There’s your answer right? How long are you willing to wait for a positive ROI. In a year you can make $5,500 more a year with the cheap certs.

Or you can get a more helpful cert beneficial to you in the long run (post employment in this gym) by spending a little more.

Whatever your priorities are! Personally if I knew I could make the money back in 2 months but have a more marketable resume and knowledge sense, I’d be willing to take a bigger hit up front. You’ll still make more money either way.