Free Camping

Free Camping , sometimes called Bookdocking, is a great way to go. You can easily find places all over that allow it. Great way to save money and travel.

http://www.boondocking.org/ has a database that you can search to find some free camping sites.

The Common Sense Approach To Boondocking Safety
I truly believe that everything in life, even sitting in a chair and breathing, involves some element of risk. Each of us decides for ourselves every day what risks we are willing to take. If your risk tolerance is exceptionally low, you're not likely to be travelling at all or reading this website.
When it comes to quieting our fears, nothing's more effective than knowledge and experience.
From 8 years of boondocking experience, here are my common sense conclusions, insights and boondocking safety advice.

• When it comes to robberies, statistically, I am much more likely to be a victim in my house than in my RV.
• Setting up camp down a dirt road on public land makes me no more a target for a thief than anyone who builds a home or cottage on a country road in a remote area
• My RV is much less appealing to a thief than a permanent residence in that I don't have the same amount of valuable removable furniture or fixtures that can easily be converted to cash.
• I'm often only camped in one location for a day or two...not enough time for a thief to scope the place out and get to know my routines.
• Although the majority of RVers are honest nice people, even if we're camped in a "secured" campground or an LTVA area with other RVers all around us it doesn't mean there isn't a thief amongst us or that we're safe from a break-in or robbery
• I admit that, like many people, at home, I don't know some of my closest neighbors and I have very little time or interest in seeing who comes in and out of their yard. Most RVers will agree that when we're traveling we're much more likely to get to know and keep an eye on our neighbor's property than when we're at home.
• In most boondocking areas, the common courtesy is to leave space, a few hundred yards minimum between campers. In campgrounds, where units are closer, if someone (a stranger) is walking towards or around the immediate area of your unit, it may not be as obvious or noticeable.
• We use common sense when selecting a place to stop. When it comes to boondocking safety we trust our intuition and drive on if the environment doesn't "feel" safe.
• The further from civilization, the more safe it feels to be camped where we're totally alone.
• There's safety in numbers. This holds true for boondocking safety. Especially when we're closer to urban areas, we want others, RVers, truckers etc. within view.
• Most thieves are lazy. That's why the majority of RV break-ins occur within easy access of the cities where most thieves hang out. We avoid boondocking when we're within a short drive of the biggest cities.
• Most thieves don't want to deal with any type of struggle so the easiest time to steal our possessions is when we're not in the RV. As with any parked vehicle, we don't leave cash in the RV and keep valuables out of sight.
• Because we're inside our motorhome at night, our RV is much more likely to be a target in the daytime or evening while we 're parked for shopping, dining out, or going to a show in any urban location than when we're camped in an out-of-the way boondocking site.
• In parking lots, truck stops or road side areas, don't look for the darkest concealed corner. Instead park in the light, and use black-out curtains or eye-wear that block the light while you sleep.
• No matter where you are parked, if trouble does come to find you, driving away your vehicle can be your best defence.
• Park so that you can leave by driving forward. If you need to leave in a hurry, you don't want to have to back up, or do more manoevering than necessary.
• Keep your vehicle in the best possible operating condition.
• Believe it or not, the only boondocking safety concern isn't burglers. No matter where you're camped, in case of a medical emergency, be sure you have enough fuel to make it to the nearest hospital or all night gas station in the middle of the night.
• Don't be paranoid. Just cautious.
• When you're in a community of RVs, even in a gated pay campground, make a point of getting acquainted with your neighbors before you leave your RV unattended for the day.
• In small towns, if there's no signage to the contrary, ask at the grocery store or gas station or even ask the local police about using the town park or a parking lot to "spend the night". If you get a positive response, you'll have the added security of them knowing you're there and watching out for you.
• Always be attentive to your surroundings.

Marianne Edwards is the author of the Frugal Shunpiker's Guides to the Southwest. She has been boondocking safely for more than 8 years. Learn how to find great boondocking locations on her website http://www.frugal-rv-travel.com

Camping Essentials

We are already talking about going camping this summer. Already planning for it. Here is a list of the items that we will need for camping.

NEED:

1. First Aid Kit

2.Fire Proof Matches

3.Rope

4.Tarp

5.Peanut Butter

6.Headlamp, Flashlight, or a Lantern

7.Compass and maps

8. Alternate weather wear - You never know when it might rain or if the weather will change. Better safe !

9.Pocket Knife

10.Tent

11.Sleeping Bag

12. BackPack

13. Different types of camping cookware

14. Sunscreen

15. Bug Spray

16. Other things that will make you camping trip more enjoyable and comfortable. Think about what your family would need. Kids etc. 

How to Conserve Water - Tips and Tricks

I bet you have heard it many times - save water... save the planet... But do we really do it? Well, this time I am determined. I will change my habits to save the planet (hardly), but to reduce my water footprint and most of all to give a good example to my kid. Who knows, he may save the planet one day. While doing my research, I found the "evergreen" rules for water conservation, but also came across some great ideas and tricks on how to conserve water easily. See what I have found and how we can save money by going green. If you have other water saving tips, be welcome to share them here.
How to Conserve Water (Beginners' Level)
Here are those tips and tricks on how to conserve water that are easy to implement. Neither money, nor time investment, nor special preparations are needed. It's just you and your conscious.

• Take shorter showers. I should confess I used to be a ten-minute-shower-person. I love long and hot showers. They are so relaxing especially after busy or cold days. But let's face it - more than 21% of the household water use comes from the shower. Not to count the fact that water may run unused till we wait for a good to us temperature. Nevertheless, I know I can reduce the minutes under the shower and start relaxing, let's say in a more efficient way.


• Turn off the faucet when you brush your teeth. That's how you can conserve about 2 gallons of water per brushing.


• Skip a shave. If you still have to shave every day, just don't rinse your razor under a running tap, but fill your basin with little warm water.


• Do not wash your hair every day. I think this is not only a good how to conserve water tip, it's a good hair maintenance advice too. If you still feel the need to wash your hair every day, why don't you try a different hair cut or style.


• Run your dishwasher only when it's full. I used to wash my dishes by hand just because I thought I'd use less water. If you are like me, don't fool yourself. A dishwasher will save you about 10 gallons of water per washing and will use less soap too.


• Fully load your washing machine. It will save you about 3 gallons of water for each wash. A front-loading washing machine is more efficient than a top-loading one.


• Don't let the tap dripping. Fix leaky sinks and running toilets quickly.


• "If it's yellow, let it mellow. If it's brown, flush it down." Have you heard this before? This was one of the fresh how to conserve water tips for me. If you don't feel OK with this, why don't you try implement it during the night? At least you will not wake everybody up when you flush the water.


• Use the small flush if you have a dual flush toilet. It is sufficient for just about anything, and when it isn't, doing two small flushes is actually better than one big one.

How to Conserve Water (Intermediate Level)
How to conserve water has never been easier, but these water saving tips may require some financial investment. If you are as determined to go green and save money as I am, then they deserve at least your attention.

• Toilet lid sink. Frankly, this was a real finding for me on how to conserve water in the most practical way. When you wash your hands, water is saved in the tank and is used to flush the toilet next time. It not only saves water, but space too. Note that you can buy only the tank.


• Install a low-flow shower head and reduce your shower water use by 20 to 60%.


• Instant Off Water Saver.This is another "precious" how to conserve water trick. Practically, Instant Off controls the water. When you push the rod, water starts. Once the rod is released, water stops. This little water saving device is perfect for bathrooms, kitchens, garage sinks and RVs.


• Use waterless car wash. So, instead of using 500 gallons of water to wash your car by yourself or 32 gallons at the commercial car wash stations, go for the waterless way and you'll get your car shining like new. Learn more and see products offered at Eco Touch and Freedom.


• Collect rainwater from your roof's downspout in a rain barrel to irrigate your garden. In Colorado, there is a law that bans rainwater capture...., but anywhere else, this water saving tip may be quite valuable and save lots of gallons of clean water from being spent in watering the garden.


• How to Conserve Water (Masters' Level)


• Water recycling - greywater and wastewater reuse systems. This how to conserve water idea is of high difficulty and may require big financial investment. Greywater systems take the water from your shower and kitchen (never from the toilet) and redirect it to watering the garden. Learn more at http://greywateraction.org.

Now, knowing how to conserve water, you just need to start doing it. Water and money are both scarce resources. Let's save them thinking of our kids' future.

Nadia Ruseva is a mom, who in the search of some tips to raise her child healthy, found a whole new world of inspiration and ideas about how to be healthy and beautiful inside and out... about how to make a difference.

Efficient Home Hiding Places: The Best Places to Hide Valuables at Home

Efficient Home Hiding Places: The Best Places to Hide Valuables at Home was a free Kindle book when this post was written.

 In this ebook, you will find many useful DIY hacks to hide your cash and valuable possessions - and most of those hiding places are already in your home and you don’t have to spend any extra money to create them. In this book, we will tell you how to find those places in your home and protect your money.

There will be a few things that you will need in order to build a hiding place. You can find the required items easily at a nearby hardware store - nothing will be too expensive. The rest of the items that will require are most likely already within your house.

10 Banned Foods

Are you eating "food that's already banned" in other countries but is still allowed to poison and kill Americans? Learn these pernicious ingredients and common foods through this infographic. Use the embed code to share it on your website.