There is a global money crunch going on at the movement as currencies are devalued and everyone tries to keep their head afloat in very uncertain times. Obviously, life doesn’t stop because the bankers and legislators don’t have their ducks all in a row, but you can find that your own financial situation is altered as a result. The key to success in these tough times is to recognize potential pitfalls as well as potential opportunities for acquiring goods and services far below market value. Here are a few examples of ways that you can cash in where cash is very much short.

Avoid long-term contracts

You never know what businesses will be going out of business. You don’t know what kind of rent your gym pays or what kind of financial straits the owner may be in with his other investments. Don’t pay a lot of case up front on a gym membership if there is any chance that the gym may be going out of business in the next year. The owners can close up shop, keep your money, and blame it all on the recession. Don’t give them that kind of opportunity. Pay by the month and keep your cash.

Half-price personal training sessions

If you’ve always wanted to try a training session or three with a personal trainer, now is the time to do so! Their clientele has probably dropped off significantly, which means you can probably acquire their services at a price much lower than what they would normall charge. Don’t tell them you will only pay half price. Instead, tell them you can only afford to pay half, and suggest the two of you work out an ‘introductory offer’ while you decide if you’re right for one another. For the PT standing around doing nothing, the though of earning 10 or 15 an hour (even if it’s not his or her usual 30) may be an appealing idea.

Take advantage of aging inventories

Visit your gym counter or your local supplement store. There is a good chance that you’ll find a great deal of protein powder and other supplements which are nearing their expiration date. If you consume a lot of whey and you know that the two tubs of protein you pick up today will be long gone before the 3-month window on expiration closes, then you could offer the clerk $10 per tub just to get them out of his store. He’ll probably be happy to make something off of a product which was probably close to condemnation. And you’ll receive a high-volume, quickly used product at a significant discount

Play gyms against one another

Gyms do a lot of recruiting in tough economic times. They will call up past members and offer great deals on memberships. Necessity breeds ingenuity, and gyms (already located in a tough industry in which to survive) are no exception. Let them bid for your membership, and you may find yourself with a membership for a fraction of the original price!

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