I saw a comment elsewhere about a newbie mistake of taking "too much food". As a newbie, this has been bugging me as I can't see it, particularly solo which means that I'm carrying (ballpark) 150kg less mass in tow vehicle/caravan than if there were two of us.
For me, making a meal is part of my (new) lifestyle while carrying what I need with me both reduces my costs significantly and (as my caravan is a heavy duty off-roader) allows me to freely choose where I camp.
Three weeks ago I did a major shop in Mackay (no Aldi) at some $250 (say $150 if I'd had an Aldi) and have been camped at Seaforth with no access to a supermarket since. I still have a weeks major supplies and have spent less than $50 on (expensive) fresh milk/bread locally. So basically around $12 per day on food while eating well.
So what is the advantage of carrying less and or the disadvantage of "too much"?
blaze said
10:00 PM Jul 21, 2019
I buy less more often and don't do any major shopping trips. Buy at the closest shop and don't chase prices, if at MT Dare and I need supplies, that's where I get them and not the next major town.
cheers
blaze
ps homebased atm and still shop the same
TheHeaths said
07:40 PM Jul 22, 2019
Its what you feel comfortable with.
We do our normal weekly shopping type purchasing, and top up when necessary. It sounds as though you do something similar, and it has worked for you for a number of years. That being the case keep doing it if you feel right about it.
There is no right or wrong way to do this travel thing. There is your way. just have fun and dont sweat this sort of minor detail.
There is no advantage or disadvantage to any way you do the shopping.
Tony Bev said
11:44 PM Jul 22, 2019
We are all different Marshall, so there is not a one size which fits all of us
On my first lap, going solo, and not knowing about the Grey Nomads Forum website, I use to ask other travellers, what was what
The consensus was that, when you knew how many days it would be before you reached a shop, that was how much food you should carry
The method behind the madness, was that you would then always be eating fresher food, than if you stocked up, just because you had the room
As others have already said, purchase the amount of food, you are happy with
To try and answer your question So what is the advantage of carrying less and or the disadvantage of "too much"?
The advantages of carrying less, are probably the same disadvantages of carrying too much
You will lose food if your fridge plays up
My three way, 12volt/gas/240 volt fridge played up about four times, before I purchased my current 12 volt compressor fridge
denmonkey said
10:19 AM Sep 18, 2019
I carry too much food but I'm not full timing . I have a habit this when camping regardless if Im in the van or not. I come back with enough food for several more days when I get back home. Which means I need to eat for a few more days like I'm camping. Often I end up throwing food out, which I don't like doing. So yeah, it's possible, I do it but I'm trying to cut down.
I also keep a few cans of stuff stored just in case but I'm not talking back up foods here.
cheers Brett
Possum3 said
11:26 AM Sep 18, 2019
I like to cook each meal as it's needed - breakfast, lunch & tea. This necessitates having adequate spices and condiments, further I carry dry goods in sealed plastic containers (pasta's, rice, flour, cereals, sugars, etc). Fresh meat fish and chicken, bread and milk is purchased at local stores as we go along. A couple of cans of peas, tomato's, sardines, tuna and soup for when I just want a light meal.
We tend to bush camp mostly on the outskirts of larger towns, so we need to be self sufficient with meals although a fresh bakery pie, fish n chips or counter lunch sometimes temps a few dollars out of the wallet.
We have a couple of times been camped in due to poor weather and have never missed out on a good feed.
stoney123 said
05:20 PM Feb 25, 2020
Take as much as you need between shops, that is if you are going camp 30km from a shop you don't want to be driving back and forth, that's not fun if you have a top spot to camp the more you take the happier you will be and save fuel., only get small amounts when driving long distances.
I saw a comment elsewhere about a newbie mistake of taking "too much food". As a newbie, this has been bugging me as I can't see it, particularly solo which means that I'm carrying (ballpark) 150kg less mass in tow vehicle/caravan than if there were two of us.
For me, making a meal is part of my (new) lifestyle while carrying what I need with me both reduces my costs significantly and (as my caravan is a heavy duty off-roader) allows me to freely choose where I camp.
Three weeks ago I did a major shop in Mackay (no Aldi) at some $250 (say $150 if I'd had an Aldi) and have been camped at Seaforth with no access to a supermarket since. I still have a weeks major supplies and have spent less than $50 on (expensive) fresh milk/bread locally. So basically around $12 per day on food while eating well.
So what is the advantage of carrying less and or the disadvantage of "too much"?
cheers
blaze
ps homebased atm and still shop the same
We do our normal weekly shopping type purchasing, and top up when necessary. It sounds as though you do something similar, and it has worked for you for a number of years. That being the case keep doing it if you feel right about it.
There is no right or wrong way to do this travel thing. There is your way. just have fun and dont sweat this sort of minor detail.
There is no advantage or disadvantage to any way you do the shopping.
We are all different Marshall, so there is not a one size which fits all of us
On my first lap, going solo, and not knowing about the Grey Nomads Forum website, I use to ask other travellers, what was what
The consensus was that, when you knew how many days it would be before you reached a shop, that was how much food you should carry
The method behind the madness, was that you would then always be eating fresher food, than if you stocked up, just because you had the room
As others have already said, purchase the amount of food, you are happy with
To try and answer your question
The advantages of carrying less, are probably the same disadvantages of carrying too much
You will lose food if your fridge plays up
My three way, 12volt/gas/240 volt fridge played up about four times, before I purchased my current 12 volt compressor fridge
I carry too much food but I'm not full timing .
but I'm trying to cut down.
I have a habit this when camping regardless if Im in the van or not.
I come back with enough food for several more days when I get back home. Which means I need to eat for a few more days like I'm camping.
Often I end up throwing food out, which I don't like doing.
So yeah, it's possible, I do it
I also keep a few cans of stuff stored just in case but I'm not talking back up foods here.
cheers Brett
We tend to bush camp mostly on the outskirts of larger towns, so we need to be self sufficient with meals although a fresh bakery pie, fish n chips or counter lunch sometimes temps a few dollars out of the wallet.
We have a couple of times been camped in due to poor weather and have never missed out on a good feed.