My gym started with a squat rack I bought off a guy’s front yard for 100.00 four years ago. Actually it’s the squat rack I built this platform for. The platform I built was from acquired material. Sure I could have bought one for $1200.00. But mostly what you’re paying for is the convenience of not having to spend your own time building it.
I could have bought the material I needed to make this lifting platform for around $400-500 when I wanted it, but the key word was “wanted”. The only reason I constructed a second platform was for the convenience of multiple people training at the same time. It made the logistics much easier as opposed to someone working in; stripping and adding weight every other set.
Things I NEEDED were food for my family, child care, paying to keep thelights on, a new car for my wife,extensive home renovation for our new home including but not limit ed to: a new roof, a new septic tank, new walls and subfloor due to water damage and mold…..the list goes on.
So I scoured Craigslist, always kept my eye open for free material to the point where my coworkers knew if they had something they were getting rid of they called me first. Through that process I got:
- a free horse stall mat
- 3 free sheets of ply wood (one piece of 3/4 inch and two pieces of 1/2inch)
- left over screws from a deck project
- 3 left over boxes from my hard wood floors in my house
- free left over angle iron.
The only thing I spent specifically for the construction of this lifting platform was about 10.00 in liquid nails adhesive and four hours of my Saturday. Later a friend of mine, Tommy Kruper of Kroops Design came through and put the finishing touches on the new platform.
Now I’ll admit my frugality in this particular case was extreme and I don’t always adhere to bargain shopping this strictly, but the point I’m trying to make is if it comes down to spending money frivolously or having patience and putting in hard work I’m going to choose the latter of the two every time. It’s the same way I train.
Powerlifting is a marathon, not a 40 yard dash. Put in the time, put in the work, and you will reach your goals. Patience is a virtue.
Tyler Scheinhost is the owner of North Street Strength in Granby, MA. Follow him on Instagram @northstreetstrength