Wife and I have been a member of 24 hr fitness for 10 years. $31/mo to go to any 24 hour fitness in the whole world. Having moved 3 times in the last decade we have used 8 different gyms. Currently the closest one is 9 miles away. Not super far, but not close enough to walk. We go once or twice a week, so that's about 3 gallons of gas a month(so add another $10 a month), plus 160 mins of drive time a month. They're going to build a YMCA right next to us, 5 min walking distance(1 min by biking). But it'll be $120 a month(for the 2 of us). Membership will only be good for that specific Y also. With the membership, we will no longer have to drive(so less emissions). The time to get to the gym will be at least halved. But there'll be a $80 month premium to pay for this convenience. Would you do the switch?
You don't say if you are able to bike to your current gym, 24hr Fitness. Is that an option? Granted, an 18 mile round trip bike ride is a workout in itself. Does the YMCA have programs you would utilize? If it's comparable in all those aspects, it might be another 'pro' to switch.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(burritos @ Jul 7 2006, 10:36 AM) [snapback]282595[/snapback]</div> Just think about all that extra time you'll get to spend with the cute baby that is shown in your avatar.
Go to the gym that you prefer regardless of money. The more you use it the healthier you will be. Health is more important than mpg's or money.
I"m agreeing with etyler on this one. If you like the one you're at, stay there. On the other hand, if you join the Y for $1,440 per year and don't go as often as you would like, you will feel bad for 'wasting' the money.
The quality of the different Y's vary greatly. The one my mother goes to is extremely basic, and much cheaper than $120/month! Even in a city, $60/month/person is a high fee. Plus you lose the free travel privliges. I wouldn't swithc unless the facilities were better and I'd use the extras. Else you're paying so much for a gym you might not even like as well. Having a gym you like is most important, at least for me, else I end up not going. If you only go once or twice a week, the environmental impact is nil. If you go every day, maybe...
