Make fitness more frugal

So with the economy proving yet another obstacle between you and your fitness goals here are a few tips to tighten both your abs and your belt.

Unless you're going to go a lot, ditch the gym membership. Pay-as-you-go classes save you membership and joining fees. And you can choose a varied regime - Pilates on Monday, kickboxing on Tuesday - that will give you the best results quickly as your body is consistently challenged.

Maximise the return on your investment - instead of an hour on the treadmill, choose a class that offers the highest calorie burn per session, or a mix of exercise types.

Get a personal trainer. Counter-intuitive as it may seem, this will save you money in the long term. An expert trainer will tailor a programme specifically for your goals, while the cost ensures you'll work twice as hard and never skip a session. If it's too pricey by yourself, get a friend on board for a group session. This will halve the expense and provide another valuable motivational source.

Last, but not least, get more active. It costs nothing to walk to work or to go for a run. Walk up the escalator at the Tube - it does the same job as a gym stair-climber. Have a look in your local park - there's often exercise equipment there, and the view's far better than inside a sweaty gym.

Make this the month you start to tighten your body and your budget. And guess what - that makes two resolutions in one.