Anyway to save for camping is a good idea. We do at least 10 loads per week, but there are 5 people in my house.
Several months ago I actually started a post and asked people with kids how they manage to save for camping trips. One person suggested that they pay themselves first, like a bill. Simple, but it has worked magic for me so far. Every week when I go to the grocery store, I withdraw an extra $50 and put it in our camping account at the bank. Sure I then have $50 less available cash but I have found that I can usually make it work. I often count down the days til payday and have to adjust when I fill up my tank with gas. Or we don't have the cash to get carry out Chinese until a new payday (yep that's $30 for a family of 5 for 1 night). It's $200/month and that's a ton of money. I never would have had $200 left after we lived off of it and paid the bills. But somehow with doing it weekly with the groceries, it flows right in and the $50/week doesn't sting as much as $200/month.
I also get cash anytime I make a return on something and put that in the camping account. I switched insurance and got a check for $200, yep that went into the account too.
I have found that I dream big. I want to travel greater distances and do side trips on those camping trips that require entrance fees. Taking my kids to see the US is a big priority to me and I had to find a way to make it all work.
On that note, my washing machine will leak water on occasion. Haven't gotten a new machine because the only "extra" cash I have is pinned for camping and I don't want to use it. It's all about priorities!
