Gym Memberships Are Stupid - Cheap Chick Tip

Keep it in your purse, ladies.

Next up in the Cheap Chick Tip installment is one near and dear to my heart:

Tip #2: Cancel Your Gym Membership

You heard me. "But LimeLife!" you protest, "I need to get in shape in 2009, and without my gym membership, how will I do that?" But be honest: Do you go regularly enough to justify the cost of that fancy membership? Don't you usually slack off from going, claiming "not enough time"?

Well, don't stress out. There is a way you can get fit and keep that $100 a month in your pocket. Here are some cheapie ideas:

1. Get Wii Fit: It may not seem like it, but by shelling out an initial investment for the Nintendo Wii (unless you're like us, and have been obsessively bowling since 2006), and the Wii Fit ($89.95), you'll actually save money. That's because this little unit packs in cardio, strength-training, yoga, and tracks your weight and goals. Basically, it's a cute little personal trainer at a fraction of the cost.

2. Go for a run: Don't say "duh," if you're not already doing it, but unless you live in a completely snowed-in place, you can still run outdoors. Face it: you skip the treadmill at the gym because it's boring and covered with the sweat of a thousand New Year's resolutionaries. But you have neither of those problems when you go for a run in the AM, outdoors.

3. Stop buying processed crap: It's not exercise-related, but if you stop buying food loaded with preservatives, sugar, and salt, you'll have less work to do when you do decide to break a sweat. When you go shopping, stick to the far-outside aisles: fruit, vegetables, meats/fishes, and dairy. Avoid anything in a box, can, or bag. It's cheaper, healthier, and you'll have more energy throughout the day.

You'll find that by cutting out the excuses, you cut the pounds and up your energy - all without the cost!