Purchasing fitness equipment can be a huge investment. Treadmills and ellipticals can cost thousands of dollars. Even free weights can add up as you increase the variety of sizes in your home gym.

Thankfully, there is a way to save hundreds of dollars on each of your fitness equipment purchases: You can buy used equipment. Buying used fitness equipment is ideal for someone who wants to buy a full-featured machine but must shop within a budget. You have the opportunity to examine the machine after some use, you can try it out, and you can make a more educated decision regarding the quality of the machine. This isn't as relevant for free weights. With weights, you can still gain significant savings, and that should be reason enough to consider purchasing used equipment. Machines carry hefty price tags and cause even the bravest buyer to hesitate.

When looking at used fitness equipment for purchase, make sure to carefully examine the mechanism. Actually try the machine out for a minute to make sure it runs smoothly. Listen for any grinding in the mechanism of a rowing machine. Run a treadmill for a few seconds around 6mph to see if the belt has become too loose. Examine the motion of an elliptical, looking for a smooth circular motion with no sticky points. Don't be afraid to test a machine that you are buying used. If the seller is hesitant or refuses to let you try the machine, you should consider looking elsewhere.

Purchasing fitness equipment is your first step towards a new, healthy lifestyle. This new purchase, be it new or used, is an investment in your health. Find a good quality piece of equipment that you can afford, but remember that a poor quality piece of equipment is more likely to cause injury than prevent it.