How To Set Up A Home Gym On A Budget

So you’ve decided to take charge of your health by starting an exercise regime. Good on you! But you’re busy and on a budget, so the local gym is just too inconvenient. Can you still get an effective workout with minimal equipment at home? Of course! All you need is your own home gym!

Think it’s not possible? This article will explain exactly what you can do to build a lean body in your private home gym without breaking the bank.

Assess the space

The first thing you must do is assess the space you’re working with. Do you have a basement, garage, or spare room to dedicate to gym space? That’s great, you’ll be able to fill it with all kinds of fun workout toys. On the flip side of the coin, do you only have a small corner of a room to work with? That’s okay, too, you’ll just need to get creative.

Either way, dedicate a specific space to exercising. Much like having a gym membership gives people a set space to enter “workout mode,” when you step into this specific place in your home, you’ll know it’s time to exercise.

Your Basic Home Gym Equipment

Once you’ve set aside gym space in your home, consider buying plastic storage bins to stash your workout gear out of sight. This is especially helpful if the gym space is in a room that serves another purpose.

Don’t think you need to purchase a recumbent bike or full weight set to get a great workout. Bodyweight exercises are fantastic for getting in shape, and if you are a beginner, that may be all you need to get started.

There is plenty of affordable equipment you can purchase to stock your home gym and progress your workouts. Start with a stability ball and yoga mat to make bodyweight exercises more comfortable. Resistance bands are a great option for loading any exercise from squats and deadlifts to presses and rows. A jump rope is all the cardio equipment you need, and the price is right, as even the priciest ropes will run under £20.

If you have a little more wiggle room in your budget, adjustable weights are a fantastic purchase. These take up less space than a full weight set and usually adjust from 2.5kg up to 25kg, depending on the brand and model.

Investing in a few kettlebells infinitely expands your workout options. You’ll want one or two heavy bells for lower body exercises like squats and swings, and one or two lighter bells for upper body exercises like presses and rows.

Most pull up bars cost less than £15 and can hang from any doorway in your exercise space. Don’t worry if you can’t do a full pull-up; you can use a chair for assistance.

The Portable Home Gym

If weightlifting isn’t your cup of tea, or adjustable weights and kettlebells are too expensive, a suspension trainer is a great alternative. The TRX Go! Suspension Trainer can be mounted to your ceiling with an included attachment or hung from a doorway. At under £100 this is the ideal kit to invest in for the ultimate workout within limited space.

Suspension trainers are wonderful because you can work your entire body – emphasising your core – and adjust the workout difficulty to your fitness level simply by changing where you place your feet. As a bonus, the suspension system packs up into a small carrying bag so you can pack it with you on work trips or holidays and never miss a workout session. A fully portable home gym!

With so many at-home workout options, there’s no reason to feel “stuck” going to the gym. If there isn’t a suitable gym in your neighbourhood, or you just prefer to workout in the privacy of your own home, use the tips in this article to build your perfect home gym!