The gym my fiance and I used to frequent closed their doors abruptly about a month ago and we have been debating our options for a new gym. They just build a brand new $5 million Gold’s Gym right down the street from us about 5 months ago. We saw an ad in the newspaper yesterday for a free 2 week trial so decided to check it out. Our old gym was pretty much just a small room with some workout machines (of which about 10% were broken) with no showers. Gold’s in an immaculate palace compared to it with TV’s in all the machines, a sauna, movie theater room, yoga studio, and free classes every hour. The price also reflects this - our old gym was $30 for both of us and the Gold’s is $88.

There is also a new gym which is not complete yet going in about twice as far as the Gold’s, but still within a reasonable driving distance. It looks nice, not as nice as Gold’s, but still nicer than our old place. They are running an introductory offer now for $20/mo each, which is less than half of Gold’s. But they do not have the free classes which are a big plus for the fiance - she usually takes a separate Yoga class which she could then take at Gold’s for “free”. I would probably take advantage of them too since they are included. Plus its on her way to work, where the other gym is the opposite direction.

So, is $1056 a year too much to pay for a gym membership? If we each go 3 times a week that’s about $3.50 per use. I’m sure most of you with S.O.’s know you have to pick your battles, and unfortunately this is one that’s probably not worth fighting.