"The minute you make up your mind to be fit, you can find fitness anywhere you go," says Linda Gottlieb, a Milford-based personal trainer. [...] with a little creativity you may be able to enjoy challenging workouts personal trainers create for their clients without depleting all of your hard-earned cash. While joining a (health club) or hiring a trainer may keep you more motivated, our goal is always to inspire people to make fitness part of their life no matter what their circumstances. Public libraries are one of best-kept insider secrets of the frugally fit. Besides being able to check out terrific how-to fitness books, you also can borrow DVD workout series that might cost a small fortune if you purchased them in volume yourself. [...] Fairfield's Parks and Recreation Department offers its residents a modest, clean gym stocked with a variety of cardio and stationary weight machines for just $130 a year. Continuing education classes in many communities are often taught by excellent local fitness instructors looking to expand their businesses and recruit new clients. [4] Spend More Time at the Office (Gym): Taking advantage of your corporate fitness facility or health and wellness discounts may seem like a no-brainer, but not everyone reads the fine print in their employee manual and takes advantage: "It's not as common as it used to be, but some people still have insurance that pays for gym memberships -- especially if they have a health issue such (such as diabetes or hypertension) or if your doctor recommends it," Berry says. If you have a flexible schedule, inquire about reduced fees for limiting your workouts to off-peak hours (usually mid-day or late evening.) Bottom line: "It never hurts to ask," Gottlieb says. [10] Tune Up Your Routine: I always tell my clients with an iPod that the easiest way for them to get going is Scrubbing tubs, pushing the vacuum and raking leaves are surefire ways to burn calories and keep your budget on track, especially if you currently employ domestic help. [...] cutting back on housecleaning, lawn and snow removal services can be good for your body and your wallet provided you are fit enough to do the chores. In what amounts to an extreme couponing approach to fitness, it's possible to get a lot of free workouts by taking advantage of trial periods at gyms and studios. Many trainers are happy to sell multiple sessions at a discount or train a group of friends at a more affordable per-person rate. Using canned veggies, beans and soups as a substitute for dumbbells is almost a do-it-yourself fitness cliché, but use your imagination to expand on your homegrown fitness arsenal. Gottlieb bought dowels at the hardware store and weighted them with sealed jugs of water on each end to create a barbell for squats.