One effect of the economic slowdown is that health clubs are faced with cancellations and fewer people joining up. They're desperate for members, so be on the lookout for special offers -- and try to negotiate them even further down from there.

Yet with opportunity, there is also hazard. Some clubs may ask you to pay for 1 or 2 years upfront. But if you do this and the club closes its doors, you're out the money. They're not required to have an escrow account to protect your money in the event of a closure.

That being said, some of the opportunities you'll see may include waiver of initiation fees, group affiliation discounts and more. The Los Angeles Times reports that some clubs are even calling up former members and offering special deals to get them back on board.

Again, the usual caveat: Never sign a long-term contract. Even with the best intentions, most of us stop working out within 6 weeks of joining a club. That's why Clark loves the no-contract clubs where you pay quarterly or monthly and can quit at will.