Over the past weeks we’ve written about the most popular resolutions people make from year to year. From our particular vantage point of Ocean Canyon camping and RVing, we’ve tried to help you lose weight, get fit, get organized, enjoy life more, learn something new and spend more time with important people in your life. [If you missed any, you can find them here and on Texoma Shores Resort and Tres Rios Resort Websites.
This week we cover the third and final everyday item that saves you money by pulling double-duty on your next camping trip. Whether packing your backpack or stocking your RV shelves, space is a premium, and items that multitask are great finds. So far we’ve covered aluminum foil and baking soda. Ready for the third and final money-saving camping item?
Baggies!
Like the other two, you can buy these at the dollar store and you probably already have them. You know they’re good for keeping wet stuff away from dry and for packing your sandwich for the hike. But they can also take the place of bulkier and more costly items:
- Leave the mixing bowls and utensils at home! Premix your ingredients in a bag, zip tightly and shake and/or knead to combine all ingredients well. You can add liquids onsite and mix up batter without the use of large spoons or bowls. If you premix spices and other ingredients ahead of time, you can label the bag with a permanent marker and avoid taking numerous boxes and jars with you for meals. And clean-up/pack up is a breeze. [Note: though you can find numerous tips on how to cook in baggies – most notably ‘omelet in a bag’ – Ziplock warns that their bags are not safe to cook or boil in, and they do not recommend it.]
- Fill baggies with portion-appropriate servings of snacks, veggies, desserts, etc., to avoid leftovers and overeating, and leave the Tupperware and chip clips at home.
- A gallon bag filled with ice (may want to double-bag this one) can cool your Coke or your catch without the need for a bulky ice chest. Though we don’t recommend chilling both in the same bag – multitasking is a beautiful thing but soda that tastes like trout is not!
- If you’re on a boat or hiking in possibly rainy weather, small baggies are great for storing keys, phones, cameras, ID, anything that needs to stay dry.
- Hike too far? Baggies filled with ice can cool down those sore muscles. Large baggies can hold your hiking boots to avoid your entire tent or cabin smelling like a locker room (don’t forget to sprinkle baking soda in those bad boys).
- Finally, in a pinch, a Ziplock bag filled with air can be used as a pillow! It may not last the entire night if you’re one who fights dragons in your sleep but hey, it takes up next to no space in your backpack and it’s better than that lichen-covered rock.
For more useful baggie tips, check out http://blog.alice.com/2010/09/09/27-smart-ideas-for-ziploc-bags-giveaway/.
Pack your baggies, tin foil and baking soda and come see us soon at Bear’s Den! Meanwhile, if there’s a camping item you never leave home without, we’d sure love to hear about it.