Photo Credit: Finchlake2000 (CC 2.0)
It’s that time of year again. The sun is shining and the birds are singing. Most people are thinking of ways they can enjoy their summer and the options are endless. Living a good life includes taking breaks and vacations are a big part of that. But if you’re watching your nickels and dimes, this can be a tricky proposition. Jetting off to tropical climes isn’t going to be part of the twelve month plan if you’re trying to save beaucoup bucks. So what’s a great way to see the sights and spend less? Camping! But even camping can add up if you research your options. Read more here:
Yurt Camping:
If you’re not into the great outdoors in a ‘sleep on the ground’ kind of way, the mighty yurt could be your ticket to comfort camping. You sleep in a fully covered and insulated shelter complete with the basic creature comforts like a bed, cooking facilities, and other things that make your life easier. Camping sites do their Yurts in different shapes and sizes but rates are pretty reasonable compare to hotel and hostel accommodations. If you can get a group together, rent a bigger yurt and save even more money.
Beg, Borrow, and Rent Equipment:
One of the most expensive parts about going camping is getting together all the gear. Tents, camp stoves, and sleeping bags all add up so if you’re able to borrow some stuff from friends and family while you’re just starting out. If you can take time and buy things second-hand over a couple years, it will be a lot easier on the ol’ pocket book. If you don’t have friends with camping gear, you can rent equipment from universities and outdoor centres for day rates that will carry you through a couple of trips.
Duct tape, laundry lint, and prescription bottles:
There are all sorts of cheap camping hacks that can help you reuse basic items around the house and save money. Carry duct tape and you can repair holes in tents, mend broken poles, and patch torn shoes. Use laundry lint as tinder to start your fire and prescription bottles to store small items like matches. An empty soda bottle can act as a water bottle (use duct tape to affix some rope to the bottle for a convenient handle). Check out ‘cheap camping hacks’ link above to learn more.
Plan ahead of time:
Most campsites these days have an online registration system to ensure you can reserve your campsite ahead of time. Depending on the campsite, you might have to reserve months ahead of time (think Yellowstone Park). You’ll want to make a yearly plan for all your vacations so you can book your favourite camping spots and avoid disappointment. While many places do set aside a certain number of sites for on-demand reservations, risking it may cost you time, gas, and money if everything is booked up.
These are just a few of the ways to save on camping and the internet makes the wide world available to you from the comforts of your living room. Go forth and camp…cheaply.
