How much does your gym cost?

[Anonymous]

I recently joined an all women's gym near my house (the Women's Club, (WC)). I was torn between a co-ed gym (Fitness First) and WC (both offered childcare which was important to me); but in the end I went w/ the WC, perhaps because I felt I would be more comfortable there (and it didn't smell like a gym). The other place, as soon as you walked in, it stunk. Also, WC childcare seemed to offer more fun stuff (I will be taking my two toddlers with me). However, the WC was over TWICE the cost of Fitness First (which was actually closer to my house)! In the end, I'll be paying $97/per month for WC membership (1 year contract), where Fitness First would have cost me only $34/ per month). However, I did opt for the WC childcare package so I am not paying for childcare as I go. I did feel kind of pressured with the discount on the enrollment fee ending 1/31, yesterday (so felt had to make a decision right then), but now I am wondering if their Feb package would have even been cheaper...

As far as gym equipment, etc, there wasn't much difference between the two gyms. Both had steam room in shower. However, WC had some on-site spa packages (but were a bit expensive).

So, my question is, would you be willing to pay twice as much just to go to a Gym you think you'll feel more comfortable at? How much do you pay? What month do you think you can get the best discounts?

This is the breakdown of cost at the time of my visits:
Women's Gym: $20 Enrollment discount fee + $30 Application Fee. 33.50/bi-weekly (childcare 11.50 bi-weekly for 2)
Fitness First: $99 enrollment fee, 34/monthly (childcare as go: $2/first child, $1/ each additional child)

I figure if I go 4-5 times a week (w/ children); then the cost might actually equal out between the two gyms, due to the pay as you go childcare at FF.

BTW - I hope I don't get any flaming responses on why I didn't join the co-ed Gym. BTW - I work w/ all men; I am in a field that is primarily male, so maybe I just feel I need a break!

[Anonymous]

I go to Golds for $37/month plus pay-as-I-go child care, but I only spend $10/month or so on child care, typically. (I usually don't have to take my daughter with me.) Before I had my daughter, I paid for two gym memberships- one near my house and one near my work, because I worked out every day and could rationalize the expense. Total for both was about $80/month. I really miss my second "work" gym but these days I can't rationalize the expense of two gyms! (and we have a crappy one in my work building where i can at least do cardio.)

If you're going to use the hell out of your membership and you like the gym, it's worth it. Fitness First may be cheaper because they may have more members. More members means that sometimes your workout will take longer because you're waiting to use this arc trainer or that lat pull-down machine. That's a pain.

[Anonymous]

110$/month


i am getting the sense this is too high.

[Anonymous]

Washington Sports Club, $68 a month. My primary location is in the District of Columbia, if that affects the price (?)

Child care is very, very bare bones. It's like $3 an hour. It is not unsafe, exactly, but it is tedious and something to just be endured by the kid.

[Anonymous]

I belonged to a women's gym 5 years ago and paid $73. I know it was more expensive than coed gyms, but I was really comfortable there and it was super convenient -- so I went so much more than I would have otherwise. That made it worth it for me.

[Anonymous]

Life Time Fitness

$72/month for me and my 2 kids ($60 for me plus $6 per kid per month)

[Anonymous]

Zero. I have a treadmill in the basement and a TV hookup. So I guess I really should count the cost of satellite as my monthly fee.

Treadmill = free. I LOVE IT.

[Anonymous]

142

[Anonymous]

$84/mo for hubby and me. He's going to drop his soon and I think it will drop to around $49 for just me.

[Anonymous]

I was at WSC and paid about $60 a month but I just dropped my membership and got a treadmill at home. I LOVE working out at home and not having to trek to the gym. But if I was the type of person that really enjoyed going to the gym then I would probably have no problem paying up to $100 a month.

[Anonymous]

$40/month at Gold's. Don't use the childcare, but I think you can get unlimited child care there for $20/month. I go to the one in Clarendon and it is pretty nice.

[Anonymous]

140 Sports Club LA in D.C.

[Anonymous]

If feeling more comfortable will result in you going regularly, go where you feel more comfortable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If feeling more comfortable will result in you going regularly, go where you feel more comfortable.

I agree with this -- if you use it the extra $ is worth it. I am spending $120 but that's for classes that I actually go to because they are convenient and enjoyable and a good workout.

[Anonymous]

Everyone should say where their gym is actually located.

We've had some DCUM posters on here lately acknowledging that they live in Dallas, Oregon and elsewhere. Which is fine, but a $40 gym in Des Moines is totally irrelevant to those of us who live in DCum, yes? It's not a point of reference because when you live along the Conn. Ave corridor, you're not going to find a gym for $40 a month.

So I'll go back -- I live in the District, and I pay almost $70 a month at WSC.