A lot of fitness-club customers waste a lot of money on memberships they don’t use. If you’re thinking about joining a club, first compare the costs—and time commitment—of exercising at a club compared to the many other fitness options.

When comparing fitness clubs, consider several points, including what its members say, its location, membership fees, contract terms, facilities and equipment, classes, and amenities. Our ratings of area clubs will help you with these comparisons.

Although it’s easy to check on clubs’ facilities and activities, finding the right membership option for you can be a lot more difficult.

A good bike shop can provide immense help selecting and maintaining a bike, beginning when you first start shopping and throughout the time you ride the bike you purchase.

As you begin to shop, determine what you expect to do with your bike and choose your bike accordingly. In general, the more you plan to ride and to compete, the more the bike will cost.

The most important thing you can do to assure yourself high-quality medical care is to form a strong relationship with a good primary care physician and, at times, together make informed decisions on specialty care. We identify top area doctors.

Once you have identified doctors who are potential candidates, you may want to get answers to several questions about each. Here’s a list of things to ask.

Whichever doctor you select, how you interact with the doctor will have a big effect on the success of your care. Here are some suggestions on how to get the best care from doctors.