Clive Van Horne The Cost of Being Fit Interview

Aussies Set To Spend $4.7 Billion On New Year's Fitness Fads

With the New Year in full swing, the nation is expected to spend more than $4.7 billion on health and fitness products to achieve their goals this year, with getting fit (57 per cent), getting healthy (57 per cent) and losing weight (56 per cent) the top resolutions for Aussies in 2018.

Although getting physically fit is high on the priority list, almost nine out of ten (89 per cent) Australians aren't budgeting for their health and fitness resolutions, with Australians overspending by $25 million per month. While Australians pound the pavement or hit the gym, only a third (37 per cent) will spend the New Year getting financially fit, by saving more and becoming debt free.

Commonwealth Bank Executive General Manager, Clive van Horen, encouraged setting budgets for each resolution to keep track of spending.

"While we're setting New Year savings goals for holidays or homes, nearly a third (30 per cent) of Aussies don't think about how much they are spending on fitness goals; for example, 2.6 million Aussies admitted to buying sports or fitness equipment that was never used.

"Getting financially and physically fit can easily go hand-in-hand if people keep track of spending using simple tricks like researching before committing to health and fitness memberships, class passes or costly equipment – then using online banking to track spending while using apps to track steps."

How much cash we're splashing

Australians spend $712 million a month on health and fitness activities, equating to a $38 monthly spend for the average Australian. Younger Australians spend the most on their health and fitness activities, with Gen X spending $243.4 million a month, followed closely by Gen Y who spend $189.2 million.

Unused New Year's resolutions

More than one million health and fitness passes go unused in Australian wallets – a big contributor to missed financial goals – with only a third (36 per cent) believing they get good value out of their health and fitness spending.

Investing in fit-tech

Australians are investing in fit-tech to keep fitness goals on track, with one fifth (20 per cent) purchasing a fitness tracker in the last 12 months and almost a quarter (23 per cent) of females finding inspiration online or through apps to save on personal training costs.

Activewear and trainers will be our top purchases in 2018, with nearly a fifth (18 and 17 per cent respectively) having these items on their New Year shopping list. Of those Australians sticking to a budget, one in two (54 per cent) Australians use online banking to track their health and fitness spending.

Clive van Horen's tips for making financially fit New Year's resolutions:

Don't declare too early: Instead of buying new equipment the day you make your resolution, look online first – investigate what kit your local club has or borrow a mate's second hand or unused gear.

The best things in life are free: Getting fit doesn't have to break the bank. Get friends together for a workout or go for a run around your local park, download free motivational apps or watch YouTube tutorials for inspiration at home.

Don't wear yourself thin: Be realistic with your goals, time and budget. Signing yourself up to multiple activities can leave you thinly spread and hamper motivation, so be selective and clear about your fitness goals.

Interview with Clive Van Horen, CommBank Executive General Manager

Question: Why did CommBank decide to do a study into the cost of our NY resolutions?

Clive Van Horen: We wanted to uncover how much Australians spend each year to achieve their new year health and fitness resolutions and what we uncovered was that Aussies are overspending by $25 million each month because they aren't setting budget goals. Getting financially and physically fit can go hand-in-hand so we want to encourage Aussies to budget for their new year's resolutions to keep track of spending.


Question: What did this study find?

Clive Van Horen: Our research found that although getting physically fit is high on our new year's resolutions lists, almost nine out of ten (89 per cent) aren't budgeting for their health and fitness resolutions, with only a third (37 per cent) spending the new year getting financially fit, by saving more and becoming debt free.


Question: How much do health and fitness activities cost us, a month?

Clive Van Horen: Australians spend $712 million a month on health and fitness activities, which works out to be around $38 per month for the average Australian. Younger Australians spend the most on their health and fitness activities, with Gen X spending $243.4 million a month, followed closely by Gen Y who spend $189.2 million.


Question: Are you surprised that we are expected to spend more than $4.7billion on health and fitness products?

Clive Van Horen: What I found more surprising was that nearly a third (30 per cent) of Aussies don't think about how much they are spending on fitness goals. In fact, our research found that 2.6 million Aussies admitted to buying sports or fitness equipment that was never used.


Question: Can you share your top tips for budgeting health and fitness resolutions?

Clive Van Horen: There are some simple tips to make financially fit new year's resolutions:

Don't commit too early: Instead of buying equipment the day you make your resolution, look online first and research what kit your local club has or borrow a mate's second hand or unused gear.
The best in life are free: Getting fit doesn't have to break the bank. You can get your friends together for a workout or go for a run at your local park, download free motivational apps or watch YouTube tutorials for inspiration at home.
Don't wear yourself thin: Be realistic with your goals, time and budget. Signing yourself up to multiple activities can leave you thinly spread and hamper motivation, so be selective and clear about your fitness goals.


Question: How can we cut costs and still achieve our NY resolutions?

Clive Van Horen: You can easily keep track of how much you spend on health and fitness products in real-time using your mobile banking app and make sure you do your research before committing to health and fitness memberships, class passes or costly equipment.


Interview by Brooke Hunter