I have considered joining a gym but haven't found anything in my area that really appeals to me. I have kids and sometimes one or two or three of them are with me and I'd need some kind of a daycare service while I workout. Unfortunately my area is limiting because there are not many around here. Do you belong to a gym?

My mum put me off joining a gym. She paid about £38 a month for her membership and liked it to begin with, then my father changed his job to one further away and instead of going to the gym together after work, she used to walk alone to the gym from her office, exercise on her own for half an hour then get dressed ready for him to pick her up after he finished work. This became such a chore she gave it up but had to pay about £75 penalty for ending her gym membership. There are better ways to exercise.

With gym membership in our area costing anything from £30-£50 a month I don't think that there are many ordinary people who can afford to join a gym nowadays, I know I can't!  As recommended on this forum, I now go to my local leisure centre which is a short walk away from my house and I take my young son. We can swim for a couple of pounds and it's much better exercise for my bad knees.

Another thing to look into, at least in the US, is if there is a YMCA nearby.  Those usually have a family rate membership so it's a one-time expense annually and they also offer scholarship programs/discounts if you qualify. If you don't want a regular membership but just want to go on occasion, you can usually pay a daily fee, as well.  

 I dont go to a gym. I dont see the need.I mean, sure its nice to go along once in a while and use the machines, but you can do almost everything in your own home, and as for tread mills or cycle machines, go outside and do them - the scenery is far better !!

 I had a gym membership years ago, but I just don't see the point of paying for what you can do at your own house.  I also find it easier to work out on days where the weather is bad in my house, because I can't give myself an easy out that way.

I'm quite self-conscious, so I don't like the idea of being at a gym where those skinny show-ponies STARE at people and make me feel even more uncomfortable. Besides, why pay huge membership fees for something you can do equally well by walking around the park or on a pilates mat in the living room?

 Gyms do cost money, if this is a problem then they may not be for you.  However a gym can offer a great enviornment to get your workout done as effectively and as quickly as possible, they offer many machines that you can work out on to focus your efforts and most have personal trainers who can assist in setting up a work out just for you.  They are not all bad.

Thanks for the answers. I reallly wish there was a better option for me. As much as I enjoy walking around my neighborhood and doing other exercises at home the gym sounds very appealing. Maybe I should save my money and buy a bike or something else I can use indoors at home.

No, I don't belong to a gym. I've been to a gym but as a guest. I much prefer to exercise in the comfort of my home. I walk and I do some weight training at home. I get plenty of exercise. 

Gyms are so boring! Once you've used all the machines a few times the novelty wears off. I used to end up just swimming at my gym so I could have just visited the swimming pool and saved money!

Joining a gym can be good as long as you stick to it, but I've known some club members who simply stopped attending because they realized it's a huge waste of money. Some of them have settled with home workouts because these are less expensive and they don't have to travel.