Five affordable ways to take the plunge and get into swimming
WITH temperatures rising, you may fancy a cooling dip.
Swimmers are 4.3 per cent happier than the rest of us, according to a study by Swim England.
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Here's tips for affordable ways to take the plunge . . .
KIT HITS: If you really want to reap the exercise benefits of swimming, you need a proper swimming costume or trunks.
Sportsdirect.com has a range of big-brand discounted kit, with Speedo swimsuits RRP £31.99, starting at £12. Or try decathlon.co.uk for Nabaiji men's swimming trunks reduced from £16.99 to £14.99.
MEMBERSHIP MAGIC: Check if your local leisure centre offers off-peak memberships, which are often around 30 per cent less than full-price peak memberships.
Many leisure centres also now offer 'swim only' memberships. At Active4today centres, over-60s can get an unlimited swimming membership from £20 per month.
At selected Better Leisure centres across the UK, there are also budget options such as flex memberships for £10 per month which offer one free swim (or fitness session) per month plus 30 per cent off any other activities.
TIME IT RIGHT: Look out for early-bird booking slots at your local pool throughout the week, typically before 4pm on weekdays, where swimming sessions can be up to half price. Weekend prices tend to be higher as this is when family swim rates apply.
GO WILD: Wild or outdoor swimming is a great way to blow away the cobwebs now the warmer weather is here.
You can find a full list of outdoor swimming pools and venues at swimming.org — and pay-as-you-go pricing means you can try it before committing to a big monthly spend.
SMART THINKING: Avoid costly extras by making sure you bring your own locker padlock and your own shampoo and conditioner.
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It's also a good idea to invest in a waterproof phone case if you're going to leave your bag poolside.
You can snap up two best-selling Yosh ones for £7.64 at amazon.co.uk.
All prices on page correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers subject to availability
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