Camping is a fantastic way to spend quality time with the family, a loved one, or even take some time for yourself and escape everyday life. However, there is no need for a camping trip to break the bank.

In this article, we will be talking about some of the best ways to save a little bit of money on your camping trip. We will offer you alternatives for equipment, fun activities, and other handy tricks to help keep the cost down.

Equipment Alternatives for Camping

Everyone knows that specialist camping equipment can often break the bank, and although you can pay for what you get, amateurs often do not need to spend a lot of money on equipment that gets the job done. So, here we will take you through some great equipment alternatives.

Lanterns

Everyone knows that camping can be a bit scary once the sun sets, and lanterns are a valuable piece of camping equipment. However, they can also be costly and unnecessary if you only go camping once in a blue moon.

So, a great alternative is to do your own DIY project using a clean large plastic jug (for example, milk or laundry) and a headlamp. You can get two uses out of your headlamp this way!

Turn your headlamp on and point it inwards towards the plastic jug. Doing this will increase the headlamp’s glow and create your own cheap, homemade lantern.

Emergency toilet

One of the most essential things to consider if you plan to camp off-grid is where you will go to the bathroom. Many camping supply stores will sell costly portable toilets. However, you can make your alternative at home.

To do this, you will need a large bucket, cat litter, garbage bags, and a toilet seat (and toilet paper!)

Although this may not be the easiest thing to carry around with you, it can make your trip a lot cheaper than buying one from the store – click the link to read more.

Outdoor organizers

When packing your bags to go camping, it can make your life so much easier to keep everything organized. For example, if you can keep all your cooking ingredients and utensils together, your toiletries in one place, and all your camping equipment in another. 

Although you can buy packing storage from a camping store, you can also choose to make your own at home. One quick and easy way to do this is to buy a shoe storage hanger (the large plastic squares with multiple pockets). 

You can then fill the pockets with anything you want and use the different rows to organize everything! Roll it up and pack it away once you have added everything you need for your trip.

A snow sled or wagon

If you camp overnight in a campground, a sled may be one of the most useful pieces of camping equipment. If you have a bad back, a lot of equipment, parked far away, or do not like to exert a lot of energy, this is the trick for you.

Nothing is worse than beginning your camping trip exhausted from lugging your gear from your car to your camping spot. So, instead, place your equipment on a sled or wagon and pull it over to your camping ground. 

The sled will effortlessly glide over the grass and make it much easier to reach your designated spot. However, if the ground is particularly muddy or rocky, you may struggle to pull the sled over this terrain. In this case, a small wagon is a better choice.

Fun activities

Although there are many things that you can do on a free camping trip, camping sites sometimes offer activities or partner with nearby activity facilities, and these can be pricey. However, several free or cheap activities are fun for everyone. Follow the link for more information.

Make your s’mores kit

Whenever anyone thinks of a camping trip, making s’mores over a campfire is one of the first images to come to mind. Because of this, many companies have capitalized on this by producing personalized, reusable, and sanitary s’mores kits.

Although you can use sticks to roast your marshmallows over the fire, it is not the most sanitary way to enjoy your snack.

Instead, prep your homemade s’mores kit ahead of time. If you plan to go camping with the family, you can even paint or decorate your skewers! This is a great way to eat smores and still save money.

Make your pizzas

This is a slightly more costly camping trip activity, but there’s nothing quite like a family pizza night in the woods! You can prepare the pizzas ahead of time or buy them from a store; the choice is yours. This is ideal if you are camping at a designated camping ground not too far away from your car.

Many inexpensive portable pizza ovens can be purchased online; you do not necessarily need to buy one from a specialist camping store. If you have a little extra room in your arsenal, consider adding a portable pizza oven to light up the evening and keep everyone full and happy.

To sum up

Camping is a fantastic experience that holds a place in many people’s hearts. However, there is no need for you to spend a lot of money on specialist camping equipment, and you can make do with what you have at home. You can choose to spend the money if you plan to camp regularly.

Your camping experience will be determined primarily by your mindset and the people you share it with, rather than the cost of your lantern. So, make sure that you have everything you need to make your trip as enjoyable and comfortable as possible. For more travel tips, follow this link to learn more.

Photo by cottonbro