I'll admit being pleased to see the back of this month! It's been tough what with late payers, a looming tax bill and the need for large amounts of comfort food.

Still I've managed to keep the blues at bay by taking up yoga, thanks to a DVD I got at Christmas.

How are other people surviving this tough month?

There are some among you who, in a moment of post-Christmas/New Year guilt,  have gone and joined a gym, or are thinking of doing so.
Some of you have sensibly gone for a monthly, not an annual contract. This means if your resolution to get fit lasts as long as the time it took you to snaffle that tin of Celebrations on Boxing Day, your wallet will only take a small hit.
If you have signed up for 12 months, then here's hoping you are among the small minority who actually stick at it.
It is possible - I'm one of those sad/enviable/retentive people who joined a gym in 1993 and never looked back. But it does take a certain dedication to  join a gym otherwise you're throwing money the same way as your bog roll.

So here's my checklist for a financially healthy new year - literally. If you really, really want to join a gym that is.

1) Is your gym in an easy-to-use location.
I've found that having one near work is great, it's not too hard to stick to a fitness programme if you can pop in after, or before work. In fact a lunch-hour work out can be addictive (you don't get that post 2pm slump). The same goes for having one near your home. In fact if you can join a gym with branches near your work and your home, it's even better.
Oh, and when I say near, I mean a walk, not a car/train/tube ride away - you only need one minor distraction ('drinks after work anyone?') and that 10 minute walk throught the cold and dark will suddenly feel as appealing as a Polar expedition.

2) What's your motivation.
If it's just so you can lose weight and carry on snaffling giant size chocolate bars, forget it. Time and time again surveys have shown that weight loss is 70 per cent diet and 30 per cent exercise. There are women and men at my gym who want to lose weight but despite exercising religiously 5 times a week for years the only pounds they've lost are those they shell out for their membership fee. One spinning class only really burns about 400 calories, which is about as much as a Mars bar (I think).
Gyms will help you get fit, but unless you train like Paula Radcliffe, you have to change your diet.

3) Take it easy.
If you haven't exercised before it can be tempting to binge on it, but you'll end up so knackered you'll be too tired or bored, or both. This is when it's worth shelling out £40 or so to get one of the gym's personal trainers to give you a programme that you can realistically stick to. Once you've done that for six weeks, then start upping your treadmill time. And remember you only really 40 minutes to make a difference so once your programme gets too easy, it's time to update it.

If that's put you off, then there are loads of things you can do, for free. But that's another story.

xxxx