Brits ditch the gym to save a few quid this New Year

Hitting the gym and getting fit and healthy usually tops the list of New Year resolutions, but not this year it seems. Over half of Brits with gym membership (56 per cent) say they will be quitting the gym in the New Year to cut costs.

With gym membership costing as much as £500 a year, research by the leading price comparison site, moneysupermarket.com shows people are reviewing their disposable income and deciding they simply cannot afford the costs next year. While a sensible 14 per cent admit they are often no-shows at the gym and will be cancelling their membership to save money, a massive 42 per cent say they want to keep going to the gym, but can't afford it.

The research further shows only a quarter of people with gym membership (28 per cent) regularly went for a work-out. Less than one per cent of people said they keep fit and healthy in other ways and won't be joining a gym while one in 12 people (8 per cent) have never been a member of a gym before are considering joining one in the New Year.

Emma Walker, head of protection at price comparison website moneysupermarket.com, said: "New Year is often the time when people make promises to themselves to be healthier. Joining the gym is one way of kick-starting a healthy New Year. However, it is important to remember it can be a huge financial commitment, especially if you are on a tight budget. With one in seven (14 per cent) gym-goers admitting to rarely making use of the gym, they might as well just chuck the money down the drain."