Budget Tips for Grey Nomads?

Sheba · Guru

Budget Tips for Grey Nomads?

Helena · Guru

Happy wanderer have used the raspberry cordial for stomach upsets it is fine settles the stomach really quick always carry a small bottle in the van. Thanks for all the tips isn't it great that we can share so much to make life a little easier. Helena.

Firefly · Guru

Happywanderer wrote:
Are they leather Firefly or a high ankle jogging sneaker?

Marj mine are leather but any good fitting sneaker style would do the same job I would think.

I also like to carry those disposable raincoats in my backpack.

Marj I also made up a bag, just a woollies green bag, with a plastic backed table cloth, one of those pop up food covers and a mug, spoon etc. If we stop at a picnic table and it looks a bit dodgy, we can throw this over the table and have a nice clean surface. I wipe off the back after with antiseptic wipes I carry in the van.

Might sound a bit fussy but it makes me feel a lot better.

jules47 · The Happy Helper

A tip I was given by outback tour operators was to wrap lettuce in newspaper - amazing how fresh it keeps it - doesn't go sllimy at all.Also use sweet potato instead of pumpkin - tins of tiny taters can be used so many ways - potato salad, boiled - baked - cut in half and put on bbq or grill as chips - I have even mashed them with a bit of milk and butter and chopped an onion into it - yum. We also only bought small Roma tomatoes - no waste - and wrap cut onions in foil tightly to prevent smelling everything out.

jules47 · The Happy Helper

Good strong high top boots are a great investment - mine are HiTec - they have probably walked a couple of thousand k - they are my second pair, they have been in all sorts of weather, mud, slush, rain water, sand, rocks - saved my ankles numerous times.

Check out when Rays or Anaconda have specials - it is the soles that are most important I feel - and some sneakers go very shiny on the bottomafter a while - and if you are paying a lot for them - go for good hiking boots instead. I love my boots.

Firefly · Guru

Jules the other half has HiTec and wanted me to get the same but I couldn't find one to fit my foot so I have a similar boot.

Purchased them from Ray's on one of their super sales as well. They have one in our area this Wednesday night for members. 70% off I think. smile

maryfairy · Member

You are all making me want to get out there and do it with your handy tips... I always get the cooking bug when I go camping... As a child Dad was part of a team of workers with his own earthmoving gear who worked for Theiss brothers putting bitumine on most of the roads from Townsville all the way through to Derby WA and up to Darwin... We camped mostly in tents in the camps and i watched mum intently as she made do and cooked wholesome meals... I had my Chook... Henny Penny and she laid enough eggs in a week to give us a feed and for cakes etc... Mum had wooden fruit boxes with Silverbeet, Tomatoes in pots etc that were easily transported when the camp moved...One thing I remember clearly was MUM'S oven.. it was an ARNOTTS biscuit tin with hinged lid and she used it like a camp oven ... I love being able to improvise and eat well when camping... As a sole parent my kids used to always say when we went camping 'wonder what the rich are doing today' My daughter wants to have 'mother daughter ' quality time next week... She's 32... she was recently thrown from her horse and broke her back and is having trouble trying to rest hubby is fantastic with the kids house etc but there are things a mother sees and she tries to do and next day.. bed ridden again... so she wants rest with MUM... she wants to go to WOODGATE... I will book a cabin so she has a proper bed to sleep in... So I guess we will be sort of camping... cheers everyone

Ma · Guru

Enjoy your time with your daughter Mary. I think it's wonderful that she wants to spend time with her Mum. All the best to her for a full recovery

jules47 · The Happy Helper

Hi Firefly - yes the HiTec are good, I have a pretty small foot - and actually buy kids sizes in them as well as Blunnies - otherwise it is 5 pair of sox. We don't have Rays nearby, but that is an almighty special 70%!!!! I could start a shopping list right now - no Icouldn't don't need anything more - have got it all I reckon. Roll on April 2012 - hope to be on the road for a while then - can't wait. Hope to get to meet some of you then, if not before - if you are coming through Boonah PM me - I have a big flat yard 5 mins walk from town.

Allara · Senior Member

Kids always come home to Mum when the going gets tough. Mum is the one who can fix everything. My 32yo daughter has just come home and brought 4 grandchildren, 4 cats, 2 rats and a dog...oh goody....

A tip from scouts is to buy a dehydrator and make up a few meals at home before you go away. Easy to store, don't need the fridge, quick to rehydrate, heat and eat.

Cheers
Allara

pricey43 · Guru

Hi Maryfairy, I don't think it matters how old they are, my kids still ring mum with any important news whether it be good or bad. Another of the many rewards we reap even though we're not looking for them. Despite being in my fifties, I still ring my 90 year old mum with any 'news' in the family. Her family is what keeps her going I think.

smile smile smile smile smile smile smile

Happywanderer · The Master

Keep ringing your mum with all the news Robyn. My mum would have been 91 this year but passed away back in 1989. I still think of things to tell her and then remember she's not here to get the news. Still gives me a shock when I realise I just about went to ring her.

Hylda&Jon · Guru

jules47 wrote:
A tip I was given by outback tour operators was to wrap lettuce in newspaper - amazing how fresh it keeps it - doesn't go sllimy at all.

Those green tuperware lettuce containers are great, iceburg lettuce keeps for over 2 weeks in them & you can often pick them up from op shops for next to nuthin.

Cee · Senior Member

Wow what a great bunch of tips, I haven't been able to get on line for awhile due to work committments so it was great to see all these great tips from everyone. I find the following info re saving fuel I hope it helps. I have followed the tips below and found while the savings where not astronomical.........over a period of a few months I have noticed the savings in the fuel economy (am using diesel).

SAVE $$ on the Purchase of fuel Only buy or fill up your car in the early morning when the ground temperature is still cold. Remember that all service stations have their storage tanks buried below ground. The colder the ground the more dense the fuel, when it gets warmer petrol expands,so buying in the afternoon or in the evening....your litre is not exactly a litre. In the petroleum business, the specific gravity and the temperature of the petrol, diesel and jet fuel, ethanol and other petroleum products plays an important role. A 1-degree rise in temperature is a big deal for this business. But the service stations do not have temperature compensation at the pumps. When you're filling up do not squeeze the trigger of the nozzle to a fast mode. If you look you will see that the trigger has three (3) stages: low, middle, and high. In slow mode you should be pumping on low speed, thereby minimizing the vapours that are created while you are pumping. All hoses at the pump have a vapour return. If you are pumping on the fast rate, some of the liquid that goes to your tank becomes vapour. Those vapours are being sucked up and back into the underground storage tank so you're getting less worth for your money. One of the most important tips is to fill up when your tank is HALF FULL. The reason for this is, the more fuel you have in your tank the less air occupying its empty space. petrol evaporates faster than you can imagine. Petroleum storage tanks have an internal floating roof. This roof serves as zero clearance between the petrol and the atmosphere, so it minimizes the evaporation. Unlike service stations, every truck that is loaded is temperature compensated so that every litre is actually the exact amount. Another reminder, if there is a fuel truck pumping into the storage tanks when you stop to buy, DO NOT fill up - most likely the petrol/diesel is being stirred up as the fuel is being delivered, and you might pick up some of the dirt that normally settles on the bottom.

Keep Smiling smile

Happywanderer · The Master

Thanks for those great tips Cee. I knew a couple of them, like do not fill up when fuel truck is there. I told someone that a while ago, silt stirred up and was laughed at. But I still believe it.
Will take careful note of all the hints.

sandsmere · Guru

Seems as though this site is going to slip off into oblivion .

Pity . . . . . . . . . Would be good to be able to keep adding to it .

Gerty Dancer · Guru

Good one Sandsmere! (And I just love your sig line!!) biggrin biggrin biggrin

My budget travelling tip is to always carry a thermos and tea/coffee makings, supermarket bickies or snacks.... you can waste a huge amount of money buying morning and afternoon tea every day. Mind you, the occasional cappuchino doesnt count! wink

Happywanderer · The Master

Maybe this thread or a new one should be put in the new topic called Recommendations so less like to get lost. It will fall back pages otherwise.