Camping is a great frugal option when you want to get away for the weekend. However, it can be a lot of work, and it can also be intimidating for those who have never camped before.
In this video, I share the ways I, an avid non-camper, cut corners to make camping a little bit easier for me. As they say, when mama’s happy, everyone’s happy!
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Cute video and some great camping tips. Especially for those of us who have never been. :)
Good video! I thought I’d throw in my $0.02, as an experienced camper:
Those fire logs are good if you have fair weather, but if it’s the least bit wet, they won’t burn well. The thing you’re usually lacking in firestarting is good kindling. Dryer lint works great, as do the bits of paper your shredder creates. If you want to get fancy, pack the lint in a toilet paper tube and soak it with melted wax from old candle stubs. Google on “dryer lint kindling” for details.
Since we camp in Colorado, where the mornings are chilly, we like something warm for breakfast. It’s not hard to get a pot of water going on our campstove, so we tend to rely on instant oatmeal. Bring along some add-ins like powdered milk, raisins and walnuts, and you have a healthy, filling breakfast. (The powdered milk hides well in there.)
I’m a great fan of soups and stews that are basically “open up 5 cans and dump in a pot” affairs. If they call for meat, you can cook hamburger with onions and/or peppers at home, cool it, and freeze it in a Ziploc bag. Stick that in your cooler and then dump it in your stew at camp. The only “cooking” required is to heat it up, either over the fire or on your campstove.
Campstoves are easy to find used on Craigslist, or on sale at the end of the season. A Coleman stove will last roughly forever.
Hi Lynnae,
I really like your videos! Good tips too. We don’t camp as much as we once did, but it was a life & budget saver when the kids were young and they have so many happy memories. Thanks again!
Michelle
Lynnae, great video! I see all that time editing really paid off. And your hairstyle is super cute! I loathe camping and I don’t think DH has ever been, but at the rate that my sonny boy is going, I see camping in our future. He loves the outdoors. Its great to know that I have this video to use as a reference when needed. Kudos!
Despite being an eagle scout and being in the military, I highly recommend the fire logs. When I go camping I build a traditional fire, usually a tee-pee, and then use the fire log to get it started. It makes it super easy to get the fire going. To save money I just break off a small piece of the fire log and use that as a starter. I can then save the rest of the log for many more fires.
Nice video Lynnae. You fooled me with all the non-techie talk. :-D
Cute video Lynnae. Maybe next year we in this house will try camping…..
Great video! I love camping, but we haven’t done much of it recently. Please come on over to Thrifty Thursday at Thrifty Jinxy and post a link to your camping post. I’m sure my readers would enjoy it! http://thriftyjinxy.blogspot.com/2008/08/thrifty-thursday-living-on-cheap.html
Love your blog and thans for sharing some great tips. My first camping experience was so much fun!
Be well.
This is so cute! Great job with the video, I look forward to more of them in the future.
Well done video. I’m glad to see the use of video on your blog as it really adds to the post. I personally believe in your quote about “moma’s happy, everyone’s happy” and say “happy wife, happy life” It’s true and stop’s the argument before every happening.
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