We are always working on getting fit and staying fit on the homestead. My husband liked the idea of the gym because of all the equipment, but we found we didn’t like the cost or the contracts. We decided we needed a home gym, but funds are tight so Craigslist became our best friend.
We have been able to take advantage of the fact that people often buy expensive workout equipment and then rarely use it. Our first find a couple of years ago was a treadmill. I think we got it for around $100 and to buy it new would have been around $500. It was barely used, but my husband and I have both used it enough to get our money’s worth out of it. It is still in great shape but has a lot of mileage on it.
The next part of our Craigslist gym was a pull-up/dip bar. We were able to get this great piece of equipment for $50. New it would have been around $300, so I think it was a good deal. This piece was a little more used, but it cleaned up well and it is still in great shape. I have yet to accomplish a pull-up, but I am working on it.
Our last piece of Craigslist equipment (for the moment) is a Bowflex. My husband’s personal trainer friend recommended this and we were able to find one barely used for $50. Our research shows that a new one would go for about $500.
Other than a few odds and ends, the main things we have left to get are an elliptical and free weights. We will be scouring Craigslist for a good deal on these too. This by far beats the cost of an annual gym membership and we don’t have to concern ourselves with contracts or bank account/credit card charges.
So far, we are happy with our Craigslist gym. We just need to rearrange things in the home to fit everything in it. Currently our living room and dining room serve as our workout rooms. My husband calls his new workout program “body by Craigslist.”
