We all love to take a camping trip with the family, especially during the warm summer months. Nothing beats getting away from the hustle and bustle of our busy lives than getting into nature and enjoying the fresh air.
If you are hoping to plan a camping getaway for you and your family, it is always best to make sure you stick to a budget and plan. This allows you to save money and enjoy the quiet time with your family all the same. So, let’s dive in and consider the 10 best tips for camping on a budget this season.
10 Tips For Camping On a Budget
1. Use What You’ve Already Got:
This is a pretty basic budget friendly idea for planning your camping trip. The likelihood that you and your family already have most of the items that you will need is pretty high, especially if this isn’t your first time taking a camping expedition.
Utilize the things that you already have in your home, such as kitchen utensils, dishes, sleeping bags, et cetera, and only spend money on the things that you may not have, or may need to replace.
2. Opt For Used Gear:
Whether we like to believe it or not, camping gear can be expensive. Super expensive. One of your best options if you don’t have all of the camping equipment you need already is to buy used ones.
Although you may cringe at the idea of used gear, it can end up being in excellent shape and super effective if you find the right places to look. Great places to look for used gear would be outdoors retailers in your area, or you may also be able to find some options online as well.
If you know the best time to buy camping gear when the price falls you also can save a lot of money.
3. Experiencing The Wild:
Although not everyone’s cup of tea, one of the best ways to save money when going camping with your family is to stay at a campground or park that doesn’t offer electricity or running water.
Of course, this isn’t always an option for every family, but the parks that offer these utilities can tend to be a little more expensive than the other primitive settings. Plus, these sites allow you to pitch the tent and truly enjoy everything that nature has to offer.
4. Stay-cation:
One of the big spenders when making a camping trip is the gas it takes in your vehicle to get there. With that said, rather than making a long trip out to a park that is far away.
It may be a better option for your family and your wallet to find a campground or nature park that is closer to home. You will get the same feel of camping and experiencing the wild regardless of whether you are hundreds of miles or even just a couple of miles away.
5. Plan Ahead, Way Ahead:
This may seem like a pretty basic principle, but it’s always good to keep it in the back of your mind. If you see items on sale that are nonperishable — Things like spices, canned goods, tarps, batteries, the list goes on — pick them up.
You can always store them in a camping box that will go with you on all trips. Planning and buying ahead like this allows you to only spend the money on the necessities when you are getting ready to trek out to the wilderness again with your family.
6. Multi-tasking Tools:
When shopping for your gear for your camping trip with the family, try to look for gear and tools that can be used for many different purposes.
This will save you money, obviously, by not having to purchase so much equipment, plus you will also be able to save space in your vehicle when you are headed on the open road.
You can find multi-purpose gear in both clothing and kitchen utensils. Also, some of this multi-purpose planning can be put toward the food and products you purchase, for example, buying ground beef that can be used for many different meals if you’re staying for multiple days.
7. Create Your Own Activities:
When you go out camping, one of the worries is figuring out exactly what activities you can do with your family to keep everyone entertained during the day.
Rather than trying to find activities in surrounding areas, like water parks or amusement parks, opt for creating your own fun. This can include nature hikes, fishing, or even playing board games or high energy games like Capture the Flag.
You don’t need to spend money to show your kids how to have a good time, especially if you are trying to get them away from the crazy lifestyle you have at home. Make your camping trip an opportunity to enjoy the quiet and the bonding together.
8. Go Solar:
This budget friendly tip is cool since solar energy is expanding every single day. You can now buy solar lanterns to use while you are out in the wild. This will help save you on all of the batteries you would need for lanterns or flashlights you would need to bring.
Because these lanterns use solar energy, you are saving change in your pocket while you utilize the natural resources that nature already provides for you. Pretty cool!
9. Keep It Cool:
A cooler is one of the essential items that are a must have for a camping adventure with family and friends. However, if you are trying to keep items safe from nature and the heat, make sure to keep your cooler in the shade.
You don’t want to have to spend more for items that couldn’t beat the heat, like ice or perishable produce. By keeping a conscious eye on the cooler and keeping it in the shade, you will beat the heat like a pro, and keep that money in your wallet longer.
10. Keep Your Wood Dry:
One of the worst problems you may come across when camping is a rain shower, leading to a ruined, wet wood pile. Rather than finding somewhere that sells more wood in this worst-case scenario, put some of your gear to use, and keep your wood pile covered.
Even if there is no rain or moisture predicted in the forecast for your trip, keeping your wood pile covered can guarantee you fresh, dry wood for campfires galore.
Conclusion
Camping doesn’t always have to cost an arm and a leg; In fact, it should always be an option for your family that is low cost and fun to enjoy together.
Make your trip about the bonding and the excitement of the wilderness rather than on how much you spent for your brand-new tent or camping gear you just had to have.
With these budget friendly tips, you will be assured that you are saving as much money as you possibly can while also enjoying a wonderful vacation with your family and friends.
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