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Download These 5 Mobile Apps for Cheap — or Free — At-Home Winter Workouts

By U.S. News & World Report

Let’s face it: Working out during winter can be challenging. The weather might make it harder to leave the house to hit the gym, or a snow storm may stop you from running outside.

These five apps offer ways to exercise at home and might even save you money by replacing your monthly gym membership, which costs an average of $54 per month, according to the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association.

Here’s how to stay cozy — and save money — while breaking out a sweat.

[See: 10 Frugal Activities to Get You Out of the House This Winter.]

1. If you’re looking for targeted workouts: Daily Workouts Free. You may have parts of your body that you love and parts that you’d like to tone up. Daily Workouts Free offers several apps that focus on specific parts of the body, such as your abdominal muscles and legs.

The app even offers a yoga option if you want an energizing flow that will work all your body parts. Plus, the exercises are simple and don’t require any special props beyond what you probably already have in your living room.

Available on iOS and Android
Cost: Free

2. If you’re in a rush, but running to catch the bus isn’t enough cardio for you: 7-Minute Workout. It’s perfectly understandable: You’re busy trying to balance work, friends, hobbies and other obligations. Who’s got time to spend hours at the gym every week? If you’re generally strapped for time, the Johnson & Johnson Official 7-Minute Workout might be the exercise routine for your packed schedule.

The workouts are fast, as the name suggests, and can be done almost anywhere. You will need a chair handy for certain moves, which also makes it a great option if you’re looking to stay fit while traveling.

Available on iOS and Android
Cost: Free

[See: 10 Money Leaks to Shut Down Now.]

3. You’re a weightlifter or want to be: StrongLifts 5×5 Workout. The StrongLifts 5×5 Workout app may be good if you want customized coaching for your weightlifting. It also works for beginners who might not want to display their budding abilities to the behemoths at the gym quite yet.

The app is built around five core exercises — the squat, bench press, deadlift, overhead press and barbell row — and the goal is to gradually add weight to your routine, not totally wipe you out at the end of each session. Each workout is around 45 minutes long and should be completed three times a week.

Available on iOS and Android
Cost: Free, but you’ll need access to weights, bench press and bar and some other equipment, which will be a big initial investment on its own. Many users recommend purchasing the StrongLifts Power Pack upgrade for $9.99 to get access to warm ups, additional workouts and more. Additional add-ons are available for $1.99 a piece.

4. If you want a customizable workout: Freeletics Bodyweight. Every day is different, and our goals — and fitness levels — are always changing. With Freeletics Bodyweight, you can fill out a profile for more personalized suggestions and choose how long you want your workouts to be.

Most of the exercises can be done at home except running (unless you have a treadmill) and only require a mat, if anything at all. That’s because you use your own body weight as resistance while doing lunges, burpees and more.

Available on iOS and Android
Cost: There are subscription plans for a “Training Coach” or “Training & Nutrition” that vary in price from around $1 to $4 per week.

[See: 20 Tips for Saving Money at the Grocery Store.]

5. If you want a meal plan to go with your fitness routine: 8fit. What we eat has an effect on our health and can drastically change the nature of our workouts, too. The app 8fit helps you take a rounded approach to your health by teaching you how to cook meals based on your lifestyle and fitness goals. Each workout is around 20 minutes, which makes it great for beginners or people who want to fit something quick into a busy day.

Available on iOS and Android
Cost: While the app offers some free fitness plans, meal plans do cost a little extra: The pro version costs $25 for three months or $60 for the year. The app also offers articles on why you should eat certain foods instead of just following a prescribed plan.

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Download These 5 Mobile Apps for Cheap — or Free — At-Home Winter Workouts originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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