Merry Christmas to Us

Thanks to a gift of money from my wonderful parents at Christmas, Tracy and I were able to sign up at 24-Hour Fitness and pay for both our first and last month's membership with money left over.

We checked out LA Fitness, but didn't like the fact that their "manager" wouldn't budge on the membership initiation fee of $99 total for both of us. I was surprised that she let $60 a month ($29.95 per person) walk out the door in this economy over $99. She said she could make a deal with us and wave the initiation fee for $34.95 a month fees for both of us. Seriously? Terrible negotiating lady, don't lose your job at LA Fitness for a sales job at a car dealership. You wouldn't make it a day. At that rate, our initiation fee would have been paid for in 9 months.

So, we promptly went over to 24-Hour Fitness and scored the same deal ($29 a month) sans membership fee. The best part is, there's no contract. It seems fitness centers have wised up lately and are discontinuing the contract policies they previously had in place. 24 Hour Fitness doesn't have locations in Minnesota, unfortunately, so we'll have to end our memberships if, strike that, when we move home.

We could have bought 2-year memberships at Costco for $299.95 each, but we just don't have that commitment right now. That would have been roughly $12 a month, which is really hard to beat. But, let's face it, there's no way we'll be here 2 more years. At this rate, I hope we can hold out until after the Branger's visit in mid-June. Maybe it was just Christmas and seeing family and friends or Tracy's 2-plus hour commute to work last week, but a bout of home sickness has hit. Strangely, during 0 degree weather in Minny while we are enjoying 80 degrees here. Go figure.