Warning issued as Brits told they’re about to ‘waste £503m’ in 2025

As the New Year kicks off, millions of Brits are expected to flood gyms across the UK, driven by ambitions to boost fitness, health, and mood.

But according to new research from Live Football Tickets, these well-intentioned resolutions come at a staggering cost.

It’s estimated that Brits will waste over £503 million on unused gym memberships in 2025, as enthusiasm wanes and many abandon their fitness goals within months.

A survey of 2,000 UK residents reveals that while gyms see a significant surge in memberships each January, over a quarter of Brits (27%) quit attending by March.

Nearly one in five (18%) abandon their gym visits within just 1 to 2 months. Alarmingly, many continue paying for memberships long after they stop going, with almost a fifth failing to cancel until 11-12 months later.

Given that the majority of gym-goers spend £21-£30 per month on memberships, this delay adds up. With an average of £87 wasted per person, the total projected cost of unused memberships for 2025 exceeds £503 million.

January remains the UK’s busiest month for gym sign-ups, fueled by an annual surge in searches for “cheap gyms near me,” which have risen by 5,000% in the past month alone.

Of those surveyed, 24% admitted to joining a gym as part of a previous New Year’s resolution. However, the pattern is clear as enthusiasm often fizzles out after just a few months.

While 27% of respondents stopped using their memberships within 3 to 4 months, another 20% quit after 5-6 months. Only a small fraction (4%) said they stuck with their resolution and continue using the gym.

The most common motivation for joining a gym in 2025 is to increase overall fitness, with nearly half (45%) of respondents citing this as their top goal. Other popular reasons include boosting overall health and mood (42%), losing weight (34%), and increasing physical activity (32%).

Fewer Brits are focused on muscle-building (27%), while a small minority (7%) admitted they have no specific goals for their gym memberships in 2025.

Maarten Zomerdijk, Co-CEO of Live Football Tickets, offered practical advice to help Brits stay committed to their fitness plans in 2025:

1. Start Small: Ease into your routine to avoid injury and burnout.
2. Set Clear Goals: Define measurable and achievable milestones to stay motivated.
3. Track Your Progress: Celebrate small wins to keep yourself engaged.
4. Enjoy the Process: Find workouts or classes that genuinely make exercise enjoyable.
5. Rest Days Matter: Give your body time to recover without feeling guilty.

“Words of encouragement from friends and family can also be invaluable,” Zomerdijk noted. “If you’re struggling to stay motivated, reach out for support and remind yourself how far you’ve come.”

While the financial toll of unused gym memberships is staggering, the deeper message is one of sustainability and mindfulness. If Brits want to make 2025 the year of better health, sticking to realistic fitness goals, and avoiding unnecessary spending, is key.

For those making fitness resolutions this year, the challenge will be turning January’s burst of motivation into long-term habits that make both physical and financial sense.