If you're like me, then you like to get your workout started ASAP, and you also don't have the money to pay for a gym membership. My school has a very well-equipped gym, but I still train at home, because the gym is open only 2 days a week.
So you can see how a home gym is essential for me. My home gym consists of a bench, about 210 lbs of weights, 2 barbell bars, 2 dumbbell bars, a leg station, and outside in the street is where I do get my cardio when I'm not training at school (very, very harsh in the winter).
The best part about training at home is no distractions. And training at home without a spotter I find is more rewarding, if you're doing bench press and go 'til failure, there's no one to get the bar off of you—so you gotta push yourself even harder just to be able to sit up.
Practical Considerations
Money
Cash! That's the first thing you have to look at before actually buying your equipment. The obvious reason is if you don't have enough, then no equipment. But any good store will let you try out the equipment on display, so first see if it's comfortable and then see if you've got the money (or the credit) to pay for it.
Even if you don't have the money, you'll have an idea of how much you need and you'll know exactly what you want. A good store will also offer delivery with your equipment fully assembled, but I wasn't so fortunate, so I had to set up everything (which was no fun at all). But after I got it assembled and laid on that bench for the first time, I knew that it was worth it!
Space
Space is the next thing. I like the free weights they don't take up much space so, that's good because my stuff is in the basement and that's a very busy part of my house. So, when I'm finished my workout I can strip the weights off the bars and stack them in a corner.
I looked at multistation machines and they were just too bulky and I like the wider, fuller, range of motion that you get with free weights. So, free weights were a natural move for me. Make sure that the space is inviting to you so it will keep you coming back again and again. Don't choose a place lit by a single light bulb and has cob webs in every corner.
Conclusion
I'll be honest, I'm still not totally happy with my home gym at the moment. There are still a few pieces of equipment that I want to get, but I've got the essentials. I want a stationary bike, a nice heavy bag, and a speed bag.
I'll have to wait for those, but I'm set for now. Before you buy anything, make sure that you've set your goals and remember to keep those goals in mind when buying your equipment.
And please, for the love of everything sacred in the sport of bodybuilding, don't buy into those infomercials with all this 'breakthrough technology' and amazing diet pills...
It's nothing but bullsh!t, as they claim to be able to tone and sculpt your body in 3 minutes a day, and reduce fat and tone muscle after a week on their "amazing" wonder pill. Don't let this crap fool you. There is no substitute for hard work—remember that!
The choice is yours. Don't wish for a better body, decide on it and work for it. Keep up the good work!