Save money on your gym membership!

July 24, 2014

So before you start that workout, work your way through these tips first.

 

By Balkish Rosly

The first thing you need to remember is that gym centres need members to operate.

So naturally, their sales team will lure you in with all kinds of freebies, facilities, personal trainers, and the ever popular “normal price for personal training sessions is RM xxx for 2 sessions, but because today is my sister’s cousin’s auntie’s birthday, I can persuade them to give you 3 extra sessions!” tactics that land them those high commissions.

So before you start that workout, work your way through these tips first:

Free Trial Period (7 days or more!)
Almost all gym centres offer at least a 7-day trial period so grab them! While you’re on the trial period, get comfortable with the personal trainers and consultants, because they can help you score a cheaper membership fee (and more freebies!).

Furthermore, the free trial also give you time to decide whether or not you can actually commit to the gym (if a week is difficult, an entire year seems unlikely).

Time is of the essence (Join at the end of the month!)

Another thing to keep in mind is the gym’s membership goals.

Salespeople at gyms and fitness clubs often have a quota of how many new members they have to sign on each month. Usually at the end of the month, these gyms and fitness clubs will be more than willing to work some discounted rates for you just so that they can reach their goals.

Try asking around during the last two weeks of the month and flex your negotiation muscles to get the best price.

Price VS. Pride (Negotiate, Bargain, Haggle!)

Before you join a gym, don’t just settle for their on-the-flyer price. Usually, the initial payment will include:

Registration Fee + Administration Fee + First and Last Months’ Membership Fees

For example:
RM 100 (Reg. Fee) + RM 109 (Admin. Fee) + [RM 152+RM 152] (First and Last Months’ Fees)= RM 513!

So before you say yes to the membership, try to negotiate a cheaper price. Get them to waive the registration fee or administration fee, prepare good comebacks like “My friend was here a month ago and she was offered a cheaper price!” and try to get as many freebies as possible. If you aren’t good at negotiating, then bring along someone who is an expert.

If you need a personal trainer, ask for all the necessary information before paying (like do they have qualifications, why is the rate for this particular trainer different than the others, etc).

Travel & Convenience (Save Money on petrol and book the nearest gym!)

It’s great to have a car to drive to and from the gym, but Save Money on petrol by choosing the gym nearest to you whenever possible. You don’t want to be spending RM 10 extra on petrol every week just for your gym trips, do you?

Plus, the further away you are from the gym, the less motivated you will be to get there! Additionally, make sure that the gym provides parking spaces/free parking for several hours for its members to save even more money.

Say no to upfront lump sum paments!
Most gym centres offer cheaper prices for those who are willing to commit to a long term contract (usually a minimum of 12 months). But here’s the catch: you will have to pay a hefty upfront lump sum to get the discount.

Here’s an example:
Trisha’s gym membership fee: RM 100 (normal price)
Payment method: Monthly
12-year contract accumulation: RM 1,200
Trisha can get RM 20 discount on the same membership fee but only if she pays a lump sum and not monthly :
Discounted membership fee: RM 80
Payment method: lump sum for a year
12-year contract accumulation: RM 960

It might sound like a good deal, but before you commit to a contract like the above, consider the consequences: you might lose a lot of money if you stop going to the gym after a few months.

Hold It (Think Again!)
If you have a crazy, unpredictable work schedule or are always on the go and traveling, then having to pay for a whole month or year is just not worth it. Fortunately, if you know your schedule, then the best way to save some money is by calling up your gym or fitness center and requesting that your membership be put on hold for that month.

Of course, you need to do this in advance. Last but not least, honesty is the best policy. Be honest to yourself, your bank account, and the gym about your budget. If you can’t afford the gym, don’t force it out on credit cards, loans, or increase your debt in any form.

Balkish Rosly is an Investigative Journalist of SaveMoney.my, an online consumer advice portal which aims to help Malaysians save money through smart (and most of the time painless) savings in their daily banking, technology, and lifestyle spending habits.