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Life Guide U.S. essentials
English

Pay a gym per visit or on a short cycle, unless you have a record of steady attendance of a year or more

  • Moderate value
  • Evidence B
  • Saves money
  • Costs a little
  • Takes minutes
  • No willpower

In plain words

In that three-year U.S. dataset, members who chose a contract of 70 USD or more a month went only 4.3 times a month on average, which comes to more than 17 USD a visit. A 10-visit pass costs only 10 USD a visit. Over their membership, these people paid 600 USD more on average. Unless you already have a record of going steadily for a year or more, paying per visit or buying a short term is the better deal.

Cost

Buying per visit costs more per visit than a year card spread out. You have to be honest about how many times a month you really go.

What you get

This study looked at 3 years of data on 7,752 members of 3 U.S. health clubs. Members who chose a contract of more than 70 USD a month went only 4.3 times a month on average, which comes to more than 17 USD a visit. A 10-visit pass costs only 10 USD a visit. These people paid 600 USD more on average over their membership. Also, the share of monthly-paying members who had not canceled after more than a year was 17% higher than among annual-paying members (United States, three-year panel data)

Notes

This is only one study, using U.S. data. But the logic behind it is general: people overestimate their future self-control. If you already have a record of going at least twice a week for a full year, then a year card really is cheaper.

Evidence grade
B : Supported by research but without a precise number, or based on small or single studies.
Sources
  1. DellaVigna S, Malmendier U (2006). Paying Not to Go to the Gym. American Economic Review 96(3):694-719. https://doi.org/10.1257/aer.96.3.694

Translated from the Chinese original. Original book, section 5, tip 21. This section is about money and spending. It is general information, not financial or investment advice. Content may be out of date and rules differ by place. When you actually deal with an agency, a doctor or a court, follow what local officials, doctors and lawyers tell you. Disclaimer