If you have never joined a gym in your life, you may not know that the YMCA is sometimes considered expensive.
The YMCA is supposed to be a community type establishment.
It is built to help people and get them involved in a number of activities.
However, when you start to look at joining fees and monthly costs for a family, the prices get a bit high.
Here are some of the reasons the YMCA is so expensive.
Why Is the YMCA So Expensive
1. Staff
As with many businesses, the staff at the YMCA is going to be part of what increases the costs.
Although some of the staff will be the support staff that is making a lower amount of money working at the YMCA, there are some staff members that will be higher paid.
There are trainers and even swim instructors who could be employed by the YMCA.
To deal with the volume of people these people need to deal with, they must be well trained.
YMCA employees have to have excellent customer service skills, and they need to communicate and plan well.
The staff at the YMCA is going to be costly, and this is a major reason the YMCA can be so expensive.
The staff at a YMCA is also usually able to tap into the employee benefits that go along with being a YMCA employee.
By the time the benefits, vacation days, and regular pay are covered, the prices are going to get quite high for the people who are ready to join.
Although there is not much an individual member can do about this, it is important to consider the benefit of having an excellent staff at the YMCA.
If you are going to spend the money and join the YMCA, you will want a great staff.
You will want employees who are knowledgeable about the gym.
There is a need for employees who can run a great class and those who will encourage kids to get more active in their lives.
Paying higher prices for great staff members is something most people can get on board with.
2. Overhead
Have you ever considered the size of the local YMCA?
Most of these buildings are very large, and they are capable of serving quite a few people at once.
When you look at larger buildings and more members, the overhead costs get higher.
Since the YMCA is a non-profit organization, they are mostly just trying to make sure your time spent at the facility is covered by the money they collect.
The overhead expenses will include things like electricity and running water as well.
Another thing which adds to the overhead is the amount of time a YMCA stays open.
Many will open very early in the morning to accommodate those coming from work, and others will stay open late as well.
The more hours the facility is open and running, the more it is going to cost to keep it up and going.
Overhead costs are difficult to manage for any business.
They include things like insurance, supplies, and more.
Insurance is a large expense for an organization like the YMCA.
With so many people of all different age ranges being involved in the activities, the chances of someone getting hurt are quite a bit higher.
When children are involved, companies need to protect themselves should something happen to one of the children participating in an event at the YMCA.
Between insurance, legal fees, and conforming to proper regulations and protocol, the overhead expenses at a YMCA will get quite high.
This will, in turn, change the prices they must charge for the membership.
3. Community Outreach
Many people who have expressed a concern to the YMCA about the cost of membership have been told that it is related to the community outreach that is done.
Community outreach includes things like free programs for children and families who need help.
The YMCA is usually very active in the community.
In fact, the YMCA is a non-profit organization which is very active when it comes to charity and supporting the community.
You can be sure that a portion of what you are paying is going to go to the community you live in.
Some people consider their YMCA membership to be partly about the cost of membership and party about helping the community.
If you are really worried about what the YMCA is doing with all of their membership funds, much of that information should be available for your review.
Most nonprofits are going to have to release information about their finances and let the community know how they spend their funds on a regular basis.
Even if it is expensive to belong to the YMCA, try to consider that you are also going to be helping your community by being a member.
4. Pool Maintenance
Does your YMCA have a pool?
Many of the YMCAs that have a pool tend to charge higher membership fees and initial season fees as well.
This is mostly because a pool is an expensive thing to maintain.
Not only are there pool chemicals to balance, but the pool needs to be cleaned and taken care of on a daily basis.
When a YMCA pool is used, it is used heavily.
The pool is always full of people, and this can lead to some issues when it comes to pool maintenance and upkeep.
Pools with higher levels of use need quite a bit more attention when it comes to chemicals.
The pool will be subject to bacteria and algae that a less used swimming pool will not have to contend with.
When a YMCA figures out their membership costs for the year, they need to consider the pool maintenance costs as well.
The pool is going to be a large chunk of their operating budget.
Since most members will use the pool at some point for swimming lessons or a water aerobics class, the costs are going to be built into the price you pay each month.
Another reason the membership is higher for pool costs is the cost it would be for a person to have access to a pool elsewhere.
If a member of the YMCA does not have their own pool, then they may have to join a community pool or even a country club to have access to swimming.
Chances are the pricing on this is going to be quite a bit higher than the pricing of the total YMCA membership.
In this regard, the YMCA is expensive, but it is probably a bit cheaper than other options when it comes to access to swimming and swimming lessons.
The next time you consider your YMCA membership to be a bit expensive, think about what the access to the pool means to you.
5. Extra Fees and Location
Did you know that not all YMCA memberships are the same cost?
Depending on where you live, the pricing is going to vary.
In some areas of the country, a YMCA membership is actually a great deal.
In other parts, it costs more money to join the YMCA than it does to join a local gym.
The higher-priced YMCA facilities will be based on the income of the local people as well as the quality of the facilities.
If your YMCA has recently undergone a renovation, the membership costs are probably going to increase quite a bit.
The plus side of this is that you are going to have access to top of the line equipment, but you are, unfortunately, going to have to pay for it.
The renovated YMCAs also have better technology, and usually, the facilities look quite a bit nicer as well.
For some people, this will be worth the extra money.
Unfortunately, there are other people who would be fine with an outdated treadmill and a cheaper monthly fee.
One of the things you will also notice from one YMCA to the next is that there are extra fees that can come into play.
At some YMCAs, you will feel as though you get a lot for your membership.
At other locations, you will have to pay fees for classes, registration, and more.
The fees start to add up over the course of the year, and they make the overall cost of membership much more expensive.
If you are interested in being a YMCA member, you need to be very clear about what you will use it for, what the pricing is, and how much your yearly totals are going to be.
Try not to consider the monthly fees.
Instead, look at it over a course of a year and decide if it is going to make sense for you.
What to Do if the YMCA is too Expensive
If you feel as though the YMCA could benefit you and your family, it is a good idea to talk to the people in charge of the YMCA.
Many times, there are scholarships or reduced priced memberships that are based on income levels.
If your income is below the average for the YMCA, then they may give you a great deal on your membership.
If your income levels change, you may be asked to contribute more, but chances are you will still be eligible for a great discount to help you join.
Another thing to consider when wondering why the YMCA is so expensive is to think about what you are going to use the YMCA for.
Are you going to mainly be using the gym?
Chances are you can find a gym in your community that has a lower monthly rate than the YMCA.
Most of these gyms will give you a one-week membership that is free of charge.
The one week will allow you to see how the gym is and if it gets too busy during the times of day you need it.
Try these other places out if they are cheaper than the YMCA.
If you find something you like, then you could end up saving some money.
Of course, you also always have the option of working out at home, but that can sometimes be difficult for some people.
It can be hard to stay motivated when you don’t have the camaraderie and direction a YMCA can provide.
Conclusion
Joining a YMCA can be a great experience.
Try not to let the pricing discourage you, ultimately.
There are usually ways you can work around the costs and get a membership for a better price.
The best place to start is to talk to the leaders of the local YMCA.
If you find that the costs are still too high, try and find other local resources which allow you the same facilities the YMCA does.
NEXT: Why Is Life So Expensive? (Top 10 Reasons)
Howard says
Great, very detailed review. Also written in a very friendly conversational manner!!
Skyler says
Now if it’s based on local income why are the ymca’s in my poor city charging 50$ for memberships on unrenovated facilities not to mention legitimately all around these neighborhoods people are making 15$ and hour as a maximum that doesn’t add up
Re says
Nonetheless a very informative article great stuff!!!
Anonymous says
I paid 75
Price is ridiculous
Richert says
The ymca is ok, but not fun to workout!. My local ymca have some disable people working there which I’m ok with but I have been yelled many times for this people
So , my dilema is helping the community at the ymca or having fun while a reach my personal goals at lifetime fitness which cost me the same
Tremayne says
at 65.00 a month, I don’t want to be kicked off of the basketball court while playing basketball for a dance class when they had a dance room upstairs….
Jacalope says
Out city got a new publically funded ymca built in cheap land, it is less affordable than the gym at our university….. for a non profit that just seems wrong.
Jer says
Moncton is in one of the lowest income provinces. The YMCA is ridiculously expensive though. Why???
NANA says
I am sorry but if they charge all social workers and police and foster families and everybody getting it for free we all could afford it.
So many agencies here in our poor community get a membership for free, not discounted. and 80.00 a month or more for me, retired on SS, my daughter, single mother low income because she gets 900.00 a month for child support they count. I can’t get a discount. She is on no aid,
Criminal of THE YMCA, just criminal. Look what the CEO of the YMCA makes and then ask REALLY!
NANA says
BIG BUSINESS. The YMCA is the nation’s largest charity in terms of earned income, the second-largest by contributed income. … Meanwhile, 31 percent came from charitable contributions, government contracts, and grants. The remaining came from fees for YMCA rooms, resident camping, and more.
The last email or comment
no one cares, the rich just get richer and the poor stay down, capitalism at its best. its all about the profit for the top!!!!!
Debra says
Just read all the YMCA membership information, the membership fee is ridiculous and I would have to pay extra for all the classes and training I’m interested in…. As a single income home with bills, how is this helping me? I am trying to join and still figuring out how the extreme fees helps other than provides grants and, financial assistance to families unable to pay. I’m trying to sponsor myself and someone’s family.