camping on a budget

[Laurawill]

I know my opinion is the minority, but I really love our battery operated lantern. It is a Coleman we got from Costco a few years back. It runs a CFL lightbulb and the batteries actually last quite awhile. My husband took it out for about 10-12 nights and I used it for 5 nights before we had to replace the batteries. We don't leave it on all the time, but it does get sometime on every night, as he takes it on outings with the boy scouts.

I also love it because I can take it into the tent and I wouldn't ever do that with fuel ones, to much risk of CO and fire...

 

[Huff]

We use a camp coffee percolator rather than a french press or other method. They're available at most camping or sporting good stores. Works fine over fire or camp stove.

We've cooked over campfire coals which works fine if you have a decent griddle for breakfasts or a grill for dinners. Camp stove and a small gas BBQ works better though.

We generally dry camp, meaning in areas without any facilities, no water, electricity or designated camp spots. That means we bring many water jugs.

For showers we stretch tarps around trees to make a private area, set a wood grate on ground to keep feet off mud, use small chair to set our clothes on, and a camp shower bag that we fill with heated water.

 

[DISdreamin']

Two things to add:

First, I love having a set of clips for the tablecloth. They're super-cheap, but really handy when it is windy. Also, I use them to flip the tablecloth over in half and clip it down over the plates/silver while I'm getting things ready. That way no leaves or needles fall onto them, but I don't have to get everything out at the last minute (we don't have a shelter for our table...yet).

Second, on the camp stove. We have the kind that has one burner and a grill. I love it! Every trip, we make foil dinners on it (works really, really well for that) in addition to grilling on it. Yum!

Thanks to OP for asking about this! We're going to be doing a cross-country trip this summer and we'll do some camping along the way, so paring the list down to essentials and making sure we have what we'll need are top priority. This thread has been really helpful! Now if I can just keep myself from hitting Gander Mountain and Bass Pro Shop and going broke buying fun stuff...

 

[Sandy61]

I agree with clips for the tablecloth!

My DS13 is in Scouts and their sleeping bags are new with small stuff bags... this means you can't roll them up but rather you have to stuff them back in. Maybe your tent is like that.

If you have kids, take things for them and neighbor kids to play with. Remote control cars, water balloons, legos. We have had groups of kids at our camp site sometimes. The rule is no one can come in our camper and our son can not go in any other camper. You never know and they should stay safe.