Share money-saving tips
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Share some of your own money-saving tips and tricks in the comment section below. We’ve already started the conversation with some of our ideas, and we’ll print some of the best tips in a future issue of Boys’ Life.
DIY. That stands for Do It Yourself. You’re a smart kid. So use your mind and your hands to save money by building your own first-aid kit or survival kit. Also, skip those fancy freeze-dried dinners and trendy energy bars and instead try making your own homemade gorp and camp meals—it’s always cheaper and often more tasty to cook your own stuff.
BRING YOUR OWN. Take the time to plan and pack everything you need before leaving on an outing. Try to avoid renting gear on-site. Same goes for buying food—grocery stores in your hometown are likely to be much cheaper than smaller stores close to the trailhead.
USE USED. Look for screaming deals on gently used outdoor gear at garage sales, from friends in your troop, or on Web sites like eBay or Craigslist.com.
Buying used gear is a great idea, and you don’t have the worry of possible losing or damaging gear you’ve borrowed from someone else. I have found some of my most reliable camping gear at garage/yard sales. It can be a good idea to take someone with you who has a knowledge of camping and the outdoors; they may help steer you away from a piece of equipment which is damaged or of poor quality.
SHOP SMART. Look for end-of-season sales. Outdoor brands release new clothes for the spring (January to June) and fall (July to December) seasons. Shop at the beginning or end of these seasons for discounts on last season’s color, style, pattern, etc. Tent, backpack and sleeping-bag manufacturers release their new stuff each spring, so between December and February you can often buy last year’s tent, pack, whatever, at close-out prices.
TRY BEFORE YOU BUY. When getting into a new sport, don’t go out and buy all the best gear right off. Borrow stuff or look for used beginner gear. Once you decide it’s something you’ll stick with, sell the starter stuff and invest in quality gear you’ll use for the long term.
DOUBLE DUTY. You don’t need all those cool—and expensive—moisture-wicking shirts and tees. Check the tags on your old soccer or football uniforms. If they are made of nylon or polyester, they can serve double duty on the trail as quick-dry shirts and shorts.
CHOOSE YOUR FUEL. Use a liquid-fuel stove instead of one of those canister stoves. Sure, canister stoves are easy to use and seem affordable, but over time you’ll spend less owning and operating a traditional liquid fuel stove.
check the rules before you buy, our local camp doesn’t allow liquid fuel stoves.
SAVE FUEL. When you’re boiling water, cover that pot! It will boil faster and reduce fuel consumption. Don’t have a lid? Use tin foil. And don’t forget to use that windscreen around your stove, too—even when it’s not windy. It’ll speed up your cook times (and save fuel).
SLEEP CHEAP. Choose a foam sleeping pad instead of a self-inflating pad. Not only are they cheaper, but they are often lighter and have zero chance of popping. Camping with a tarp instead of a tent will also save you lots of money and pack weight.
BETTER ISN’T ALWAYS BETTER. If you’re just taking a three-day backpacking trip, there’s no need to gear up as if you’re headed to climb Mount Everest. Buy for the conditions you’ll be experiencing. Skip the minus-40-degree sleeping bag and buy one rated for 20 degrees. Forget about the four-season tent and go with a cheaper, lighter three-season tent. Instead of spendy Gore-Tex jackets, go for lightweight rain gear that’s urethane-coated, with taped seams, covered zippers and a decent hood. As for backpacks: zippers, pockets, bells and whistles are nice, but a lighter-weight, stripped-down pack will do the job while saving the strain on your wallet and your back.