How much do you pay for a Ymembership?

PurpleDrewbie5

If you don't mind me asking. I mentioned in a previous post looking into a YMCA membership for our family. We are a 3 person family, My husband, my 10month old, and me. For a year we would pay $548. This seems so high to me.

The amenities at the Y include a large pool. Three smallish work out areas. The equipment is all really old. I'm sure it works fine but it's not top of the line. A big room with mirrors for dancing, classes I'm sure. A large multipurpose "hang out" kind of area. It has a ping pong table and a pool table and some couches I believe. There is no drop off for kids or anything. They offer kids soccer and such and members do get a discount. For instance, if the soccer league costs $45 members only pay $30.

They offer financial assistance. We're not considering that and I'm sure we wouldn't qualify anyhow. We can afford it, I just think it is really high. What is your experience? Please share.

CocoBrynne

Our Y has similar rates.  I checked into it awhile ago and I didn't find out the yearly rates, but I think for the family membership it was $60 some odd dollars a month, which did include use of their childcare center.  An individual membership was around $40.

PurpleDrewbie5

CocoBrynne:

Our Y has similar rates.  I checked into it awhile ago and I didn't find out the yearly rates, but I think for the family membership it was $60 some odd dollars a month, which did include use of their childcare center.  An individual membership was around $40.

Okay well maybe that is the going rate. It just seems really high in price without a lot of perks.

alli2672

That's about what we pay.  It's $45/mo for a family membership.  We do have the kids in classes, and DS goes to preschool there, so we use it a lot. 

kcisthebombdotcom

alli2672:

That's about what we pay.  It's $45/mo for a family membership.  We do have the kids in classes, and DS goes to preschool there, so we use it a lot. 

Would you recommend the Y for the age ranges my kids are? I was thinking about signing up, but I'm not sure how much is catered towards younger kids. Do they have lots of activities/classes for them? For the toddler classes, is it 100% included in your membership or do some have extra fees?

alli2672

KC_13:

alli2672:

That's about what we pay.  It's $45/mo for a family membership.  We do have the kids in classes, and DS goes to preschool there, so we use it a lot. 

Would you recommend the Y for the age ranges my kids are? I was thinking about signing up, but I'm not sure how much is catered towards younger kids. Do they have lots of activities/classes for them? For the toddler classes, is it 100% included in your membership or do some have extra fees?

As far as being "worth it" as in saving money over paying for the classes...probably not.  Just as in the OP, the classes are something like $30 for a 6 week session if you have a membership and $45 if you don't.  So, you would have to take a LOT of classes to come up to $500/yr.   

It was worth it to us because DH and I like to work out there.  There is a free childwatch if you are a member.  They also have an indoor playground and indoor pool that we use as a family in the winter (this is great for your kids ages).  DS also goes to preschool there, and it is an extra $25/mo if you aren't a member...so it works out to being about $20/mo for our family of 5. 

It sounds like our Y is really different from the OP in a lot of ways though.  I would check out what is offered in your area. 

 

penguingrrl

Our local Y is $100/month for a family membership, so too much for us. I'm disappointed because they have babysitting and a pool so it would be great for us, but just too pricey. Usually the Y is pretty expensive in my experience.

PurpleDrewbie5

penguingrrl:

Our local Y is $100/month for a family membership, so too much for us. I'm disappointed because they have babysitting and a pool so it would be great for us, but just too pricey. Usually the Y is pretty expensive in my experience.

Thanks ladies. I appreciate the input. I think I would be willing to pay their rates if they had a little more to offer. I know if we had a membership we would only use the pool and it just doesn't seem worth it to me. At least not while DD is so young. 

kcisthebombdotcom

alli2672:

KC_13:

alli2672:

That's about what we pay.  It's $45/mo for a family membership.  We do have the kids in classes, and DS goes to preschool there, so we use it a lot. 

Would you recommend the Y for the age ranges my kids are? I was thinking about signing up, but I'm not sure how much is catered towards younger kids. Do they have lots of activities/classes for them? For the toddler classes, is it 100% included in your membership or do some have extra fees?

As far as being "worth it" as in saving money over paying for the classes...probably not.  Just as in the OP, the classes are something like $30 for a 6 week session if you have a membership and $45 if you don't.  So, you would have to take a LOT of classes to come up to $500/yr.   

It was worth it to us because DH and I like to work out there.  There is a free childwatch if you are a member.  They also have an indoor playground and indoor pool that we use as a family in the winter (this is great for your kids ages).  DS also goes to preschool there, and it is an extra $25/mo if you aren't a member...so it works out to being about $20/mo for our family of 5. 

It sounds like our Y is really different from the OP in a lot of ways though.  I would check out what is offered in your area. 

 

The indoor pool/playground would be awesome for the winter. THanks, I will have to check out my local Y more and see what's there.

HarrietNJMommy

Ours is about $90/month for a family membership (babysitting is NOT included - that's extra). We feel it's worth it since gym memberships around here are at least $40 per person per month..........

Our Y is large and has a lot to offer. It even has daycare, camp, preschool, etc.

eaglesfan700

We are considering a Y membership - there is a brand new one being built that we could walk to.

But $100 a month seems high.  I pay $150 a year for my gym membership, plus $30 a month for childcare.  If that $100 a month at the Y doesn't include swim lessons for the kids or childcare, I am essentially paying $100 a month to work out, so that is just stupid.

MJCF

I believe ours is $69 a month for a family membership. It includes an indoor pool and child watch. When I looked into it a few months ago DS was 15 months old and there was really only 2 classes he could take. One was free for members and one was swimming lessons that I would have had to pay for (even as a member). I don't workout (bad, I know) so it would mostly be for DS. I honestly considered joining just for the childwatch and not working out. Just sitting and reading a book for a half hour...how bad is that!? I'm getting sidetracked. The way I decided was to grab a class schedule and see what classes we would realistically take and add up the cost as a member vs a non member. In the end since I really only wanted to take a class here and there with DS it was better to not be a member and just pay for the classes individually. I think I will reconsider when DS is a little older and there will be more he is able to participate in.

cactus5

Ours is $75 a month and child care is included. We also do swimming lessons, dance, soccer, and T ball through the Y so we get discounted rates for all of those.

bridein08

Our Y is in a larger city and we just joined. They do "Y pricing" versus financial assistance based on your income. DH is a new (read: underpaid!) cop, and we bring in about 2k base salary a month. We don't qualify for ANY lower pricing than the full cost at our Y and it is $95/month for the three of us (one infant). 

Count yourself lucky. I wish ours was that cheap!  

married2m

Wow. I'm so surprised at the variations of price!

Ours is $83/mo for a family membership. Includes 1.5 hrs of childcare, indoor/outdoor pools, some classes.

We are looking to move next year and the Y out there is more. $97/mo not including the pools. That is an additional $200 the summer. 

regenab

I pay $57 a month for me plus the girls (not including DH he has a free gym at the base) and that is with a military discount. So if you break down your price by month that is a really good price. Now I will say my Y is excellent, all the equipment in the gym is really nice and the pool is heated (it is outside). The kid zone has the big play tunnels like at Mcdonalds so the girls love it when I drop them off to play (kid zone is free and included). The only classes I have paid for so far is for the girls swim lessons this summer. I am considering signing up for a 4 week boot camp style fitness program and that I will have to pay extra. Next year I plan on putting the girls in their tennis program and will have to pay extra.

Also ask them about corporate discounts. My YMCA has a book that they have set up discounts for corporations that employee in the area. I was able to get my registration fee waived since DH is in the Coast Guard and they were a preferred employer in the area.

The Y membership is higher than a local gym, but the sports program for the kids is cheaper even with paying the extra fee. Local sports activities in our area are very expensive. T-ball is $180 per child and that is only for 8 weeks of play (1 practice per week and 1 game per week). I can put the girls in Tball at the Y for $40 per kid for 8 weeks. Also T-ball starts younger at the Y. In our local area you cannot start your child in local Tball until the age of 6. Since my girls are summer birthday they would not be able to start playing T ball until after they finish kindergarten. At the Y they can start at 4.

rab41380

I dont know if this makes you feel better but we pay 173/month for a family of 4 to belong to our gym, but our gym is equipped with about everything you could ask for!  We can swim all year long between indoor and outdoor pools.  Daycare is amazing...we pretty much utilize our gym at least 5x a week since we are paying so much, but it is so worth every penny! 

I say go for it if you feel that you are going to make it part of your life, that is how justify our expense.

segerama

Our Y is around $90 a month for a family.  This includes most fitness classes, 1.5 hours daycare per day, indoor pool and playground, walking track, fitness equipment.  We opted to join a local sports club that is around $150 a month, but also has an outdoor pool, indoor and outdoor tennis, a restaurant, complimentary coffee, tea and water, and 3 hours of daycare per day.  It also includes towels and has shampoo, conditioner, blowdryers, etc in the locker room.  The extra money is well worth it and we go 4-5 times a week.

MrsBalletStar05

Ours is over $50 (maybe $58 I want to say?) a month for a family membership (so more expensive than yours).  There is also a hefty joining fee, but that is waived if you pay for the year up front. 

We have work out equipment (not brand new, but newer, good condition), a room with classes, and free childcare for under 8.  Members get cheaper prices on kids sports.  

Angela814

Our Y membership is $69/month for a family. We get discounted classes with it (swimming lessons, sports, etc), a pool with family area, large weight room with cardio equipment, another new room with cardio equipment, some free classes for adults... They have a childcare area which is $3/kid/workout or $15/kid unlimited monthly. It sounds similar to your YMCA but larger and newer.

I just did the math, and we're apparently paying $828/year. I think it's worth it for us. Both girls take swimming lessons. I'm considering enrolling DD2 in the 2 yo preschool in the fall. (It will depend on if I'm still working part time or not.) I generally work out 3 days/week.

ETA: When I was working full time and DD1 was in before and after school care through the Y, they gave us a 50% discount on membership. There's also a significant discount on their summer camp rates - I think $20-30/week less. When we were paying for full time summer camp (instead of daycare), that savings covered the cost of the membership.

Temp6313048411121614

At ours, the family membership is $62/month.

MainelyFoolish

A family membership at our Y is $55/month, so $660/year. It's also old and small, but they are currently working on an expansion. We have an indoor pool, an exercise class room, a spinning room, a weight room, and room with treadmills and elipticals; everything else is space for the preschool/daycare (including the playground, much to my DD's dismay -- regular members aren't allowed to use it). Extra charges apply to classes other than the basic exercise classes but members get a discount off the non-member rates. Our Y does have a small Childwatch area open 8 to 12 and 4 to 7 on weekdays.

I used to have a family membership but I haven't had the energy or motivation to work out with this pregnancy, DH never used the Y, and I won't be able to use the Childwatch again until the new baby is 6 months old (their minimum age) so I cancelled our membership at the beginning of the summer and have paid non-member rates for DD's swimming lessons. I plan to rejoin once the new kid is old enough.

lana22

our family membership is 90/month, plus an enrollment fee, so pretty jealous of the cost of yours! ours includes childcare and an outdoor swim club over the summer, plus a ton of classes and three indoor pools.