Anyone have a YMCA membership?

amynicole21 wrote: It's $93/month here and I'm wondering if it's worth it? We'd still have to pay for swim lessons... not sure how much we'd use it. I *think* I would use the workout facilities/yoga classes, but that's still a lot of

What are the other benefits of a membership?

lovemy2 replied: We just got one - its $86.50 here - and I thought it was alot of money too but Olivia (5) LOVES it and Dylan is getting some new found socialization - ours is brand new and very state of the art - we swim in the family pool - the kids play and I get to workout - the $ for me is a good motivator to getting out - plus next year when Olivia is in 1st grade she can do the wrap program right at her school (after school care for like 1 1/2 hours) for MUCH cheaper than I would pay for her to go to daycare...the swim lessons, etc. are cheaper if you are a member....

I wish now I was a SAHM so I could go EVERYDAY

amynicole21 replied: Do you have to commit to any period of time when you sign up?

lovemy2 replied: No - with ours you just have to give a 30 day notice when you are going to stop your membership.....there was also a $100 joining fee but we split it over 3 months -

DansMom replied: Yeah, family membership is in the high eighty dollars range (don't remember the exact number). We've been thinking of just me having a membership, which is cheaper. DH doesn't go. We used it a lot for swimming and classes for Daniel in the preschool years, but now he's getting a lot of those opportunities through school and their programs, so I'm the only one going.

The classes are much less for members than is typical---I think it was like 30 bucks for gymnastics and swimming lessons.

coasterqueen replied: We have one. I think ours is $50 a month because we signed a two year contract and ours includes private facilities for women and men. It also includes discounted rates for classes taken. We went ahead and signed up for it because the girls are taking so many classes, it just seemed worth it. We also would like to work out there, but that has yet to be seen. So a swim class that used to cost $84 for 6 weeks now costs us $42.

coasterqueen replied: I wanted to add that we can freeze our membership at any time for any reason - we are just committed to paying 24 months of $50. So if I freeze it for 6 months then when I unfreeze it I'll still have that 6 months to pay at some point.

lovemy2 replied:
Yep - that's right - I forgot you can freeze it so you don't have to pay a new enrolling fee - we will probably freeze ours for next summer - we'll see - but Karen that is nice I don't think they offered any kind of contract at a reduced rate - I would have done that

holley79 replied: It is 77.00 here for a family plan and 50.00 for the sign up. I think it's well worth it.

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied: Well worth it to me! I go to one religiously. But I love working out and need that "me" time, so I would probably pay anything for that! LOL. But I really do like the Y over most gyms. I love how family-oriented it is and that they offer child care and activties for kids. There is almost always a class I like, plus you can stop your membership at any time without any penalty fees. I just signed both boys up for swim lessons and it was literally $26 for both, which I think is really good.

mom2patrick&jalin replied: Okay, I am going to say I think a membership is well worth it. Now, that being said I must admit I work for the Miami County YMCA. Now, working there I get a free membership and they take it off the family membership so that is cheaper. Then members have a discounted price for classes and on top of that discount I get an extra 40% off any classes for me and the kids. Also, I would always try to get a scholarship it can discount the price for you.

Brias3 replied: We do have a membership, mainly because it actually works to our benefit when we sign the kids up for extra-curriculars through the Y (member discounts) and because ours is very new, with lots for the whole family to do, so we like to have the option open. I SHOULD use it more, and plan to now that Mase is in school three mornings/week.

Our Y also has alot of social events for the kids too, which they really like. Plus the rock wall is a big selling point for Ryan- he loves to sign up for time to do that activity w/friends after school. We pay around $140/month for the family pass, which is kind of steep. The only time I really regret our Y pass is in summer- we have a pool in the backyard and use our boat nearly every weekend, so we hardly ever go except for summer sports practices and games. I don't think they offer a "freeze" option, which kinda stinks. I know if you cancel, you are are able to return with no joining fee for three months after but nothing besides that. Unfortunately, we have one of the priciest Y memberships in the area, but its a really nice one, so I guess its worth it.

coasterqueen replied: Another good thing about the Y for those of us who have cold winters - they have Family swim times so you can go to the pool and just swim and have fun. Dh and I plan to use it this winter when the girls are going nuts and really need to get out and do something fun AND cheap.

grapfruit replied:
I go to this Y every Tue and Thurs for kick boxing classes (which are awesome).

I don't have a membership b/c for myself it's like $35/month w/the $100 joiners fee, and I KNOW I won't go to just work out. So I just pay the $65 for the class that I know I'll attend.

So if you think you'll use it, I'd say, yes, worth it. If you're like me and won't then take a class instead!

moped replied: I owuld love to get a membership, but here it is about $200 plus per month!

Not gonna happen

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied:
Yep, that's what we love about our's. Here in CO, of course our winters are brutal, so the Y has two indoor pools and a nice hot jacuzzi, so that's why I signed the kids up for swim lessons this coming month (since it will be too cold to do anything outside). DH and I have been going together on Saturdays. We put the kids in Child Watch, workout together and then go in the jacuzzi. It sorta feels like a day at the spa (okay that's stretching it a bit, but any time alone in hot water with my DH is always a nice thing), but cheaper of course! BTW, I think we pay about $85 a month for the whole family. But I'm there about 4-5 times a week, so I fully get my moneys worth.