How to Build a Home Gym | On Any Budget

If you’ve been thinking about building your own home gym, now is the time!

With so much back & forth from the state governments, it’s hard to tell when gyms will be up and running “like normal” (what is normal anyways?)

So if staying active is important to you, or you want to become more active, don’t wait for your gym to reopen..

Start today by setting up a gym in your house!

We’re going to talk today about what you needed to create your own home gym, no matter what your budget is or how much space you have!

(I’ve pretty much spent the last 3 months working out on my 10’x5’ lanai with water jugs & bottles of wine)

But before you can begin building out your home gym, ask yourself the following questions:

What are my goals?
How much space do I have?
What is my budget?

Goals

What are your goals?

If your goal is to just stay active & healthy, you won’t need to spend a ton of money to make that happen!

If your goal is to lose a significant amount of weight (more than 5% of your current body weight) or your goal is to put on a muscle mass to reshape your body, you may have to spend a bit more to keep your workouts effective for your goals.

Space

Where do you want to set up your gym?

Do you have a room that can be dedicated to a workout space, such as a basement or spare room?

Or do you have an area that will be your workout spot, but not necessarily a workout room (say your living room or spare bedroom).

Budget

How much money are you willing to spend?

The more you invest, the more you get out of your workouts, the quicker you will see results.

If you don’t have a large budget, not to fret!

You can still have a great set up, and get an effective workout in, with very basic equipment!

I broke down the equipment I would recommend you invest in, depending on what your budget is.

The Must Haves (Minimal Budget, Under $150)

A Yoga Mat ($15)
A Set of Resistance Bands ($45)
A Set of Booty Bands ($30)
2 Sets of Dumbbells ($ varies by weight)

The Nice to Haves (Moderate Budget, Under $300)

Stability Ball ($23)
Kettlebell ($90)
Sliders ($11.72)
*plus all the “Must Haves”

The Luxury Items (Large to No Budget, Over $350)

Squat Rack ($ varies)
Adjustable Bench ($)
Multiple Sets of Dumbbells or Interchanging Dumbbells ($ varies)
Cardio machine ($ varies)
*plus all the “Must Haves” & “Nice to Haves”
*all prices are based on current pricing (July 2020)

Benefits of a Personal Gym

Having your own gym, or even just your own gym equipment, has so many benefits!

It’s convenient!

You get to work out in the privacy of your own home, you don’t have to travel far, & you can work out at any time that’s convenient for you!

It’s cost effective!

By fronting the cost of equipment now, you’re saving money by not paying a monthly membership to a gym or boutique studio! Even if you purchase a couple “Must Have” items above, it pays for itself after a few months at that gym that charges $10/month.

It’s cool!

Okay, so this is definitely an opinion of mine, but who doesn’t think having your own gym is cool - especially now?!

If gyms shut down, you’ll still be able to maintain your fitness!

If gyms shut down again, temporarily or permanently, you’ll still be able to maintain your health & fitness without skipping a beat!

Investing in your health is investing in yourself, now & in the future.

Exercise is important for both your physical health & cognitive health, both now & in the future.

Investing a little now can go a long way, and your future self will thank you!

So, are you ready to start building yourself a home gym?! Let me know in the comments below!