When it comes to getting fit and healthy, those on a budget feel like they hit a wall. Everywhere you go, you'll hear the mantra of "join the gym to get fit". Everyone will tell you that the best way to lose weight or tone up is to get yourself into a gym, pay for a membership of classes, gym or swimming and exercise regularly. The problem is that most people aren't on the budget to afford a long-term gym membership, and finding the time to get to the gym in the first place is too difficult because of work and family commitments.

We all know that regular physical activity is the best thing for our physical and mental health, and the benefits of exercising are always much higher than the benefits of Netflix on the couch. It relieves stress, it helps to alleviate depression, and it can make you feel good inside. The one thing that can put a dampener on that feeling is not being able to afford to go to the gym. So, you have to make your own plan to exercise, and there are so many ways that you can do this for free without having to spend out a huge budget.

You could be shocked at the range of activities that you can do without even needing to pay for much. Sure, you may have to spend a little money on some equipment (not treadmills, but the top boxing bags!) but it's better to spend a little cash up front on equipment that is yours forever, than try to find the money for a membership each month. With that in mind, let's take a look at eight ways that you can exercise at home!

Workout DVDs

There are so many home workouts that you can do right in the comfort of your living room with a vast range of workout videos on YouTube and DVDs that you can buy from anywhere. You may only need a mat to workout on, or a set of hand weights to give your workout a little extra behind it. There is such a vast range of exercises out there that you can choose anything that takes your fancy; it's not a rigid and timetabled choice. Workout in the morning or the evening the choice is yours.

Outdoor Yoga

If you have an outdoor space and an internet connection, take that home workout to the garden and perform those sun salutations on the grass! The fresh air can make a big difference to the way that you feel, and it can bring a little extra something to your workout, too.

Just Stretch

Before you get into bed, and when you wake up in the morning, perform a set of stretches. Use your body and its own weight as a source of resistance to get your muscles moving. You can keep your joints supple and feeling good, and you can improve your circulation at the same time.

Skip

Do you remember the freedom of being a child and skipping on a rope? It's such a simple pleasure when you're a child, but as an adult, you can take that rope to another level. A few minutes of skipping on the spot every day can do wonders for your heart, your bones and your flexibility.

Box Away

Buying into one of those boxing bags we mentioned earlier is a fantastic way to build your fitness. Boxing is an excellent way to help your mental health as well as your physical health and having your own boxing bag in the home means you get to be versatile about your workouts and the way you structure them. They're also a fantastic way to build strength and precision in your movements.

Gardening

Being in the garden and digging can be a slog when you're not used to physical exercise, but if you're green-fingered and love the outdoors, you can really get stuck into the soil and plant as many flowers as you like. Digging out weeds, mowing the lawn, turning over the soil and pushing a wheelbarrow are all physical workouts that require you to use way more muscles than you are used to - which makes gardening the perfect workout at home.

Housework

Believe it or not, vacuuming and sweeping your house can bring you more of a workout than you think. These activities raise your heart rate, and they are a valid way to burn calories. Everyone feels the ache after they do a huge house clean; moving around on knees and scrubbing floors takes a lot of energy. To burn even more, march on the spot while you wash up or wash your car by hand instead of with a jet washer.

Dance Party

Crank up that music and put some moves out there! You don't need anyone with you, but dancing like crazy can help you to burn off some energy, feel great and give you a laugh at the same time. You'll feel good, and you'll get the feel more positive about life at the same time. Take ten minutes and put your favourite music on, then strut your stuff as wildly as you want.

Climb Stairs

In the gym, you have the Stairmaster where you can climb unlimited stairs as much as you like. However, at home, you just have your actual steps. Your staircase can offer you more of a workout than you think. Up and down, up and down, over and over until your timer goes off. As time moves on, you need to run up and down those steps to burn that energy off and tone up. Give yourself ten minutes a day of stair climbing and see how well you can tone your legs and bottom.

Working out doesn't have to be pricey; not when you can get creative and do it all at home. Go out and garden. Dance in the lounge. Make your calorie burning something fun to do!