Build an Inexpensive Home Gym

Read our tips on how you can get fit for little money.

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Work It Out - Gym memberships are nice and all, but you don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars a year to get fit. With just a few hardworking pieces, you can create a low-cost home gym with a tiny footprint that will have you beach-ready in no time. By Kenrya Rankin Naasel (Photo: Tetra Images - Rob Lewine/GettyImages)

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Dumbbells - You don’t need an entire rack of free weights to get fit. A few sets — you can start with three-pound, five-pound and ten-pound dumbbells — will propel you through most exercises and help you build sleek muscles. (Photo: Tetra Images - Rob Lewine/GettyImages)

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Resistance Bands - Essentially giant rubber bands with handles, these are great for stretching and as a substitute for dumbbells in many exercise moves. They also travel well, so you can move your body on the road, too. (Photo: Derek Latta/GettyImages)

Exercise Your Body - The more you work out, the better your body gets at moving blood around. The result: your brain gets more of the oxygen-rich red stuff it craves and your memory gets better.  (Photo: Fuse/Getty Images)

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Stability Ball - This giant ball is fantastic for working your core muscles and improving your balance. It also makes a fab makeshift bench for weight training. Just be sure to get the correct size for your height. The Fat-to-Firm Fitness Ball Workout for Dummies DVD provides a good, ball-focused routine. (Photo: Fuse/Getty Images)

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Jump Rope - No time or space to run? No worries. A jump rope provides an amazing cardio workout, burns even more calories than using a treadmill and is super-easy to store. And it works even if you aren’t a champion jumper. A rope-less version like this one gives you the same effect without the risk of smacking yourself in the head. (Photo: Steve Wisbauer/GettyImages)

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Getting My Om On! - Recently, I went to Cali to visit a friend and we went to yoga twice when I was there. I felt more calm and relaxed than I had been in a really long time. Thankfully my new gym offers yoga classes. No gym membership? No problem. Try taking classes in your living room online via Hulu or On Demand. (Photo: Getty Images)

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Yoga Mat - These aren’t just for yoga; you’ll appreciate the cushion any time you have to do an exercise on the floor. Spring for an extra cushiony one — your body will thank you. (Photo: GettyImages) 

Workout DVDs - Not sure what to do with all your new equipment? Just pop in a workout DVD and start sweating. Pick one that focuses on your chosen workout type — Pilates, yoga, dance, hula-hooping (yes, that’s a thing) — or try one of these celebrity videos to get a camera-ready body, ASAP. (Photo: The Hollywood Trainer)

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Workout DVDs - Not sure what to do with all your new equipment? Just pop in a workout DVD and start sweating. Pick one that focuses on your chosen workout type — Pilates, yoga, dance, hula-hooping (yes, that’s a thing) — or try one of these celebrity videos to get a camera-ready body, ASAP. (Photo: The Hollywood Trainer)

Apps - These are great for exercising on the go. The 7-Minute Workout app (free for Apple and Android) walks you through the highly effective interval workout of the same name. Check it out — it's the #1 fitness app in over 127 countries for iPhone. Plus, check out these other fitness apps, too. (Photo: GettyImages)

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Apps - These are great for exercising on the go. The 7-Minute Workout app (free for Apple and Android) walks you through the highly effective interval workout of the same name. Check it out — it's the #1 fitness app in over 127 countries for iPhone. Plus, check out these other fitness apps, too. (Photo: GettyImages)