The cost of keeping fit

31 August 2012 11:31:11

Some Brits spend as much as £167 a month on sports.

Since the Olympics this year turned us all into sport-hungry fanatics, interest in keeping fit has been extremely high. And although Team GB athletes required National Lottery funding to the tune of £264m to be ready for London 2012, your own casual hobbyist sporting activity shouldn't have to break the bank.

Shouldn't it? A study by M&S Money has revealed exactly how much money the average sporty Brit spends on maintaining their hobby. The research, carried out across 1,055 adults in the UK, shows that some sporting activities cost participants more than £100 every month.

Cutting the cost
Of course, activities costing that much usually involve some specialised equipment – think horse riding or triathlon – so a good way to keep the price down is by choosing something that doesn't require much in the way of expensive accessories.

But this doesn't mean you have to restrict yourself to something dull. A gym membership, for example, will only set you back an average of £38 a month and, as it's the most popular fitness option in the UK, you won't be the only one looking to lift the weights.

Best value
If you're not keen on going to the gym or you don't want to shell out for a membership that you know you'll only use twice a year, then there are a number of other cheaper options. Walking and running are known to be great ways to shed the right kind of pounds – ie: the ones on your body, not in your wallet. These sports cost participants only £26 and £22 respectively.

Couples might also like to try dancing, which cost [costs an average of] only £29 a month and, as an added bonus, it ensures that you'll spend at least an hour a week with your loved one doing something together.

More participation
The increased participation in sports is undoubtedly a good thing – for the health benefits if nothing else. But it doesn't have to be expensive to get fit – loose [lose] the weight, not the money!

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