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Slay Your Fitness Goals in 2021! 9 Fitness Ideas You Can Do on a Budget

Not everyone has the money to join a gym.  Or maybe you are like me and don’t like the idea of getting in shape around other people.  Raise your hand!  Any fellow introverts out there? 🙂

What you decide to do will depend on what you fitness goals, personal time commitments and personal budget are but here are 9 fitness ideas that you can do on a budget!

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy

#1 Walking

Walking – It’s the ultimate get fit technique because you can do it anytime, anywhere and it doesn’t cost a thing!  Who doesn’t love free? 

If you are new to having a fitness routine, this is always a great place to start.  You can work at whatever level you are capable and because it’s doesn’t involve hardcore, difficult fitness routine, you are more likely to stick with it!  

Here are some great links to check out if you are considering walking as the way to slay your fitness goals for the new year!

#2 Stationary Bicycle

stationary bike fitness on a budget

Stationary Bicycle – We have a stationary bicycle in our house and it gets a lot of use.  In fact, in the year we have had it, my husband and I have put over 3000 miles on it. 

Out of all the different ways I exercise, this is the one I stick with most religiously.  I think there is a couple reasons for this.  One is that we have it set up in front of our basement TV and so I put on a tv show or movie and start pedaling and before I know it, 30-60 minutes has gone like that.  When I want more of a challenge, I can turn up the resistance or pedal faster. 

Another reason I think I am so successful at sticking with riding the stationary bike is that I am motivated by the computer screen on it that lets me know how far I have gone, how long I have been pedaling and how many calories I have burned during that session.  It pushes me to keep going as long as I can. 

There are also some great YouTube videos you can do if you want to take your biking to the next level.  Here’s a few to check out!:

 

A stationary bicycle can be more of an investment than purchasing some workout DVDs or some inexpensive fitness accessories but we paid less than $150 for ours and I expect we will get at least another 2 years of use out of it so $50 a year isn’t too bad for something I use all the time! 

 

 

In case, you are curious, the stationary bicycle we own is still on Amazon.  We are very pleased with it.  If I had to have one complaint about it, it is that my bottom can get a little sore if I am on it for too long.

#3 Jessica Smith Workouts

Jessica Smith TV – Jessica Smith has a great YouTube channel with all kinds of great workout routines. 

She also sells systems online that you can follow.  I own her Walk Strong: 6 Weeks Total Transformation Program. 

I like it because it is challenging but not impossible.  I don’t like workout routines where I can’t keep up with the instructor or that has complicated moves that the average person can’t handle.  Sometimes I have to go a little slower than Jessica is moving but I am able to do everything she is doing. 

The 6 Week Total Transformation System includes 10 different workouts that target different areas.  It also comes with a calendar with a recommended schedule to follow for the 6 week program. I like that it takes all the guess work out of it.

#4 Chloe Ting Workout Challenges

Chloe Ting Workout Challenges – Chloe Ting is another YouTuber who has some great fitness challenges.  I just recently stumbled across her channel. 

Her challenges run 14 days to up to 8 weeks and are arranged by the areas the target.  Some target multiple areas.  Programs include shreds, tummy, arms, thighs, booty challenges and more.

I feel her workouts are a lot more challenging than Jessica Smith’s.  I have tried a couple and couldn’t keep up. I plan to revisit them in the new year as one of my 2021 Health and Fitness Challenges.

You can find all her programs here.  And her YouTube channel here.  She has over 16 million subscribers!

#5 Leslie Sansone Walk at Home

Leslie Sansone Walk at Home Workout Videos – If you are looking for some inexpensive cardio workout videos, I have always really enjoyed Leslie Sansone’s Walk at Home DVDs. 

I own at least a dozen of them and I always enjoy doing them.  They are not hard or overcomplicated which I love about them.  I always feel like I get a good workout with them and I have a fun time doing it!  

You can get Leslie’s fitness DVD’s for as little as $10 each on Amazon.  Some of her DVD sets include fitness accessories such as resistance bands with them. She also offers some free workouts on her Youtube channel if you want to check her out for free.

#6 Yoga Workouts

Yoga – Yoga has a ton of health benefits.  It is great for improving your strength, balance, and flexibility and is something that you can do at home for little to no investment. 

There are many great YouTube Channels dedicated to yoga.  Here are some you might want to check out!:

SarahBethYoga – Sarah Beth has over 350 yoga videos on her channel.  The videos are grouped by length and target/focus so it’s easy to find what you want.  She also has a whole section for beginners as well as a 7 Day Challenge.

Yoga with Adriene – Adriene has 565 yoga videos and counting on her channel.  Categories include a section for beginners, a section by length, and a section on yoga for back pain, among other things.

Yoga with Tim – Tim has over 260 yoga videos on his channel including several 30 Day Challenges.

Suggested equipment includes a yoga mat and maybe some comfy yoga pants!

Yoga at Home - Recommended Accessories

Gaiam Yoga Mat – This is a fun yoga mat.  It is reversible and has designs on each side.  It’s 6mm thick and measures 68″ X 24″. It’s available in several colors and patterns and sells for less than $30.

Retrospec Solana Yoga Mat – This mat is a little more budget friendly at $19.  It is also slightly longer at 72″ x 24″ and slightly thicker at 1/2″.  There are several colors to choose from!

Yoga Pants with 4 Way Stretch – Available in different colors and with or without pockets, these yoga pants are an affordable option, running between $20 – $25 depending out which color and style you choose.

Fun Yoga Finds

Rosie the Yogi T-shirt – Thought this workout shirt was cute!  Don’t know about you, but cute workout clothes always help motivate me to workout 🙂

Yoga Socks – Some fun yoga socks for your workout.

Yoga Pose Poster – A poster to help you learn and remember the yoga poses.

#7 Pilates Workouts

Pilates – Pilates is a lot like yoga but it doesn’t have the focus on breathing and meditation that yoga does. Pilates focuses has more on the core. Like yoga, there doesn’t have to be a lot of cost involved with doing pilates.

You might want a mat, maybe some resistance bands and possibly some workout clothes that you are comfortable in.

Fun Pilate Finds

Mantra Sports Pilates Ring Magic Fitness Circle – The Mantra Sports Pilates Ring allows you to tone your thighs, arms, legs, abs, and other muscles while doing different exercises.  It comes with a poster that shows some various exercises you can do with it from beginner to advanced.  There are also YouTube videos with instructors that do workouts using a Pilates Ring.

 

Viajero Pilates Bar Kit – This Pilates Bar Kit is another fun way to tone your body at home with pilates workouts.  There is a wide variety of exercises you can do to tone up and get a full body workout with it.  Like, the Pilates Ring, you can find a lot of free Pilates Bar Workouts on YouTube.

#8 Resistance Bands

 

Resistance Bands – Resistance training is another thing I plan to add to my 2021 Fitness Goals. 

I found this set on Amazon for $12.99 that comes with 3 bands with different resistances and an eBook workout guide for using them.  The included bands are for a light, medium, and heavy fitness level.

#9 Couch to 10k Challenge

Try a Couch to 10k – Like walking, jogging doesn’t cost a thing (unless of course you don’t own some decent shoes you can run in).  -A Couch to 10k program breaks down how to go from non-runner to being able to do a 10k race in 8 -12 weeks time.  It’s a great way to tackle getting started with running if that has been a goal of yours! Here’s some resources if this is something that interests you: Apple Couch to 10k App – If apps are your favorite way to track fitness, there is an Apple app to walk you through a Couch to 10k. Couch to 10k for Beginners – this is a 12 week plan. Couch to 10k from Women’s Running – This is an 8 week plan if you are looking for something a little more aggressive!

What’s your favorite way to get fit on a budget?

Eating Healthy on a Budget: 6 Simple Tips to Save on Fruits and Vegetables

One thing that can certainly make or break your grocery budget is purchasing produce. 

It’s a common complaint of many that eating healthy can cost too much.  This doesn’t have to be the case though.  With a few simple tips, I think you will find that there is a lot of ways to save on fruits and vegetables and stick to your budget while doing it!

#1 - Shop at Several Stores

If your time allows, I highly recommend shopping two or three grocery stores at least.  This allows you to take advantage of the produce deals in their weekly ads and offers you a larger variety of options at each.

I typically shop every week at Aldi, Kroger, and Fresh Thyme plus Randazzos, which is my neighborhood produce market (we’ll get more into that in a bit!)

I check online when the ads post for the week and take note of the produce deals they have so that I can add the ones we can use to my weekly grocery list. 

Pay especially close attention to the produce that is featured on the front page of your favorite grocery stores’s ads.  These will be the loss leaders and are going to be the best produce deals at the store that week.

I make time to hit several stores a week by planning an early Sunday morning errand run, when I can, or planning to hit one or two stores at a time when I am out throughout the week either heading home from work or appointments.

#2 - Look for a Market that Specializes in Produce near Your Home

Two of our three past homes have had a produce market within a mile or two of our home.  I can’t tell you what a godsend this has been!  

Since they mainly sell produce (and a lot of it!) they can typically get much better rates on it that grocery stores.  The one that is near my current house also sells by the case to local restaurants so they have really amazing rates!  It is not usual for me to walk out of there with 4-5 grocery bags full of produce for $15-$20.

To find one near you, try typing one of the following terms into the search engine: produce market, vegetable market, or fruit market.

#3 - Hit Farmer’s Markets in the Warmer Months

This is a great way to get good deals on fresh and local produce.  It also helps you support small and local businesses.  Got to love that!  Plus, farmer’s markets are a treasure hunt because you never know what you might find!

You can use this website to help you locate farmer’s markets near you.

#4 - Shop with the Seasons

This typically means eating a lot of apples, potatoes, squash, etc in the fall: berries, melons, and stone fruits in the summer months: and citrus in the winter.  

The prices are always better when something is in season and plentiful. I know I can usually find three pound bags of apples in the fall for $1 so we eat more of them.  In the summer, scoring berries for $1 a carton and huge watermelons for $3 is commonplace so we consume them a lot then.  

The other advantage of shopping what is in season is that it always tastes better than.  Berries and watermelon always taste their best in summer and winter citrus always seems juicer to me than the stuff I buy in the summer.

#5 - When you can’t find deals, stick to the tried and true basics!

Get creative to save on produce. Buy tried and true favorites that are always affordable alongside with what ever is on sale and in season!

Apples, bananas, carrots, and citrus such as clementines are usually affordable options year round.  So is bagged garden salad which often sells at Aldi for .89 a bag.  

You can also get frozen bags of vegetables such as corn, green beans, and broccoli for $1 or less a bag.  This is a great way to add more produce to your meals not only inexpensively, but also easily.  This bagged veggies often come in steamer bags that you can pop right into the microwave.  

Potatoes and sweet potatoes are also often year round bargains when it comes to produce consumption.  You can bake them and eat them whole or dice them up and add them to skillets or foil packet meals.  Of course, you can never go wrong with mashing them either!

#6 - Grab Marked Down Produce When You Can

When hitting the grocery store, always be on the lookout for great markdowns in the produce section. 

Kroger, for instance, will bag up produce that is about to go bad and sell the bags for $0.99.  They also markdown ripe bananas and will place markdown price stickers on bagged items like bagged salads and sugar peas that are near or at their expire by dates. 

Just make sure that you incorporate these items into your meal plan as soon as possible!

What are your favorite ways to eat healthy on a budget?