Healthy Cost

It seems like every once in a while I get this idea in the back of my head that I want to exercise and be healthy.  It's a dark, terrible thought as I enjoy coming home from work and doing nothing.  It is usually in the winter months when it gets dark outside early and we spend so much time in the house because of the cold.  Around the beginning of the year, I looked into a couple of local fitness centers and the YMCA that are close to us.  It should not come as a surprise, but exercising is expensive.  I was just curious about the cost and was honestly taken a little aback by it. 

I understand that the costs go into paying employees and the upkeep of the facilities and all that, but goddamn.  A membership for two adults at the local YMCA is just under $120 a month (or $70 for individual membership).  There are also facilities like Anytime Fitness, Snap Fitness, LA Fitness, etc. in the area.  Memberships ranging from $30-$50 dollars depending on the company.  That is just from a quick search of prices.  Who knows if there are any fees for registration or monthly dues.  Are those a thing?   

We could afford any of these places, but it would be something that we would have to budget out.  We are just getting over the fact that we replaced the furnace a few months ago.  Personally, it was a bit of a shock to see the prices.  Not a 'find me a fainting couch' type of shock, more of a 'huh, I was not expecting that' type of shock.  Like I said, I totally understand the reason for the prices.  It would be just as easy to go out and buy a bike and exercise that way or find some walking paths at local parks.  On the other hand, walking and biking during the winter months do not sound quite so fun. 

Being motivated to get out of the house and exercise is tough.  My thought is if I were putting money on a monthly basis towards a facility, I would want to get out and use it.  I'm paying for it, you know?  Wouldn't want to be wasting the money on something I don't use.