zack0109
Newport dunes
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Joined: 02/21/2012
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Sometimes it is hard for young families starting out to buy all the necessary camping gear to get going. Here are a couple tips to make it a little easier on the pocket book.
1. Instead of sleeping bags, use the blankets and comforters from home. This saves initially on buying sleeping bags.
2. Check with the campgrounds to see if they have discounts for longer stays if you know you are not going elsewhere. For instance if you pay a full week in advance, it may be cheaper than if you pay each night individually.
3. Pack your canned goods and other unperishables from home so that you are not buying groceries at the campstore and local stores. In small communties, the prices will be higher and the camp store will not have the full selection.
4. Make a checklist so that you are not forgetting things and buying needlessly.
5. For the camping gear that you do wish to purchase, buy in off season. Usually at the end of summer, you can a lot of sales or end of line items discounted to sell fast.
——from popuptrailercamper
Into the wild.Pop Up CanopyPop Up Canopy
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gmajane
United States
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Joined: 05/03/2011
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This is a good post. I have the equipment I need now including a little teardrop camper, but years ago I was a single parent with very little money. We had two small three man tents and the rest was makeshift. We took candles in jars for lights and got cooking equipment at second hand stores and cooked over the fire. We used wire coat hangers for hot dogs too. We camped with another mother whose husband was a long haul truck driver and couldn't join us. Those are great memories.
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Mountain Mama
N. TX
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Joined: 03/28/2008
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Watch garage sales, Goodwill (thrift) stores, etc for camping equipment and other stuff you can use if you don't want to take your stuff from home.
2003 Holiday Rambler Alumascape 34RLT
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passport2590bh
Florida
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Joined: 10/04/2010
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Craigslist too. Even found someone that was renting camping gear in my area.
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brklyncamper
Brooklyn, NY
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Joined: 07/25/2011
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As far as affordable camping food, I'd recommend buying WISE dehydrated foods online. The ingredients are simple and they sell you buckets of pre-made meals. 120 servings for $255 comes to about $2.13 per meal. That's a lot better than other dehydrated camping foods I've seen plus unlike home cooked food they weigh significantly less and don't perish. You can order different quantities online at outdoor camping supplies retailers. Shop around and you might even get them for cheaper.
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Searching_Ut
Utah
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Joined: 05/09/2011
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Another thing to keep in mind is that you really don't need anything special in the line of equipment for camping. As a kid, we used to backpack for weeks at a time in the rocky mountain backcountry using old military surplus sleeping bags with a small piece of foam and a piece of plastic for a groundsheet. We used a sheet of plastic and a little clothesline to fabricate a shelter, and a coffee can for a pot with a handle fabricated out of coat hanger. The pack was equally makeshift, a simple flashlight for nighttime, and for food simple things like mac and cheese. We would venture out for 10 to 15 days at a time and had the time of our young lives doing so.
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zack0109
Newport dunes
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Joined: 02/21/2012
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Haven't heard about this, but sounds good. If it's really as good as you say, I think I would like it with my next camp out.
———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————HammockHammock hiking on the way
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catdaddyxx
Dumas, TX
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Totaly check out those garage sales. My assistant cubmaster and I have outfitted nearly the entire scout pack from garage sales.
Last summer I found two coleman lanterns and a propane distribution tree that would be $80 new from basspro for $15 and he found one of those big camp chef propane stoves that go for $150 for $25.
2010 29' Jayco, Jay Flight 26BH First real camper
1960 Montgomery Ward popup with slide out galley.(Restored in 2010)
2004 Ford, F150 4x4 lariat 5.4L V8, 3.73 gears, pipes, FIPK, tuner.
Many many mods to the truck
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Tyme4ToPlay
SW Indiana
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Joined: 06/05/2011
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Another tip is to get out of the camping department at the store and head to housewares, automotive, or wherever. A little folding chair-side table in the camping dept was almost $30. A nice folding table in "furniture" at Walmart was $15 and was twice the size. It goes on and on...don't think because you're going camping that you always need "camping" equipment
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jsteward1976
Wylie, TX
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One good idea that I invested in was a State Park Pass. I am not sure if all states have them but Texas offers one for $70.00 a year. It allows everyone in your car to get in the park for free instead of having to pay anywhere from $3-$7 per person per day for anyone over 13. It also gives you several buy a night and get the second night half price. We just got back from spring break camping trip for 5 days and just entrance fees alone it saved us $75.00. Just an idea for those of you who live in Texas.
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