Pay for sessions you will attend
The only formula that matters
Monthly fee ÷ sessions you actually attended last month = cost per session.
Count from the app history, not from your January personality.
If you also pay PT, add that. If you drive 25 minutes each way, add fuel and time. Time is why a slightly dearer gym next to work beats a cheap one across town.
Contracts vs rolling
Rolling monthly costs more per month and saves you when life breaks. Annual “deals” are cheap if you attend. Freeze fees exist; read them before you move house.
Peak hours are a hidden cost
If you can only train 17:30–19:00, you are buying a crowded product. That may still be worth it. It may mean you need a home backup for squat days. Cost per quality session is the real number.
PT add-ons
A good Level 3 at £35–£60/hour (indicative UK high-street ranges) for eight weeks of skill work can be the best money you spend. An open-ended twice-weekly PT habit at the same gym can dwarf the membership. Decide on purpose.
Home gym crossover
Add up: dumbbells + bench + mat over 24 months, divided by sessions. Compare to membership. Many people should keep the gym and buy a small starter kit for skip-days — not go all-in on a rack in a damp garage they hate in February.
A decision rule
- Visit at your real hour.
- Count racks and commute.
- Estimate sessions per month honestly (beginners: see first week).
- Pick the lower friction option. Friction beats 50p.
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