Abacus Daily Debt News

Brits avoiding the gym to save cash, survey shows

UK adults are turning away from organised fitness in order to save money and perhaps steer clear of falling into debt.

According to a new survey conducted by moneysupermarket.com, 46 per cent of respondents believe the gym to be an unnecessary cost, while one-tenth state they often do not go and plan to cancel their subscriptions.

Head of protection with the website Emma Walker said: "With gym membership costing as much as £500 a year, people are reviewing their disposable income and deciding they simply cannot afford the costs."

Commenting on the fact that approximately five per cent of those with memberships cannot keep up the payments, Ms Walker reminded people that joining a leisure centre can be a huge commitment financially.

This follows a study carried out by Gfk, which found that money attitudes in the UK have changed because of the recession, with 44 per cent spending less on going out and 38 per cent cutting back on holidays.

By Sarah Adie