If you don't have the time in your busy schedule to manage a gym membership or enough cash on hand to buy expensive home workout equipment, you might want to consider trying a home dumbbell workout. When done correctly, a dumbbell workout can be an easy and inexpensive option to achieve quick, long-term and sustainable fitness goals.

So, how do you make your home dumbbell workout work for you? Keep the following ideas in mind:

To begin with, you're going to want to size up what size dumbbells you're looking to achieve with your new dumbbell routine. Do you want rippling muscles or feel more comfortable wearing sleeveless dresses again?

To the same end, make sure you consider, or consider asking for guidance from a professional trainer, if your body can achieve what you're about to ask of it. A few women actually are able to achieve the same results as a man while a good number of men can't build up enough muscle mass to rival a petite woman's arms.

Once you've decided how and what you're going to achieve, you'll be ready to add a a dumbbell workout to your workout routine. Just like you would when starting any new workout, to reduce your injury risk and get maximum results, make sure you are trained on how to use the equipment beforehand. You can take a class with a trainer at your local gym, go out and buy a how-to DVD or or even download a podcast on iTunes. Above all else, make sure you put in the time necessary to workout using the proper form before you integrate new exercises into your routine. It's always a good rule of thumb to check with your doctor to make sure it's okay.

Finally, in order to further minimize your risk of strain and your risk of getting discouraged and quitting for that matter, don't take on everything at once. The highest quality dumbbell workout regimens require at least 3 months of training. To begin with, you should only be doing one set of every exercise with just 10-15 reps each. Over time, you'll build your stamina to achieve up to 8 sets of each exercise.