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Frugal Camping: Use What You Have!

May 20, 2021 | Leave a Comment

 

Frugal Camping

Some of the best memories of my childhood are when my parents, brother, and I would drive a few hours north and spend about four days camping with our extended family. I have over 30 cousins, so there was plenty of fun to be had. We went swimming, scared each other at night, and even saw a bear roaming the campsite one night. Taking a camping trip can be a frugal way to have a summer vacation and get away from all the stresses of modern life.

Camping Basics

Camping is something that can be as simple or as elaborate as you want. Planning a weekend camping trip with your family should definitely be kept simple. Don’t overcomplicate things when kids are involved.

When I talk to my non-camping friends, a lot of them are turned off by the volume of stuff required to do it. However, camping doesn’t have to be that way. By opting to stay at an established campground for a small fee (versus trekking into the woods yourself and popping a tent),  you’ll save a lot on both things you need and time.

Campgrounds offer bathrooms, water, and, when needed, electricity. It is 2021 after all, and most of us have a device or two that needs a recharge. Some larger campgrounds even have extra amenities like laundry, playgrounds, and pools which, when you have kids, can be a blessing.

What You Need to Buy

Frugal Camping

Photo by Tommy Lisbin on Unsplash

To plan your weekend away, you don’t need much. If you don’t already have access to one, you really only need to acquire a tent, possibly a tarp if you think you may need coverage for your site, and a cooler for your food.

You don’t really need sleeping bags or air mattresses; just layer a bunch of blankets and pillows on the bottom. Even though they can be nice, you don’t really need things like camping stoves. However, we do use our camping stove a lot when we camp. Yet we could manage just fine with a decent fire, a cast-iron skillet, and tin foil to cook all of our food.

Frugal Camping: Use What You Have

You can get away with using a lot of things you already have, which is what makes camping such an easy thing to do. Blankets, pillows, utensils, and cooking the food you already bought make camping a cheap option for family fun.

When we camp as a family, we bring food from home that’s easy to cook over a simple flame (you’d be amazed what you can create in a tin foil package) or bring food that’s prepped ahead and warmed up (think stew or chili). We usually replace our ice daily, and if we don’t have firewood from home, we buy it from the campground. (Another bonus to staying on the ground.)

Camping Brings Us Back to Basics

What I love about camping is the simplicity and, at the same time, the complexity of it all. We cook all of our food and then spend time washing and drying our dishes for the next meal since we don’t have access to a dishwasher and only have access to enough dishes for one meal at a time. Camping helps keep us grounded.

Final Thoughts

Camping is a great way to seriously relax. Yes, I bring my cell phone but I really only use it for picture taking and emergency calls. Social media is turned off- it’s almost sacrilegious to do in the wilderness. It is a great way to really connect with friends and family lazing around on a sunny afternoon or catching up while roasting marshmallows at night. (Again save the fancy metal roasting sticks and use a legit branch; the dirt won’t kill you!)

Do you camp with your family? How do you keep it simple?

Read More

Summertime Fun on the Cheap

How to Survive Camping with Young Children

A Frugal Life: How to Drastically Cut Expenses and Improve Your Finances

Melissa Batai
Melissa Batai

Melissa is a writer and virtual assistant. She earned her Master’s from Southern Illinois University, and her Bachelor’s in English from the University of Michigan. When she’s not working, you can find her homeschooling her kids, reading a good book, or cooking. She resides in Arizona where she dislikes the summer heat but loves the natural beauty of the area.

Filed Under: Home and Living, Money and Finances Tagged With: Camping, camping tips, frugal camping

Saving Money By Throwing Themed Parties, Showers and Events

October 29, 2013 | 2 Comments

Camping Wedding ShowerFirst comes love, then comes marriage, then comes baby…

At least in my case this is how it went. I started dating my husband when we were just kids in high school. We got engaged and started planning our wedding seven years after we started dating. Since we had already lived together in a small one bedroom apartment, there wasn’t much that we needed in terms of wedding gifts nor did we have much room to store anything for our future home.

If you’re a parent planning a party, shower or event for you kids, or are helping a parent plan an event like this, you need to read this post!

 

Planning a Shower

I didn’t think having a wedding shower was necessary, but being the first wedding on both sides of the family in many years we attending a lot of events because other people insisted. I made it quite clear that I did not need  a shower. It was unnecessary and in my mind, a whole lot of wasted money on, what I pictured to be, kitchen gadgets and pre-baby ”nesting”  supplies. I thought everyone was on board with saving money and not throwing me, or us, a shower.

One summer evening after the summer of our wedding we decided to meet up with the rest of the family for a weekend of camping. Hubby-to-be picked me up after work and we drove the hour to the campground where the rest of the family had been since the day before. We went right to our site to set camp up before dark and proceeded to head on over to the main site where everyone was getting ready to have dinner.

 

Decorating a Fun Event

When we arrived we realized that t he site had been decorated with balloons and signs saying ”Happy Camping Shower”. Our family was throwing us a camping shower instead of a wedding shower! They got the message loud and clear that we didn’t need anything for our home, so instead had a camping shower where under the open sky of the camp site, we opened gifts, all related to camping, our favorite past time. It was amazing.

Having a themed shower, especially if you’re planning an event for your child’s wedding, can be a great way to save money.

A themed shower limits what people buy. In our case, camping stuff, but if you wanted to have a ”kitchen shower” people would likely understand that buying a large picture frame for wedding pictures is not an appropriate gift. Having a themed event is also a great way to make sure you get what you want. Though we didn’t ask for this event, I’m so glad my mother-in-law thought of it.

 

Other Ideas

When my sister-in-law moved out, instead of having a housewarming party we threw her a ”fill their pantry” party where, instead of plants and homey stuff, people brought non perishables for their pantry. Everything from spices to baking supplies. They really did fill their pantry!

Parties, showers and events alike can get quite expensive but with a little planning and creativity, it is possible to save money. Coming up with a theme is just one of many ways!

Catherine
Catherine

Catherine is a first time momma to a rambunctious toddler. When she isn’t soaking up all that motherhood has to offer, you can find her blogging over at Plunged in Debt where she chronicles her and her husbands journey out of debt. You can also follow her on Twitter.

plungedindebt.com

Filed Under: Family Time Tagged With: Camping, Saving Money, Shower, Theme Parties, Wedding Shower

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Basic Principles Of Good Parenting

Here some basic principles for good parenting:

  1. What You Do Matters: Your kids are watching you. So, be purposeful about what you want to accomplish.
  2. You Can’t be Too Loving: Don’t replace love with material possessions, lowered expectations or leniency.
  3. Be Involved Your Kids Life: Arrange your priorities to focus on what your kid’s needs. Be there mentally and physically.
  4. Adapt Your Parenting: Children grow quickly, so keep pace with your child’s development.
  5. Establish and Set Rules: The rules you set for children will establish the rules they set for themselves later.  Avoid harsh discipline and be consistent.
  6. Explain Your Decisions: What is obvious to you may not be evident to your child. They don’t have the experience you do.
  7. Be Respectful To Your Child: How you treat your child is how they will treat others.  Be polite, respectful and make an effort to pay attention.
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