There’s nothing like spending time with your family and friends floating down one of Missouri’s picturesque rivers, camping in the great outdoors and sleeping under the stars. Though one of the most affordable ways for families to take a vacation, float trips seem to get more expensive each year. With prices at the pump soaring, increasing fees for camping permits and rising costs for boats and camping gear, many families are looking for ways to save as much money as possible so they can take more trips next year. Here are some money saving tips for your next float trip:
Pooling your resources with another family or friends who also enjoy camping is one way to save money on your next float trip. If one of you has an SUV, pile your gear on the luggage rack or split the costs of renting a trailer. This frees up enough seats for everyone so you can also split the cost of gas and other supplies. With a larger group of people on the same float trip there are more hands available for pitching tents, gathering firewood and cooking.
Another way to save money on your next float trip is to use what you already have. You don’t need to buy a special set of pots and pans just for camping. You can use what you have at home. Nor do you need to spend another $100 for a sleeping bag. For a few bucks you can pick up a mylar “space blanket” and bring a blanket from home. Dish towels, pot holders, salt and pepper shakers work the same on a float trip as they do in your kitchen at home. And before you make a trip to the grocery store, look in your fridge or pantry. Make a list of all the items you already have like eggs, catsup, mustard, pickles and any frozen hot dogs left over from the last trip. By the same token, make sure you have enough supplies like water, camping fuel and food to last the whole trip. The last thing you want to do is waste time and money making another trip into town because you ran out of something.
Garage sales, newspaper classifieds and Craig’s List are great ways to find used equipment that’s for sale. Pick up a portable stove for 50% to 80% less than retail pricing. Despite the dings and scratches on the lid, it will cook as well as a portable stove that’s new.
Alkaline batteries can put a dent in your wallet when it comes to powering up your flashlights, radios and other electrically powered devices. Fortunately, newer technologies like kinetic batteries, crank-style flashlights and radios and solar charged devices make having enough alkaline batteries a thing of the past, keeping more of your hard earned dollar in your wallet. Check out the electronics department at your local home improvement store or online.
When it comes to keeping the food cool in our coolers, most of us opt to use bags of cubed ice. Did you know that block ice lasts much longer? Cubed ice melts quickly and often waterlogs your food, resulting in more trips to the store. It’s also helpful to pack frozen hotdogs and hamburger meat at the last minute, using them as extra ice.
When making your reservation with the campground, check to see if they have any large sites available. Many campgrounds have large sites for larger groups of people with multiple vehicles. Camping with a large group allows you to split the campsite fee which can be more reasonable than a standard campsite fee.
Following these simple money saving tips on on ACFa Cashflow blog tips will keep more money in your family’s budget for your float trips next season.
