USA Today: Is One of Your New Year’s Resolutions to Exercise More? Why You May Want to Rethink that Gym Membership.

Resolving to get healthier in 2019 is admirable. Elbowing through the mosh-pit gym crowds in January is impressive, if not pretty. Not using the gym at all by June, even after paying for a yearlong contract, is, well, disappointing.

And it’s a waste of money, even if your intentions were good.

After all, joining a gym seems like the answer to healthy resolutions and maybe redemption for those fifth and sixth helpings of eggnog. Gyms are ready for this annual jolt of workout motivation – all you have to do is sign an annual contract

“It’s also easy to think spending upfront will motivate you to hit the gym often and get your money’s worth, says Kevin Volpp, director of the Center for Health Incentives and Behavioral Economics at the University of Pennsylvania. But he says it’s common to get a few months into the contract and “view the money that’s been spent as a sunk cost, which is no longer very motivating.” While you’re deciding whether or not to shlep to the gym on a busy weekday in June, you probably won’t be considering the money you dropped on a membership in January.” Read more at USA Today