Are you planning on taking your family camping this Summer? �Camping is one of our favorite things to do and we are so beyond ready to head out to the great outdoors now that the weather is finally getting warmer. �
The one thing I hate about camping though is how expensive it can be if you don�t plan ahead. �Seriously I have spent hundreds of dollars before on an impromptu camping trip and I never want to do that again. �To combat this expense, I now have several things I do to prepare in advance and ever since I started, it has significantly cut down on my camping expenses.
If you want to be prepared and save money, here are 4 cheap camping hacks you can use this Summer:
Create your own instant coffee. �If you are a coffee drinker, but you don�t like the taste of your average instant coffee, just create your own! �Put a single small scoop of your coffee grounds into a coffee filter and tie together with some dental floss. �In the mornings, heat up some water over the campfire and toss in your little instant coffee bag. �It�s yummy and costs much less than the Starbucks via type instant coffee packs.
Store your camping gear together. �I bought two large sized Rubbermaid type totes and I use them exclusively to store sleeping bags, flashlights, tarps, etc. �They stay in these totes all year long and when it�s time to go camping, all we have to do is toss our totes into the car and go. �These totes are really cheap at Walmart (under $5 each). We use a big tent, so it has to be stored separately, but if you have a smaller tent, those can go in as well.
Pack food beforehand. �If we are planning a camping trip, I usually cook up some rice and beans in the crockpot and create little burritos to take with us. �I store them wrapped in wax paper and storage bags in cooler and when the kids get hungry, all they have to do is grab a burrito from the cooler! �I also prepare PB&Js in advance too. �Camping makes kids hungry!
Buy camping pots and pans at Goodwill. �I always buy our camping cookware at Goodwill. �I only buy stainless steel or cast iron, so I don�t have to worry about flaking teflon, etc, but it has served us well! �For just a couple of bucks, I always know where they are (in the totes of course) and I am not ruining my good cookware over a fire.
