Gym cost?!?!?

I tried to join a gym today....but the cheapest rate was $59 a month +$159 membership fee!!!! I got into one free whilst I was in England.... is $59 a month normal?!?!?  That's more than my cell-phone bill cost every month!

i paid about that, from 60-80 a month

My gym is £75/mo and that's with the discount!  Believe me, I'd love to find a cheaper option that has what I need.

I paid $30 in the US with a gov't discount, without it i would have paid $80!!!!

I looked into the VirginActive centers and will pay 39pounds a month plus almost 100 pounds initial fee. To me, it's my only way of seeking sanity for my well-being both mentally and physically, I can't put a price on that.

I'm just going to stick to running on (free!) trails for now. 

I'm very very lucky because one of the benefits at work is they pay 50% of your gym fees. I now pay £13 per month, comes straight out of my paycheck and I'm totally paid up for a year.

I use Virgin. They've got one in town that doesn't have all the facilities, it's for people in a hurry but because it hasn't got all the facilities, I have access to another gym down the street from my house which has everything. Apparently, that's very rare here. You only get to go to one gym. Hee hee hee... I get two. 

Ashley - that's the one Steve goes to - virgin in leeds (the life centre). Maybe I'll see you there!

the uni has LA fitness in the building I pay £50 for the year!!!  that amount you quoted sounds about normal...the beauty of living next to the park *beams* grab your jogging shoes and avoid knocking over the OAP morning walkers that's my only hazzard.

I used to work for a gym... IF you can, HAGGLE.  Do NOT pay any fees other than the monthly fee, as all the rest is basically cash in pocket for the salesperson and owner of the gym.
I pay £40 per month through a discount at work, with no commitment (just month to month, didn't have to sign for a year).

It really is negotiable, so give it a go at least.  If you don't feel you're getting a good deal, don't do it, no matter what they tell you.
 

thank you! I haven't signed anything myself yet, but I will be in a few weeks. I am also considering working at the gym part time while in school - did you get a free membership then?

thank you! I haven't signed anything myself yet, but I will be in a few weeks. I am also considering working at the gym part time while in school - did you get a free membership then?

I did, but it was NOT worth it.  I started out as a member, paying $75 per month... and it was well worth it, the instructors and facilities were amazing and it was the best shape I've ever been in in my life.  Because I loved it so much, they offered me a job... then after I said yes, they gave me a different story - I wasn't going to start in the actual job they'd said, but train in various departments, etc. at a lower salary, then 'promised' I would be in the position first offered, at a higher salary, after 'a few months.'

I spent the first week of my job at the courthouse, filing extensions on an endless number of lawsuits.  Yellow flags (should have been red, really).  Long story short, I ended up asking wayyyyyyy to many questions for their liking, and managed to get myself fired.

At least now I know, when I walk into a gym, I say, 'I want to pay  - per month, I will not pay a 'joining' fee, an 'administration' fee, or any other fee than the monthly membership, and I will sign a month to month contract, not a year.'  Sometimes they say no go, sometimes they stare blankly and end up saying, 'uh, ok.'

My last tip:  READ THE FINE PRINT.  9/10 of the lawsuits were from members who didn't read the part where it says you have 72 hours to cancel the contract (else yer in for a year!).