Home Gym Setup for Cheap: Exercise Bands

Having a few basics like exercise bands can make a home gym more efficient and fun while not being very expensive.  The downside is you have to be motivated enough to use them.  That’s why I have multiple options so I can switch up my exercises to keep from being board.  Additionally, most of the time I can watch a show while doing my sets as way to reward myself for exercising.

A basic setup that works perfectly well can cost under $50 and you can substitute for some of these items.  For instance, use furniture sliders from the hardware store instead of potentially more expensive ones labeled for exercise.  The best item is a set of exercise bands.  These can be used for almost anything – arms, legs, back, stretching.  Get them in various tensions so you can go up or down.  And adjust the band you’re using by changing where you grip it. 

I have two sets show.  One is a circular band, which if it’s the right length can make using it easier.  But often it’s not quite the right length, so it can get awkward then.  That’s why I bought my second set which is just long strips labeled here with 20 pounds and 50 pounds that I can hold wherever is best for me. 

That last set not only has different tension weights, but also has the regular size and smaller size bands too.  However, the end grips are mostly useless for me unless I’m just holding one end or going for a really long pull.

On the left you see a small strap with a round ball.  That’s so you can loop the exercise band through and pop the small ball on the other side of a door to hold it for you.  Very useful!  Very cheap!  How cheap?  About $5. 

So the whole set of bands plus the loop band holder comes to under $30.  Add in some furniture sliders to put under your feet (these came with my band set so free) and you’re looking good.

Now of course, how do you use these bands?  If you’re video oriented, go to YouTube and try out different ones.  Or just stick to websites.  Pricetag $0.

Me, I got some tips from a fitness pro, Maureen, who’s helping me overall with form and specific suggestions for different muscle groups.  Having a personal trainer even part time can be more expensive than you can afford, so don’t go do this unless it’s in your budget. 

BUT having someone show you once could be in your price range and worth it.  Getting back into martial arts and trying to train up for my third degree while keeping my back from getting injured makes this worth it for me.  Pricetag: $-$$$$. 

For instance, my trainer came over to my house and we went through all my equipment to get exercises before I went on a driving vacation, so I’d have lots of exercises right for me to do on the trip.  (And yes, I did them!) 

Having a trainer show you exercises at a gym with your equipment or similar equipment would work just as well.  You can see if you can get someone for just one session, and that could save you from doing the exercises wrong or inefficiently.

I’m super visual and love books, so I bought Strength Band Training by Phil Page and Todd Ellenbecker (Third Edition).  I found a lot of ideas in there to mix up what I do.  They also have quite a few pointers that are helpful.  You can buy it used for about $10.  Which means the total for everything is roughly under $50 for the entire set up. 

For those just starting, pick a few exercises that will target the areas you want to work on and do them for about an hour.  Use good posture (shoulders back in retracted mode) and go for 3 sets of 15 repetitions each with a 1-2 minute break between sets.  Marking which exercises you want to try will make you use time more efficiently in the workout.

You can see I color coded the exercises with removable tabs to divide them roughly into arms and legs.  Why color code? At this point I do so many exercises that I do arms one day and legs the next day, so I’m not exercising for hours every day.  And I started low building up over months.  Starting at an easy mode is fine.  Just keep the resistance in the bands up.   

Also, you need to allow the minute tears in your muscles time when you push them hard time to heal, so every other day is perfect for this.

Let me know how this setup works for you!