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"&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Exercise may be tough to fit into a busy day, but outfitting your &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/best-home-fitness-equipment-1231463&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;1&amp;quot;&amp;gt;home gym&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; is easier than you think. Your home gym can be as lavish (mega-machines, &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/treadmills-walking-4013117&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot;&amp;gt;treadmills&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;, etc.) or as simple (a good pair of &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/what-is-the-best-shoe-for-your-foot-type-3119120&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;3&amp;quot;&amp;gt;athletic shoes&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;) as you like and, for the budget-minded, it doesn&amp;amp;#39;t have to cost a thing.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;When I first started working out, I didn&amp;amp;#39;t have much of a budget. I was in college and what little money I had went towards food (Ramen noodles) and drink (beer, of course). What I didn&amp;amp;#39;t know was that I could&amp;amp;#39;ve made my own set of weights without spending an extra dime.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The nice thing about &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/weight-training-101-1229713&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;4&amp;quot;&amp;gt;weight training&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; is that anything with weight will work--a dumbbell, a full water bottle or a sock full of sand...your body doesn&amp;amp;#39;t know the difference.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;There are plenty of things you probably have in your house right now that could serve as weights--you just need to be a little &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/how-to-train-like-a-trainer-1231139&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;5&amp;quot;&amp;gt;creative&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; to get started.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Making Your Own Weights &amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Whether you&amp;amp;#39;re outfitting a home gym or traveling, there are a variety of things you can use as dumbbells such as:&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Full Soup Cans&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;. These are great for lighter weights. Some larger cans weigh up to a pound (or more) and could be used for upper body exercises like &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/strength-exercises-for-the-biceps-1231100&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;6&amp;quot;&amp;gt;biceps curls&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;, &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/shoulder-exercises-1231107&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;7&amp;quot;&amp;gt;overhead presses&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; and &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/shoulder-exercises-1231107&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;8&amp;quot;&amp;gt;lateral raises&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;.&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Full Water Bottles&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;. A large water bottle (say around 33.8 fluid ounces) can give you a little more than 2 pounds when full of water. Fill it with sand, rocks or change and you get even more weight.&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Computer Bags or Small duffel bags&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;. My husband carries around a small computer bag so stuffed, it weighs about 10 pounds. Because computer bags usually have handles, these can be great for exercises like bicep curls, lateral raises or &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/back-exercises-1231098&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;9&amp;quot;&amp;gt;one-armed rows&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;. Small duffel bags with handles can be filled with books and used for lower body exercises like &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/squats-for-the-buns-hips-and-thighs-1231102&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;10&amp;quot;&amp;gt;squats&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;, &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/lunges-for-the-hips-glutes-and-thighs-1231321&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;11&amp;quot;&amp;gt;lunges&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; and &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/dumbbell-deadlift-exercises-for-hamstrings-1231318&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;12&amp;quot;&amp;gt;deadlifts&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;.&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Milk or Orange Juice Jugs&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;. Save your old milk jugs and fill them with sand, change or water for weights with ready-made handles&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;PVC Pipes&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;. I had one client who filled PVC pipes with sand, capping them off with duct tape to avoid spillage. This is a great idea since PVC pipes come in all shapes and sizes, many of which fit perfectly in your hand.&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Tennis balls and cans&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;. Shawn Keith, certified personal trainer, &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/Keith1.html&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;externalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;13&amp;quot; rel=&amp;quot;nofollow&amp;quot;&amp;gt;recommends&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; filling tennis balls and tennis cans with sand or change for some great handheld weights.&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Most of these materials can be found around your house or at your local hardware store. If you&amp;amp;#39;re not into making weights yourself, there are some other alternatives for finding cheap equipment.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Finding Inexpensive Exercise Equipment&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;If you don&amp;amp;#39;t mind a little bargain-hunting, you can find inexpensive exercise equipment in a variety of places such as:&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;http://www.garagesalehunter.com/index.asp&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;externalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;14&amp;quot; rel=&amp;quot;nofollow&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Garage Sales&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;. I almost always see exercise gear at garage sales and some of it&amp;amp;#39;s even worth buying. Pick up the newspaper to find weekend garage sales in your area and you may just find something.&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;http://www.playitagainsports.com&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;externalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;15&amp;quot; rel=&amp;quot;nofollow&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Play it Again Sports&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;. This store buys and sells used (and new) exercise equipment. If you have one in your area, it&amp;amp;#39;s worth checking out, especially for their dumbbell selection, which is usually pretty good.&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;http://www.walmart.com&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;externalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;16&amp;quot; rel=&amp;quot;nofollow&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Walmart&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;. Walmart is known for bargains and great for small exercise equipment like dumbbells, barbells, exercise balls and resistance bands.&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Classified Ads&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;. Americans love to buy things...especially exercise equipment. They also love to sell things...especially exercise equipment they never used. Check your newspaper for cheap gear or try &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;http://craigslist.org&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;externalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;17&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Craigslist&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; or &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.freecycle.org/&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;externalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;18&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Freecycle&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; to see what&amp;amp;#39;s near you.&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;What &amp;lt;em&amp;gt;Not&amp;lt;/em&amp;gt; to Skimp On&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;While it&amp;amp;#39;s a fine idea to bargain-hunt, there are a few crucial items you shouldn&amp;amp;#39;t skimp on. Learn from my mistakes and make sure you spend good money on:&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;http://www.cnet.com/topics/mp3-players/best-mp3-players/&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;externalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;19&amp;quot;&amp;gt;MP3 players&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;. These days, you might be using your smartphone while you workout, but you can also get a dedicated music player that&amp;amp;#39;s lighter and may give you more options for listening to music while you exercise.&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/best-overall-heart-rate-monitors-1230784&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;20&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Heart Rate Monitors&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;. I once bought a HRM from discount department store for about $25. It quickly went into the trash because it was uncomfortable and only intermittently picked up my heart rate. It&amp;amp;#39;s better to spend a little more money on a quality heart rate monitor that you&amp;amp;#39;ll use for years.&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/buying-a-treadmill-1229609&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;21&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Treadmills&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;, &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/what-you-need-to-know-about-ellipticals-1229608&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;22&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Elliptical Trainers&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; or &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/bowflex-revolution-xp-home-gym-1231457&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;23&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Other Machines&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;. This is one area where you get what you pay for. Spend as much as you can for larger pieces of equipment to ensure they&amp;amp;#39;ll last for the long-term.&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Athletic shoes&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;. Your shoes may be the most important piece of equipment you own--if you don&amp;amp;#39;t have supportive shoes that fit right and match your sport, you could end up with pain or a long-term injury.&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Creating a home gym with little or no money is easy if you&amp;amp;#39;re on a budget. Anything with weight can be used for strength training exercises and, don&amp;amp;#39;t forget, there are plenty of great &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/body-weight-exercise-1229822&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;24&amp;quot;&amp;gt;body weight exercises&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; that require no equipment at all.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<https://www.verywell.com/exercising-on-the-cheap-for-a-great-workout-1230861>