campgrounds

TMR Tip: Light My Fire!

/ abschilling / Leave a comment

We love camping, but my husband and I always seem to have . . . difficulties . . . starting a fire. To be perfectly honest, we suck at it. And the store-bought fire starters don’t seem to work very well. They light easily enough, but they appear to be the only things that burn, leaving the kindling a smoldering mess. So, short of dousing the wood with lighter fluid, and possibly losing a couple of eyebrows in the process, I thought maybe I’d try to make some of my own.

I searched various websites for instructions and several of them suggested melting wax blocks or candles in a double boiler, then pouring it over a cardboard egg carton filled with dryer lint. Once cut, you have 12 individual fire starters. That sounded easy enough. I had an egg carton. I had dryer lint. I had scented wax tarts that would substitute for candles (and perhaps keep the bugs away with the aroma?), but I didn’t have a double boiler. I could fashion one using a pot of water and a bowl, but I didn’t want to deal with trying to clean the bowl out. But I did have electric warmers . . .

So I set everything up, melted the tarts, poured the liquid wax over the lint-filled egg carton, and then cut them apart. Now all that remained was to test them on vacation.

The result? Fire!

We were elated to say the least. We used 2 just to make sure the kindling caught, but still – we made fire! It was a glorious success. It burned bright and beautiful. We nearly danced and sang around it, like Tom Hanks in CastAway. We were so proud of ourselves, we had to celebrate.

S’mores, anyone?

Tuesday’s Tip: Set Up Camp

/ abschilling / Leave a comment

I don’t know about you, but Cabin Fever has crept into our house and settled in. It’s cold and dreary outside, with no snow to play in, and it’s making us nuts. Ugh! We were discussing that very thing at dinner and how much we wished for warmer weather when it dawned on me . . . and I said to my family, “You know, camping season is less than two months away.”

The kids gasped, exchanged wild glances (mouths gaping), and began to cheer. This is exciting stuff for us. Truly. Some may understand and agree, while others may crinkle their noses and think ‘ewww’. The images that are conjured up in the mind include mosquitoes, big bugs, campfire smell, getting dirty, and public bathrooms. But for us, it means summer. It means travel and freedom. It means campfires and s’mores. It means swimming, fishing, and being outside. It means grilling, picnics, and hayrack rides. It means hiking, exploring, and a host of other fantastic adventures. And we can’t wait for it to start . . .

So, how is this related to saving money? Easy. Camping is less expensive than typical vacations. In most cases, there is an initial investment to consider, however the long-term benefits are phenomenal, especially when you consider the cost of lodging. Depending on where you camp, fees can be as low as $10 per night. The more amenities there are, the higher the price, but we’ve never paid more than $30 per night – anywhere. Good luck finding a hotel room for those prices! If you’d like to give camping a try, here are a few tips to keep expenses to a minimum.

First of all, keep in mind that you’ll be taking your stuff with you and hauling it back home afterward, so you’ll need to pack lightly. Take only what you absolutely need. Pack minimal personal items, like clothing and a few toiletries. Pack a couple of travel-sized games or cards and a book. These are all things you probably have at home, so no need to buy anything. If you’re going for just a night or two, bring your food with you, but make sure you plan easy meals. Nothing elaborate. You’re camping, not ‘dining’.

Second, if you don’t have any gear whatsoever, you have a couple of options. You can purchase the basics, like a few pots and pans, at discount stores or simply bring what you need from your own kitchen, especially if you’re testing the camping waters. Also, use paper plates and plastic utensils and cups to make clean-up quick and easy. Plus, they’re cheap, lightweight, and easy to store. And chances are that you already have a sleeping bag hidden in a closet somewhere, so you’re halfway there.

Third, if you are new to camping and don’t have a tent, borrow one if you can. Most of us know someone who camps, so it’s not that difficult to track one down. If, however, you absolutely can’t stand (or can’t physically handle) sleeping on or near the ground, you can go the camper route. Many campgrounds and dealerships rent various types of campers from pop-ups to 5th wheels to luxury busses. If you know someone with a camper, try offering to rent theirs, or ask if you can go camping with them to see if it suits you. (Camping is always fun with more than one family!)

Finally, make sure you research different campgrounds. Compare campsites, prices, and amenities. There’s a difference in price for primitive vs. water & electric vs. full hook-up. Also, some campgrounds have all kinds of things like pools, tennis and basketball courts, mini-golf, horseshoe pits, hayrack rides, outdoor movies and games for the whole family – but beware! Some places include many of these items in the price, and others charge extra for just about everything.

Really, though, the trick to camping of any kind is to keep it simple. Take what you need. If it doesn’t fit in the backpack, leave it behind. You’re not going to need your phone, fax, and copier. Or your surround sound system. Disconnect! It’s easy to get caught up in the complexities of life and we think we can’t live without all of our gadgets, toys, and gizmos, but the reality is that camping is an inexpensive way to bring us together and enjoy all the simple things in life that we’ve forgotten. The warmth of a blazing campfire, the sweetness of a gooey marshmallow, the glow of the morning sun on a still lake, the giggles of kids playing tag, or the songs we sing on a sunset hayrack ride . . .

Campin’ season’s a comin’!