We have been thinking of going camping for awhile now. We dont have a tent or any other supplies yet. We are watching for sales on them though. Also the newspaper.

So what do we "need" v/s what would be nice to have? The local state park costs $15 a night to camp. So while not free, it would be an inexpensive family trip.

So please share your best hints , tips, and suggestions for this rookie camper.

Thanks!

I know that earlier this year Wal-mart had a camping set that came with a tent, 2 sleeping bags and a few other things for about $100- I don't know if they have anything available anymore! I will also suggest look into a craigslist, yard sales- sometimes you can find better deals through there.

You definately will need: tent, sleeping bags, a person who is good at starting fires and keeping them going (or at least some type of fire starter), cooler with food, a source of light (flashlights or a latern), bug spray or citronella candles, a lot of water (you can either get a 2.5 gallon jug with a pull out spout or a 5 gallon one in the camping section). I am trying to think of all the necesities- I think I may have to get back to this one! Toliet paper!! OMG- I can't believe I almost forgot that one!!!

Nice to have: a table (we got one at a yardsale for camping- it is like a bakers rack) great to prepare food on, a stove, pie irons, forks (for hot dogs and marshmallows) and cast iron skillets (makes cooking so much easier), those nice stadium chairs with a cup holder, a canopy to put over your table in case of rain, glow in the dark frisbee or something to entertain the kids, a gun- especially if you are in Bear Country!

Hmm- there is so much I have to think this over and get back to you on it!

Ok, I Don't Use Sleeping Bags Because Like You I Am In The South..just Some Throw Blankets From The House And Some Old Sheets...most Campsite Also Come With Picnic Tables (call And Ask) Don't Forget The Aluminum Foil, You Can Cook Anything With That On The Grill (which Should Also Be Provided) So Pretty Much You Should Have Everything At The House Except The Tent!

Ok these are bare essentials when we go camping.....
1) tent
2) aluminum foil (you can do almost all of your cooking on this)
3) A pan ( I take one from my kitchen)
4) sleeping bags (or you can be cheap like us and use blankets)
5) chairs (you can pick up some nice one from Walmart for like $8)
6) some kind of light source there have been time where the only light source we had was our camp fire and a little flashlight
7)food and wood
You can heat up canned food by just placing it in the fire and when you go to a state park (atleat here) they have a cooking grate on the fire ring otherwise you will need a tripod to cook on.
8) a sizeable cooler that will be able to keep all your food and drinks cool (I like to have two one for food the other for beverages)
I'm sure that I'm forgeting stuff, but in all reality you don't need all that much you can make do with a lot of things that are around your house.

We use an air mattress we bought years ago. It's a Coleman and it's still in great condition. I recommend looking for sales around the end of the season. That may not help with this season, but you'll get some great gear for cheap. Ask friends if they have any extras that you could either have or borrow. I know we borrowed a tent for a while, until we could afford to get one. And sleeping bags. The more you go camping, the more you'll be able to know exactly what you need and what you don't. Try "camping" in your back yard or at a campground close to a town or your house. That way, you can see what you need and either run to the house or a store, just in case you forgot something. I wouldn't do my first camping trip in the boonies or anything. Most state campgrounds have some sort of store on the property for common things. Plus, most of the state campgrounds are great about keeping their toilets stocked and clean, so although it's a good idea to remember the TP, it will probably be there already. A lot of the supplies you will need, you probably already have. You don't have to have doubles of things. If you have a manual can opener in your kitchen, just remember to grab it before you leave. Make a list of things you'll need. Planning the food isn't much harder than planning a picnic. You just have to plan for more meals. I bought plastic plates (reusable) at Walmart for 2/$1 a few years ago. We use these and wash, instead of using paper plates.

If I think of anything else, I'll post.

HTH.

__________________
www.myspace.com/vioburn
My Blog ~ I am currently updating this with my favorite natural beauty routines (some are edible!) and more!


Frugal is being wise with your money and resources and cheap is forcing everyone else to.

When we were little and just started camping my mom found an awesome cast iron skillet at a thrift store for a $1. We just had to remember to bring hot pads. The next year we had to replace our kitchen oven, so my mom took out the racks from the old one and saved them. As it turns out, she decided that we just didn't have enough cooking space the previous year and she just set one over the fire pit (2/3 of the way).. and then we had plenty of space for the water pot, skillet and more!

If you really want to go cheap, don't worry about having a stove.. cooking over fire tastes better anyway. Oh, and if you want a really good breakfast cook thick bacon in your skillet first, and then cook your eggs with the bacon grease.. sooo yummy for camp food!

Roasting hotdogs on a stick works well too. My dad made "sticks" out of heavy duty wire coat hangers.. you can by them pretty cheaply at camping stores too.

Good Luck!

oh, I almost forgot.. If you do want a stove but don't want to spend a whole lot, you can hit e-bay.. do a search for backpacking stoves. A couple of years ago I got one for my dh for $5!! The one we got takes alcohol that you can find just about anywhere. Just make sure you bring self striking matches, or the hole match box (with the striker)... dh forgot, and wasn't able to eat his dinner hot that first trip! LOL!

Haven't camped since my single days, but back then the most important staple was: COLD BEER!!! :happy dance:

Definitely hit the end of season sales at places like REI, Big 5 Sporting Goods, Sport Chalet, and Wal Mart.

We usually take:

A tent, sleeping bags, a cooler, a few beach chairs, our Coleman stove (a hand me down from my parents...we did a lot of camping when we were growing up), a gas lantern (another handmedown from my parents), sunscreen, a few citronella candles, stuff for smores and lots of water.

One thing that I do for every trip is to find a supermarket that is not far from the campground and buy all of food there instead of buying it at home and having to transport it. You can always find a SuperWalmart or SuperTarget or some other big chain within an hour of where you are camping

Sandra

Remember your can openers, matches, soap, wipes, table cloth, folding chairs, first aid kit,
flashlights and most important.....MARSHMALLOWS !!!

__________________
Jodie....Wife to Andrew (1995)
Mommy to Riley (2000) and Wyatt (2003)