pair of trainers, making it ideal for a tight budget. Secondly, it’s fantastic for getting that release of endorphins that makes you feel on top of the world. It is a natural mood booster and an easy way to get outdoors, enjoy the sun, and keep fit and healthy.

Handy Running Tips

Couch to 5K App: If you’re new to running, this is a game changer. Not only is this app free on the Apple app store and Google Store, but It’s a fantastic app that helps you go from couch potato to a 5K runner in nine weeks. Starting with 1-minute running intervals and walking breaks in between, you’ll be running a 5K in no time. What’s more, along with a guide giving you helpful advice in your ears, you’ll be running with a helpful guide to give you encouragement along the way, as well as handy tips and tricks. 

Pace yourself: As a runner myself, I’ve learnt the hard way that when first starting out, it’s so important to slow down. Although running fast at the beginning looks good, it, sure enough, won’t feel good when you’re gasping for air after less than 2 minutes. That’s why it’s always a good idea to start slow, take it easy, and pace yourself. This way, you’ll last so much longer; chances are, you’ll enjoy it more too! Pace is something you can slowly work on over time - but for now, just get out there and run! 

Listen to music or a podcast: Make running more enjoyable by creating a killer playlist full of your favourite songs that are sure to get you in the mood. Alternatively, if you love a podcast that you can get really engrossed in, listen to that. Using an app like Spotify is helpful as it has an abundance of running playlists that might take your fancy and fab podcasts that you’re sure to love. 

Metronome App hack: If you’re looking to improve your running time, then this hack from fitness Youtuber Natacha Océane might just be what you need. Film yourself running at your usual pace for 30 seconds using your phone. Watch it back, count the number of times your feet hit the ground, and multiply this number by two - this is your natural cadence (total steps per minute). Then,  multiply this number by 1.05 to get your new cadence. 

Natural cadence x 1.05 = new cadence. 

Finally, download a metronome app and enter the number of your new cadence. You can play this out loud (on its own or along with music) as you run and aim to hit the ground on every beat. This is a great way to help yourself stay at a more consistent pace and help improve your cadence, and thus, your pace!

Dance Your Heart Out

Who says that working out has to be boring? Dancing workouts are all the rage these days and they’re so fun and invigorating! If you’re anything like me and absolutely sweated Just Dance back in the day, you might still have access to them. If so, fire up your console and get dancing! If you don’t have just dance anymore, YouTube has a wide selection of dances from the Just Dance games which you can access for free and dance along to. 

Alternatively, there are a fantastic variety of fitness Youtubers who have super fun dance workouts on their YouTube channels. Some great ones that I’ve tried out include dance workouts by Growwithjo, The Fitness Marshall, and MadFit. All of these you can enjoy completely free of charge, so get dressed up and dance it out.  

Get Outside on a Walk

While high-impact workouts can be great for that high, low-intensity workouts are a great way to change things up. Whether you don’t feel up to high-impact movements or you simply love to get out in the fresh air, it’s definitely worth incorporating walking into your routine. 

Going on walks, no matter the distance, are a fantastic way to move your body in a gentle way, get outside and get some Vitamin D, and enjoy the feel of the sun on your skin. 

Handy Walking Tips

Take a buddy: If the idea of going for a solo walk doesn’t appeal to you, then why not take a friend or family member? Grab your trainers, meet a friend and have a good old natter as you walk. You could even make sure there’s a coffee shop on your walking route so you can grab a coffee or a snack to make it even more enjoyable. 

Carry a Journal: Walking solo is a great way to just be with your thoughts, and to wind down by yourself. What’s more, take a small journal and a pen with you and find somewhere to sit and write. Journaling is a really mindful activity that can be so beneficial for your mental health too. Why not take care of your mind at the same time as your body? Plus, it’s an excuse to use one of those pretty journals you probably have lying around. 

All Trails App: Whether you’re new to walking or you’re looking for some new routes to change things up, the All Trails app is worth downloading. You can find it for free on the App Store and the Google Play Store (with optional in-app purchases). When you use All Trails, you’ll be able to find local trails based on your location, with a handy description of walking conditions, reviews, images, and a map to track your walk. 

Personal Alarm: Don’t let feeling unsafe stop you from being able to enjoy a walk outside. There are a few ways you can help feel more safe and secure while you out and about by yourself. One way is buying a personal alarm and you can find them on Amazon at affordable prices. Simply throw in your bag, or attach to your keys so you feel more secure. It’s always a good idea to share your location with people you trust too.  

Enjoy a Low Impact Walking Workout

So, walking outside isn’t your thing but you’d still like to do a low-impact workout? We’ve got you. On YouTube, you can find a fantastic variety of walking workouts that you can stick on the tv and follow. Some great ones that I’ve tried out are workouts by Get Fit With Rick and Growwithjo. 

If you’re looking for shorter walks, check out the following videos: 7-Minute Power Walking Workout, 2000 Steps in 15 Minutes, 1 Mile Walk at Home and Lunch Break Walking in 15 Minutes. 

For longer walking workouts, try out these videos: 1 mile Brisk Walk HIIT Workout, 3000 Steps in 24 Minutes, and Latin Music Walking Workout.  

These are a fabulous way to ensure that you smash your step goal without taking one step outside. 

Minimal Equipment Required

The only thing you’ll really need for the following workouts is an exercise/yoga mat. You can find various affordable yoga mats on Amazon, including the Yoga Mat Soft Foam Non-Slip for £12.99 or the PRIORON Yoga Mat for £11.99. 

Embrace Your Inner Zen with Yoga

Yoga is a brilliant way to move your body in a mindful way that’s great for your body too. Not only does it help improve your overall strength, flexibility, and balance - which are important factors as you grow older - but it can also help improve your quality of sleep, your ability to manage stress, and can prevent you from serious injury. 

On YouTube, you’ll be able to discover an abundance of yoga workouts that will help you feel more zen and move your body in a way that you enjoy. One of the best and most popular yoga instructors on Youtube is Yoga With Adriene. Her channel is absolutely packed with incredible yoga videos suited for all of your needs. Whether you want to follow along with one of her 30-day yoga journeys or do a one-off video when you feel like it, she’s got so much variety on her channel. 

Some of her 30-day yoga journeys include the Center Yoga Journey, the Move Yoga Journey, and the Breath Yoga Journey. These take place over 30 days and you’ll be able to do them at your own pace, developing your skills over the course and learning how to be more mindful as you go. 

Some of her videos for beginners include her 10-Minute Yoga for Beginners, 20-Minute Yoga for Beginners, and 30-Minute Yoga for Beginners. 

For alternative style videos for how you’re feeling, it’s definitely worth checking out some of the following videos: 10-Minute Morning Yoga, 10-Minute Bedtime Yoga, Yoga For When You Feel Unmotivated, Yoga for Forgiveness, Yoga For a Fresh Start, Blanket Yoga, Yoga Party, Yoga for Gut Health, Yoga for Cramps, Yoga for Writers, Yoga for Runners, and Yoga for Creativity, just to name a few. 

Elevate Your Heart Rate With HIIT

If you’re up for a high-intensity workout that is sure to get your heart rate up, your blood pumping, and deliver that rush of endorphins, HIIT might just be for you. HIIT stands for High-Intensity Interval Training and involves short, intense intervals of movement with rest periods in between. HIIT circuits are fast-paced exercises which makes them ideal if you’re a bit tight for time. 

If you’re new to HIIT workouts, there are plenty of them online and on YouTube. Some fabulous videos include the ones by MadFit, Growwithjo, and Growingannanas. These fitness YouTubers all offer HIIT workouts that vary in difficulty, which makes them great for beginners and experienced exercisers. 

Another way to make sure you’re really getting the most out of your workout is to create your own personalised HIIT workout routine. HIIT routines typically include squats, burpees, wall sits, lunges, planks, mountain climbers, and crunches, just to name a few. 

Get Toned With Pilates

Much like yoga, pilates is a great way to move your body. It’s fantastic for targeting those muscles that are sometimes a little hard to use during other types of workouts. Pilates works on a combination of strength and flexibility and consists of low-impact, slow, controlled movements. 

Like with yoga, YouTube is filled with a variety of pilates workouts, completely free of charge. Some that are great for beginners include the following workouts by YouTube pilates instructor, IsaWelly such as the 20 Min Full Body Pilates for Beginners, the 20 Min Pilates Workout for Beginners, the 20 Min Abs and Core Pilates, the 30 Min Full Body Pilates for Beginners, and the 45 Min Full Body Pilates for Beginners. 

Some other great YouTube channels to check out for pilates are PilatesBodyRaven and Moving Mango Pilates.

Equipment Required

The following type of workout will require the use of weights. Dumbbells can often be expensive, but if you know where to look, you can find affordable dumbbells on the market right now. However, if you want to maximise the amount of money you save, then according to our handy Best Time to Buy Calendar, December is the best time to purchase fitness equipment. 

Some great retailers to shop at include Amazon and Argos. You’ll be able to find single pairs of dumbbells or a set of dumbbells. Adjustable dumbbells are also a good option if your budget can stretch because not only are you getting more value for your money, but you only have one set of dumbbells with multiple different weights so there’s less equipment to take up space. 

Of course, a great tip is that if you really don’t want to fork out some money on dumbbells because you’re not sure that you’ll stick to it, or you’re trying to save money right now, you can always substitute them for body weight, water bottles, or cans of food from your cupboard!

Increase Your Strength With a Weighted Workout

Weighted workouts are perhaps the most important type of exercise you can incorporate into your workout regime. Strength training can be super important, especially as you age, to help you maintain the amount of muscle in your body and protect your bones from things such as osteoporosis and sarcopenia. 

Lifting weights can also be a great way to burn calories, appear more toned, and of course, get stronger. 

Whether you’re new to the world of lifting weights, or you’re looking for ways that you can enjoy resistance training from the comfort of your home, YouTube is a great tool. Some channels in particular that have great beginner-weighted workouts include MadFit and GrowwithJo. 

Before you begin a weightlifting workout, it’s important to warm up to prevent injury. Some useful warm-up videos include a 5 Min Upper Body Warm Up Routine and a Leg Day Warm Up Routine. 

For upper-body workouts, check out the following videos: 10 Minute Full Upper Body Workout, 15 Minute Standing Abs, The Best 20 Minute Home Back Workout (With Dumbbells), and Full Upper Body Workout, just to name a few. 

For lower-body workouts, take a look at the following videos: 20 Min Booty Leg Workout, 20 Min Leg Workout at Home, Big Booty Lean Legs Dumbell Workout, 30 Min Dumbell Abs and Booty, and 20 Min Leg/Butt/Thigh Workout, just to name a few. 

Download a Free Fitness App

On the app store, there are a fantastic variety of free fitness apps that you can download and follow along. If you’re interested in apps that incorporate weighted workouts and resistance training, be sure to check out Caliber, Train Fitness, or the Johnson Johnson 7-Minute Workout - which is ideal if you’re a little tight for time. If running is your preferred way to get your body moving, check out the Nike Run Club. 

If you’re happy to spend a bit more, there are also several great apps on the market currently available for subscription. These include apps such as Sweat, Fiit, Shreddy, and EvolveYou, just to name a few! All of these apps include a free trial so you can check them out, have a go, and see whether it’s something for you, before committing. 

The great thing about apps such as these is that you’re getting the same benefits and tailored workout plans as you would from PT sessions in the gym, without having to leave the comfort of your home, and without having to break the bank!