A home gym can be a great alternative if you are looking to achieve a healthy lifestyle but can no longer find the time to justify that expensive gym membership. While not for everyone, working out at home is often a great solution for today’s busy life. Whether you are a young professional, a working parent, empty nester or retiree, a home gym, tucked into the corner of the garage or a spare bedroom, could be the answer to achieving those elusive fitness goals without having to fork out hefty monthly payments to your local gym. A report by Canstar Blue a few years ago found that Aussies spend an average of $65 per month on gym memberships, or $780 over a year!

But where to start? The basic equipment you will need for your new home gym is the same no matter what your level of fitness is. While it can be tempting to spend a small fortune on the best and latest machines money can buy, it is possible to assemble a gym to fit most fitness requirements on a modest budget, so consider keeping things simple.

Every home gym needs a pair of dumbbells, preferably an adjustable set which allows you to increase and reduce the amount of weight as required. A bench, which can be used to perform countless exercises using just your body weight or with additional weights, is another essential item. The third must-have is a barbell and a set of weight plates. Add some interlocking, rubber flooring and congratulations, for as little as $300 you are now the proud owner of a home gym

That’s more than enough equipment to perform a wide variety of weight training exercises and other calorie-burning exercises such as a high-intensity interval workout. Check out one of the multitudes of fitness apps online for free interval training classes for a great workout that will test every fitness level. Other useful items could include a medicine ball, a pair of kettle bells, a stepper, skipping rope, boxing gloves, and boxing pads.

If you are a more advanced workout warrior and your budget allows it, you might consider adding a machine or two. A treadmill, stationary bike, rowing machine or elliptical are good options to consider. However, they begin in the hundreds and can run into the thousands of dollars, so be honest about the amount of use they are likely to get before taking the plunge.

Remember to consult your doctor before starting a fitness regime for the first time. And why not contact your local Raine & Horne agent for tips on making your gym a feature of your home?