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You are here: Home / Save Money / 5 money saving ways for camping in summer or winter

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5 money saving ways for camping in summer or winter

by Ricky Willis · updated 1 September 2021

A camping trip is an exciting experience, but where do you start without going overboard?

To save money when camping, consider other things besides the tent, such as travel and food. Here are five money-saving camping tips.

Get an affordable and well-organised fire pit

To have a memorable camping experience setting the fire is a must.

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Whether summer or winter, a fire pit is versatile, and you can enjoy that warm glow provided by a fire pit anytime.

A fire pit is not just there to keep you warm. You can make memories telling stories around the glow or even make delicious smores.

There are two main types of fire pits: permanent and portable ones. It’s best to choose the one with a reasonable price.

Plan your meals

You can avoid eating out, which can get very expensive if you plan a little upfront. When camping out, you can look to cook your own food.

When thinking about meals to have, it’s best to have foods you can easily cook over a campfire or ones that don’t need cooking at all.

Just carry a little aluminium foil with you to wrap the meals and a cool box to keep food cold.

This method will save you a lot of money rather than purchasing a burner or a portable grill.

Go for affordable campsites

You need to pay a nightly rate per camper or pitch with various parks and campsites.

Depending on the campground, the costs vary having high-end facilities charging expensively.

To save on cost consider buying an annual pass.

You could also try wild camping, although there is still a small fee.

Free camping is illegal in most parts of the UK, apart from a few areas in Dartmoor in southwest England. Do your research before setting off on your big adventure.

Rent or borrow camp gear

Camping can be exciting, but buying new equipment can be costly. Instead, look to borrow from a friend or rent from a shop.

If you are planning to spend at the lower end of the budget, you may end up with poor-quality camping gear that will trouble you throughout your camping.

Having a chance to test camping out by borrowing or renting may save you a lot of money.

It also gives you a chance to test out different types of equipment and determine whether you really need to buy them yourself.

Make the most of free camping activities

Camping is one of the greatest outdoor activities, and it’s more enjoyable if you’re less stressed.

Managing your camping budget can feel pressurised because you don’t want to miss out on any pleasurable moment.

But don’t worry – you don’t need to spend a lot of money. You can explore free camping activities such as fishing, hiking, biking and walking trails and ensure you maximise good times.

Board games will make a great company, especially during winter. Also, at nightfall, you can look up and delight in stargazing.

Bottom line

Though you may think it’s difficult to save money when having fun, it’s essential to set aside some money rather than overspending on expensive things.

Ricky Willis

About Ricky Willis

Ricky Willis is the founder of Skint Dad. Drawing on his own experiences, he shares practical ways to save money, cut household costs and earn extra cash to help families make their money go further.

Ricky and Naomi Willis

Ricky and Naomi Willis, founders and editors of the Skint Dad website.

We know how heavy money pressure can feel, so we share simple, practical help to make everyday money feel more manageable.

Read more about us.

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