How to create the perfect home gym on a budget

Creating your own home gym won’t break the bank, and in fact, it can end up saving you money. Maybe you’re sick of driving to the gym and struggling to find a car park, or you don’t want to keep paying the high monthly membership fees. Maybe you just like to work out alone

Whatever your motivation for wanting your own workout space at home, it’s easier to set one up than you think. Here’s what you’ll need to create the perfect home gym on a budget.

Punching bag and gloves
How great would it be to improve your boxing skills without leaving your house?

There are many punching bags that are ideal for home gyms. They typically come in three, four, five and six feet bags. Find out what’s best for you according to your height, and of course, the space you have available.

Kettlebell
Kettlebell training is becoming more popular, as it provides an effective and efficient workout for your whole body. If you don’t already know, they’re cast iron bells with handles on the top that are used primarily for building strength.

They’re affordable and are perfect for using at home. They require very little space, and can sit in the corner of the room when you’re not using them.

Door-mounted pull-up bar
This piece is the ultimate space-saver. If you’re after an efficient upper-body workout, look no further than one of these pull-up bars. Luckily, they’re also super easy to install. However, when you’re buying one, make note of the dimensions to make sure they’ll fit your door.

You can also find some great power racks for a home gym too. Head to Home Fit Freak for high quality information on everything you need to build the body and life you want.

A stability ball
These exercise balls have a number of names, from balance balls, Swiss balls, fitness balls, and what we’ll call them, stability balls. While they seem fun, bouncy and colorful, they can actually help you improve your strength, cardio and balance.

Balls can be purchased according to a person’s height, so buy the right size for you. There’s typically three diameters to choose from: 55 centimeters if you’re under 5’4″, 75 centimeters for those over 5’11”, and 65 centimeters for everyone in between.

Resistance bands
Rubber-like resistance bands are the ideal fitness product for a home gym on a budget, and particularly one with limited space. They function much like expensive resistance machines do, and work to tone your upper legs, thighs and arms by giving constant tension to the muscles.

Resistance bands come in a variety of sizes and strengths, so you can keep building up your resistance. You can hang them up in a designated space in your home gym so you’ll never lose them.

An exercise box
Another simple piece of equipment to consider is an exercise box, also known as a plyometrics box. They’re portable, durable, inexpensive, and perfect for jump training. You can purchase ones with height adjustable legs too.