Building a home gym on a budget - what are the essential first buys?

[RigRiser]

Finally got garage space and a small budget. I don't want to waste money on gimmicks. If you were starting a home gym from scratch on a tight budget, what are the essential first purchases in order? Help me prioritise.

[GearGuru]

Prioritise the stuff that lets you train hard and safe. My order on a budget:

• A power rack with safeties (non-negotiable for solo lifting)
• A barbell (a decent 20kg, don't cheap out badly here)
• Plates - buy by weight, second-hand cast iron is fine and cheap
• An adjustable bench
• Flooring/horse-stall mats to protect the floor and bar

That covers squat, bench, press, row, deadlift - 90% of training - before you spend on anything fancy.

[RigRiser]

That's exactly the prioritised list I needed.

[DeadliftKing]

Second the 'don't cheap out on the barbell' point. A terrible bar with no spin and sharp knurl ruins every session. A rack and a good bar outlast everything; buy those well, save money on plates by going used.

[VikingPress]

Second-hand is your friend for plates and even racks - people sell barely-used setups constantly. Iron doesn't wear out. I kitted most of my garage from marketplace listings for half retail. Be patient and watch local ads.

[GymNoob22]

As a beginner I'd add: you don't need machines or fancy attachments at first. A rack, bar, plates and bench will take you years. Adding dumbbells/bands later as budget allows. Don't blow the budget on gimmicks day one.

[RigRiser]

Used plates, a solid bar and rack first, gimmicks never. Perfect roadmap, thank you all - watching the local listings now.