Building a gym in the garage is a pipe dream for many people, but it doesn’t have to be. While the cost of gym equipment can bring the cost of a garage gym to eye-watering levels there are more budget-friendly ways to carve out a workout space that is all your own. These five cost-effective garage gym ideas will have you burning fat and building muscle in no time!
1. Use What You Have to Hand
Do you have a structure that can be used to support a set of gymnastic rings or something which can be used as a dip bar? Maybe you have building supplies that you can use to convert your garage space, or you know someone who can find you suitable materials for battle ropes; using what’s available to you before start shelling out for equipment, weights, and machines. The potential savings could range from the hundreds to the thousands, depending on what you have.
2. Double Up
When space and funds are limited it’s important that the equipment you do invest in is versatile. If you’re saving the majority of your budget for one machine, ask yourself whether it’s worth what you’re going to pay. For example. A squat stand is a useful piece of equipment, but if you invest in a rack which also has a chin-up bar and the capability to hold your plates then you’re saving money, space, and making it work for its keep. These pieces of equipment might be a little more costly, but they could save you hundreds of pounds in the long run.
3. Use Your Body
Bodyweight and functional exercises are all the rage right now because of the way that they hit smaller muscle groups and multiple muscle groups at once. Furthermore, bodyweight exercises can be performed in limited space giving you more options than barbells at no cost. If your budget has room and you want to maximize the effect, you should invest in a set of gymnastic rings (which are actually favored by MMA fighters like Conor McGregor!). On sale for £25 – £45 on average they are incredibly budget-friendly and pack a huge punch for this price.
4. DIY When You Can
There are times when the DIY route just isn’t advisable, for example, if you want to keep your tailbone intact you probably shouldn’t improvise a chin-up bar, but there are a lot of things you can build for your garage gym. There are plenty of online tutorials that will help you to make a deadlifting platform, water balls, sandbags, or even barbell holders safely. Doing it yourself now and then could save you £500 – £800 when you factor in materials!
5. Ditch the Treadmill
Cardio machines are costly and bulky, and unless you’re recovering from injury the chances are that you can do without them. Instead plan short jogging or running routes near your home, or opt for kettlebell circuits as an alternative cardio workout. You could save yourself between £600 and £1,300 (the average costs of cardio machines like treadmills and cross-trainers).
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