Burning Man on a budget....

Post by **Sham** » Sat Mar 28, 2009 4:30 am

I would like to offer some very useful and practical ideas for taveling and attending BM with limited funds and hope that others will share their ideas for attending cheaply.

We are in the middle of the worst economy since the great depression and I get the feeling that some people may be holding back on attending BM this year due to a lack of a job, or just very tight cash. The idea of spending lots scarce money for a week in the desert may cause some to sit home in a dimly lit room while others are attending and having the most amazing week of their lives.

From airfare, car rentals, food, alcohol, tent, sleeping bags and other supplies, you can cut your costs to the bare bone and keep your spending in check.

If you find yourself out of work, this may be the perfect time to attend. You are hanging around anyway, and you would be eating no matter where you are, so why not hang in BRC? You can apply for a low income ticket as well.

Airlines are cutting their prices and low fares can be locked in now to be used in August. Also keep in mind that a lot of credit card companies allow you to use their points for plane tickets. There may be a parent who will give you some of these points for the flight. Car rentals can also be paid for with points accrued on a credit card. In the past, I rented SUVs, but this year booked a Caravan minvan and found that 8 days are nearly half the price of a jumbo SUV.

Hopefully you have a tent and sleeping bag already, but if you need these, you may want to shop at a big box store (Walmart, Target, Costco etc) instead of a specialty camping store. The quality may not be quite as good, but the cost is substancially less. I always look for the clearance items at these stores and sometimes get 75% off the regular prices. I just bought a 10 degree Coleman sleeping bag at Target for $10.50. Yard sales, flea markets and thrift stores are also a good place to hunt for useful items.

If you plan for food shopping ahead of time, you can avoid buying too much and not have to throw things away on the way out. Reno has all the usual stores, so before flying in, I go to my local stores---Costco, Trader Joe's, Walmart etc and make tight lists of things that I need. I even can shop ahead of time for the least expensive places for different items. (wine at Trader Joe's, vodka at another store) Giving serious thought to these things will help avoid duplication among camp mates. It's important to have a list of food so you don't forget something important or buy too much. Lists baby, lists!

Any other cost saving ideas or questions would be very helpul to all.

lordgrizz · Post by **lordgrizz** » Sat Mar 28, 2009 4:56 am

I would not have been able to make it my first year with help from my family and friends.
Talk to the people around you, at least in my case the people in my socail network were able to donate/lend quite a bit of the gear I used my first year.
Yard sales, swap meets, and thrift stores rounded out what I could not get.

Now one of my favorite things to do is cruise the thrift store looking for goodies for the burn.

NOTE-when borrowing gear always be sure every thing is well cleaned before returning it.

Dork · Post by **Dork** » Sat Mar 28, 2009 8:13 am

The key is to identify the things you actually need out there versus what would be cool to have. Then try to find the cheapest ways to collect and transport those things. Size matters! The bigger your stuff, the more vehicle space you need. More space means taking a bigger vehicle or less room to take on passengers. You might find a cheap or free dome on craigslist but the extra gas money could mean it costs a couple hundred. You can scavange materials for a tensegrity or other simple structure cheaply.

For food, start experimenting with home-made meals. Make a batch of something and stick it in the fridge for a week. Once you get a few good recipes down you can simply freeze a week's worth and you'll be eating well for little money.

Most things you need out there are things you'd need at home anyway - other than your tent, mattress, shade, and cooler most things can do double duty. Blankets are just fine instead of a sleeping bag. Grab a bar of soap from the bathroom instead of getting a jumbo-sized Dr Bonners. You should be collecting your gray water anyway so it doesn't need to biodegrade. Bring whatever small backpack you have or find for a dollar at a yard sale. Grab a couple of empty water bottles from the recycling bin at work instead of getting a camelback or fancy jug. Shower with a squeeze bottle out in the open instead of building and transporting a fancy shower system.

Anything you do need to buy is generally cheaper and more available if you buy it before other burners are looking for it - funky clothes at thrift stores, used tents, coolers, beater bikes, etc.

For your ride, share if you can! If you're coming from far away consider flying into Reno and scrounging a ride from there instead of driving. Add up all the costs involved and figure out which makes the most sense. If you need to rent something, look into cargo vans. You could sell the extra cargo space for gas money and sleep in the back.

RedheadBarbie · Post by **RedheadBarbie** » Sat Mar 28, 2009 10:34 am

Very few prepared foods are actually considered food safe after a week in the fridge. Keep most foods for 5 days or less, three is preferable or just use the freezer.

Dork · Post by **Dork** » Sat Mar 28, 2009 11:13 am

RedheadBarbie wrote:Very few prepared foods are actually considered food safe after a week in the fridge. Keep most foods for 5 days or less, three is preferable or just use the freezer.

Any cites on that? I've heard the same info but also heard that as long as the food is properly prepared and the fridge is kept at the proper temperature you can generally stretch things until they start looking or smelling bad. That's why I suggest running this test so you know how long a particular dish will last before going bad. This is not only for cooked food, also for things like fruits and vegetables. Some last a really long time, others are mush in a few days.

I wouldn't recommend dry ice (a "freezer") on the playa if you're on a budget - better to just stick to canned or dried foods instead.

Post by **mdmf007** » Sat Mar 28, 2009 11:28 am

BM is much cheaper as a group as well. Economy of scale will provide for cheap transportation, cheaper food overall and cut a lot of costs.

If a van costs 300 Rt from Seattle to BM for one person - it would cost 50 for 6 people. - well a little more as it will burn more fuel with 6

Here's the lowest numbers I have heard from a mate of mine (excluding travel)

Ticket - 240.00
Food share - 75.00 (group food)
Personal food 50.00
Tent - 18.00 at wally world
Sleeping Bag - 14 at wally world
boozeahol - 50.00

Odds and ends from home already owned
Clothes
assorted costumery
camel back
sunglasses
mask
lip balm
knick knacks etc.
I think he got a ride for another 75RT with a group from the Puget Sound region.

so that's like 522.00

I cannot imagine it being much cheaper. I am thinking 500.00 without some charity would be the threshold.

Post by **Sham** » Sun Mar 29, 2009 6:01 pm

mdmf007 wrote: so that's like 522.00

I cannot imagine it being much cheaper. I am thinking 500.00 without some charity would be the threshold.

It appears that a $500 budget is the perfect target number for the cheap end of a budget. Remember that your food would be required not matter where you are for the week, so as far as budgeting, you may be able to remove the cost of at least some of the food. Also, you can cut back on the liquor---you don't want to miss the good stuff because you were falling over shitfaced drunk anyway!

The absolute most important thing about attending BM this year even though times are the worst that most of us have ever seen is this; In order to mentally recharge your batteries and give you new inspiration and motivation. Once you leave BM, you will have a new outlook and uplift to conquere this shitty economy and rough times.

Captain Goddammit · Post by **Captain Goddammit** » Sun Mar 29, 2009 6:22 pm

$50 for boozahol??!! WTF? You can cut back on food or comfort... but you can't get by for a week at BM on $50 worth of boozahol.

StevenGoodman · Post by **StevenGoodman** » Sun Mar 29, 2009 9:35 pm

Captain Goddammit wrote:$50 for boozahol??!! WTF? You can cut back on food or comfort... but you can't get by for a week at BM on $50 worth of boozahol.

Sure you can???

Isn't that a 12 pack of Natural Ice a day? Or a bottle of crappy vodka a day?

Me, I bring at least $250 of booze, but I have a reputation to uphold!

Martini Steve

RedheadBarbie · Post by **RedheadBarbie** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 5:53 am

[quote="Dork"][quote="RedheadBarbie"]Very few prepared foods are actually considered food safe after a week in the fridge. Keep most foods for 5 days or less, three is preferable or just use the freezer.[/quote]
Any cites on that? I've heard the same info but also heard that as long as the food is properly prepared and the fridge is kept at the proper temperature you can generally stretch things until they start looking or smelling bad. That's why I suggest running this test so you know how long a particular dish will last before going bad. This is not only for cooked food, also for things like fruits and vegetables. Some last a really long time, others are mush in a few days.

I wouldn't recommend dry ice (a "freezer") on the playa if you're on a budget - better to just stick to canned or dried foods instead.[/quote]

It was part of my job to conduct trainiing on food safety for many, many years. Fruits and veggies aren't prepared so you can gauge them on freshness. Prepared food (multiple foods touching in any way, even fruit salad or uncooked foods) don't always indicate with smell or color when they are in the early stages. That's why some of the older people you know who use their special frying pan that has never been washed frequently have bouts of the potty cha-cha-chas.

Post by **mdmf007** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 7:09 pm

Captain Goddammit wrote:$50 for boozahol??!! WTF? You can cut back on food or comfort... but you can't get by for a week at BM on $50 worth of boozahol.

I was talking about on a budget - lol I ASSUMED you were going to imbibe on the generosity of others at other camps.

Teo del Fuego · Post by **Teo del Fuego** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 10:24 am

RedheadBarbie wrote:That's why some of the older people you know who use their special frying pan that has never been washed frequently have bouts of the potty cha-cha-chas.

I'm fairly skeptical of that claim, unless these "older people" are using their frying pans as cold serving trays. I do not know of any bacteria than can survive the high heat of a cast-iron skillet. I mean, if you cook your food (and not just warm it up) I think a seasoned skillet is okay.

Sail Man · Post by **Sail Man** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 2:10 pm

Dork wrote:
RedheadBarbie wrote:Very few prepared foods are actually considered food safe after a week in the fridge. Keep most foods for 5 days or less, three is preferable or just use the freezer.
Any cites on that? I've heard the same info but also heard that as long as the food is properly prepared and the fridge is kept at the proper temperature you can generally stretch things until they start looking or smelling bad. That's why I suggest running this test so you know how long a particular dish will last before going bad. This is not only for cooked food, also for things like fruits and vegetables. Some last a really long time, others are mush in a few days.

I wouldn't recommend dry ice (a "freezer") on the playa if you're on a budget - better to just stick to canned or dried foods instead.

PASTA SAUCE: LASTS 5 DAYS ONCE OPENED
MAYONNAISE: LASTS 2 MONTHS ONCE OPENED
CHEESE: LASTS 1 - 4 WEEKS
EGGS: LASTS 3 - 5 WEEKS
LEFTOVERS: LAST 3 - 4 DAYS

This was a list I just found online. I couldnt find anything more definitive without searching for hrs apparently

Last yr we froze everything but by the time we hit the playa from detroit it had all thawed and we didnt want to take a chance with it so in the dark of night we sneaked over a few streets and "gifted" it to another camps cooler

The puking went on for days

ROFLMAO!

JK! JK'ING!

We wasted too much $ on some cool shit from TJ's. This year we have an RV and it won't be as much as an issue.

chiefdanfox · Post by **chiefdanfox** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 2:52 pm

Sail Man wrote:PASTA SAUCE: LASTS 5 DAYS ONCE OPENED
MAYONNAISE: LASTS 2 MONTHS ONCE OPENED
CHEESE: LASTS 1 - 4 WEEKS
EGGS: LASTS 3 - 5 WEEKS
LEFTOVERS: LAST 3 - 4 DAYS

How long will this stuff last IN the refrigerator?

dc383 · Post by **dc383** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 5:24 pm

dried salami seems to last forever

Post by **mdmf007** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 6:16 pm

TALK ABOUT THREAD DRIFT? LOL

StarShineScars · Post by **StarShineScars** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 6:27 pm

Dork wrote:
RedheadBarbie wrote:Very few prepared foods are actually considered food safe after a week in the fridge. Keep most foods for 5 days or less, three is preferable or just use the freezer.
Any cites on that? I've heard the same info but also heard that as long as the food is properly prepared and the fridge is kept at the proper temperature you can generally stretch things until they start looking or smelling bad. That's why I suggest running this test so you know how long a particular dish will last before going bad. This is not only for cooked food, also for things like fruits and vegetables. Some last a really long time, others are mush in a few days.

I wouldn't recommend dry ice (a "freezer") on the playa if you're on a budget - better to just stick to canned or dried foods instead.

Dry ice is great on the playa, we used it last year. The trick is to buy it from an ice cream wholesaler... you know the places where the ice cream truck man gets his stuff. It's like 3/4 of the price it is at the store. It's worth checking out if there is one by you.

CdnChick · Post by **CdnChick** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 6:39 pm

I'd suggest thinking about: what can you really live on for a week?

Like boxed pasta and canned goods you can get on sale and stock up. I'm not saying eating KD for a week would be ideal, but it would be cheap and wouldn't rot. It would also allow you to bring a smaller cooler (transportation space = $).

velocirafter · Post by **velocirafter** » Wed Apr 01, 2009 4:10 am

I just got flights from Ireland for â‚¬275 with air canada, this is half the price of other airlines....being irish this gives me an extra â‚¬275 to spend on alcohol!!! :lol:

RedheadBarbie · Post by **RedheadBarbie** » Wed Apr 01, 2009 7:22 am

[quote="Teo del Fuego"][quote="RedheadBarbie"]That's why some of the older people you know who use their special frying pan that has never been washed frequently have bouts of the potty cha-cha-chas.[/quote]

I'm fairly skeptical of that claim, unless these "older people" are using their frying pans as cold serving trays. I do not know of any bacteria than can survive the high heat of a cast-iron skillet. I mean, if you [i]cook[/i] your food (and not just warm it up) I think a seasoned skillet is okay.[/quote]

Wiping the skillet is ok, though I don't do it. They stay perfectly seasoned with a light wash with soap, wipe with oil, and heat for a minute. It's when they reuse lard or grease from the 1950's.

How I ate with 2 coolers and a mini grill...Kashi Roll's, homemade granola, big burgers the first two days, share with neighbors and get rid of all the meat, frozen grapes, precooked bacon, cereal, frozen chocolate, precooked waffles. This year I may add precooked pizza.

Daddy-O · Post by **Daddy-O** » Wed Apr 01, 2009 12:10 pm

You can get free condoms from Planned Parenthood. That alone will save you quite a few bucks.

oneeyeddick · Post by **oneeyeddick** » Wed Apr 01, 2009 12:39 pm

RedheadBarbie wrote:
How I ate with 2 coolers and a mini grill...Kashi Roll's, homemade granola, big burgers the first two days, share with neighbors and get rid of all the meat, frozen grapes, precooked bacon, cereal, frozen chocolate, precooked waffles.

frozen grapes???

Ya gotta elaborate on that.

(did you mean frozen grape juice?)

Sail Man · Post by **Sail Man** » Thu Apr 02, 2009 2:19 pm

chiefdanfox wrote:
Sail Man wrote:PASTA SAUCE: LASTS 5 DAYS ONCE OPENED
MAYONNAISE: LASTS 2 MONTHS ONCE OPENED
CHEESE: LASTS 1 - 4 WEEKS
EGGS: LASTS 3 - 5 WEEKS
LEFTOVERS: LAST 3 - 4 DAYS
How long will this stuff last IN the refrigerator?

LOL Chief, that is in the fridge

RedheadBarbie · Post by **RedheadBarbie** » Thu Apr 02, 2009 2:48 pm

[quote="oneeyeddick"]
frozen grapes???

Ya gotta elaborate on that.

(did you mean frozen grape juice?)[/quote]

No really, just freeze grapes. Cold and refreshing and I'm not big on fruit though I eat it because I should. Someone should make up a body shot game to go along with frozen grapes, could get interesting.

Elorrum · Post by **Elorrum** » Thu Apr 02, 2009 8:34 pm

Here's what I've done to save some money on food, or it works out that way. Over the course of the year, when the supermarket has sales on canned goods, and pastaroni noodleycrappo stuff, I buy a few and put them in my cupboard for earthquake supplies... I then raid the cupboard before burning man. I do enjoy my canned chicken noodle soup on the playa... throw in some sundried tomatoes, and that's supper. someone else mentioned here before, and I retained it: Canned goods, or non-perishables, bring 'em home, put 'em back in the cupboard. In Blue Highways, the author kept a tin of (I think it was) smoked oysters in his larder while traveling the country, so he would "never run out of food." Still haven't seen ba-can. c'mon libbeys, get on the stick.

Sail Man · Post by **Sail Man** » Fri Apr 03, 2009 9:09 am

How about cheesecake on a stick

Post by **Sham** » Fri Apr 03, 2009 12:55 pm

This is also very nice for a snack on the playa!

RedheadBarbie · Post by **RedheadBarbie** » Sat Apr 04, 2009 4:25 pm

Sail Man wrote:How about cheesecake on a stick

So where are we camping this year?

penguin · Post by **penguin** » Sat Apr 04, 2009 5:27 pm

RhB - I agree with you, just because it smells good don't mean it is good -- they put dates on things for a reason

Dork - here's some cites:

Sailman - I dunno where you searched, but these were like the first four things I found:

Regarding keeping safe refrigerated foods --

http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/fttstore.html

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/factsheets/Ref ... /index.asp

http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/fss ... agee.shtml

http://www.cdc.gov/nasd/docs/d000001-d0 ... 00066.html

So, to get back on topic -- even if you are on a budget, don't scrimp on safety -- especially when it comes to what you eat/drink -- having to pay for a helicopter ride and a week in the hospital will blow your budget.

Oh, and if you really want to save -- go door to door in your neighborhood right after x-mas and collect all those unwanted fruit cakes -- they last forever it seems and no refrigeration is required (and they are multi-use too -- before eating them you can use them as weights to keep your stuff from blowing away in the wind!)

Elorrum · Post by **Elorrum** » Sun Apr 05, 2009 10:51 am

a sandwich that goes, "BOING!!!" I hope that is just a cheerful note, and not an indication of it's activity in one's digestive tract. looks tasty with the fried egg. cheesecake looks great too.