WHY ARE WE LIKE THIS?

When we bought the camper we knew we wanted to get our money out of it and not just use it as a very large yard ornament- so we try to go camping AT least once a month. We are working our way through our local and state parks for quick weekend trips and we save out of state for school breaks and summer.

The Cost Break Down

Campsite: $40-$70

Food: $50

Gas: Varies

Activities: Free

How to Use Girl Math to Make it FREE

With a little planning and a little girl math- these camping trips end up being budgeted into our monthly cost and essentially end up costing us $FREE.99. Here’s how to properly apply your Girl Math principles to zero out your camping costs.

Campsite Cost:

Our campsite is the most expensive thing about our weekend trips and typically ranges between $40 and $70 depending on where we stay and if we are staying 2 or 3 nights.

The Girl Math:

When I am not camping on a weekend I eventually get board and wander from my house or plan a project. In the case of wandering I usually end up at Target buying things I don’t really need. When we plan a project we end up spending days going back and forth to Lowes buying supplies.

When we are at the camp ground I can’t buy random stuff from target or new plants for the yard- therefore these costs zero each other out. So basically your campsite is free because you would have spent the money anyways.

Food Costs:

I typically plan pretty easy camping meals- pancakes and eggs, cereal, sandwiches, hot dogs, grilled chicken, tacos, etc. I go shopping at Aldi for our groceries and any other snacks we might need.

The Girl Math:

I have to feed my family whether we are camping or not. Most weekends if I stay home we end up eating out or grabbing take-out at least once, so by going camping I’m actually saving money. You’re welcome.

Fuel Costs:

Fuel is going to vary depending on how far your campsite is. Usually we keep it within 3-4 hours but for a long weekend we might venture up to 6 hours away.

The Girl Math:

I am just a girl. The only fuel I budget for monthly is the gas my husbands spends to get to and from work. The rest of it doesn’t exist in my mind so basically… free!

Activities Costs:

When we are camping we hardly do anything that cost additional money with the exception of the occasional museum or tour.

The Girl Math:

Paddle Board rentals? Nah! We brought some!

Hiking? Nature is free y’all!

The Beach? I brought the towels and sand toys!

Museum? You can’t put a price on education!

Fishing? We got the poles and left over hot dogs!

Bikes? In the car!

By pre-purchasing things to do like paddle boards, hiking gear, beach toys, etc. pretty much any and all activities are free! If you any help justifying these purchases just think of how much you are saving on rental fees. The average Kayak rental can be anywhere from $30-$50 for a few hours! Plus, think of all the money you would be spending trying to find entertainment for the kids at home. Jump parks, movies, and kids museums really add up!

So you’re not spending money on these new hobbies, you’re actually saving your future self SO much money.

Enjoy Your FREE Camping Trip

So there you have it. By using advanced Girl Math calculations, a $200 camping weekend magically transforms into a $FREE.99 family adventure.

Is this technically how budgets work? Maybe not.

Does it make me feel better while I’m sitting by a campfire, watching my kids run wild in nature instead of asking me for snacks at Target? Absolutely.

And honestly… that’s priceless.

Happy camping, and may your campsite fees always be canceled out by the things you didn’t buy at Target.