Article: Save money whilst having fun

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Money saving tips for the budget conscious outdoor enthusiast

Lift share. There can’t be much to be gained from confining several poorly washed and toileted men and their equally unhygienic gear into one car for a prolonged period but reduction in fuel costs and CO₂ output are two benefits.
Choose carefully what you buy. Some purchases do their job over and over for years. Others wear out quickly or were never the best tool for the job and so remain unused. One of the most dangerous mistakes even seasoned outdoor professionals make is wearing waterproofs in last year’s colour. Always buy neutral tones or wear a sniper’s ghillie suit over your shell.
Resell. Unused items can be auctioned or sold. Your unsuitable gear might perfectly suit someone else and they may well be willing to pay you handsomely.
Buy second hand. Bargains are available. Avoid buying second hand if your life will depend on your purchase - unless you can be absolutely sure of its history. A climbing rope that was relatively new and looked OK failed under load because it had been exposed to battery acid fumes whilst in storage.
Eat local. This is often an adventure in its own right. Local specialities are often the most cost efficient and readily available sources of nutrition. This isn’t always the case. On a recent climbing trip to Land’s End we thought a Cornish pasty would be a good choice for lunch. So being intelligent types we went to a hot food counter that was advertising Cornish Pasties. “Please may we have four Cornish Pasties?” we asked confidently. “No” Replied the vendor, “We don’t have any”. We moved on to a Cornish pasty specialist restaurant, amused at the irony of our failure. “Please may we have four Cornish Pasties?” We asked. “No” replied the member of staff with apologies. “We have one vegetarian pasty” he offered. Finding ourselves in the middle of a Monty Python sketch was a bewildering experience so we left and sat down for a few moments to reflect. It wasn’t until hunger got the better of one our number and he returned to the restaurant with his extensive repertoire of martial arts skills that any Cornish pasties could be found in Cornwall. They were very tasty.
Drink local. Beware. Bars boasting single malts from a dozen or more local distilleries can seem like a splendid find on the way in…
Forage. One evening, walking back from a climb, we happened upon a trove of field mushrooms. It didn’t take long to gather them into an only slightly sweaty helmet and a few minutes later they were sizzling in a pan. It was a fine way to round off a fine day.
Repair it. It’s amazing what can be achieved with glue, needle and thread etc. If you can’t mend it perhaps someone else can. A replacement zip will usually cost less than a replacement garment.
Be honest. Do you need a new one or are you just vulnerable to shiny new things? I bought a glittering, hands free, twin rope belay device from a bargain bin. It has never been used.
Borrow. In some cases borrowing is unwise, taking liberties or unhygienic. In many others it is better employment of an item that would otherwise be little used.
Recycle. I have some highly valuable buoyancy just beyond the footrest in my kayak. They used to contain fizzy drinks which were of no value whatsoever. I picked them up as litter.
Adapt, adopt and improve. A chap who suffered from poor circulation and therefore, in the winter, cold-disabled hands, converted warm socks into wristlets – by cutting off the toe and adding a hole for his thumb. These allowed him dexterity when he took off his gloves / mitts but extended up his forearm so didn’t allow a gap before his sleeve in the same way fingerless gloves did. He was delighted with their effectiveness. I shall be trying out the idea this winter.

Mist