Are you cheap, or thrify?
I realized at one point on this trip that I did not want to proceed only using a backpacking stove and cookpot to make meals. Therefore while I was in Monterey I decided to purchase a saucepan to cook with. In the store, they are around $20, but I wanted something that I could throw on the fire, fire ring grill, or stove and not get “messed up”. Really, I wanted a pan I didn’t care about. There’s a part of Monterey with a few thrift stores near where I parked, so I tested them out for what I needed. Say what you want, I got a stainless steel saucepan and wooden soup spoon for under $3. The pan was half off! And you know what? This pan will probably never die. That’s how it ended up in the thrift store in the first place. It will probably outlast everything from Bed, Bath, and Beyond.
I thought this was a travel blog
You’re correct! I point out the saucepan because being thrifty when you can allows you to have more money down the line in case you stumble upon something that costs a little more. Also when traveling, you encounter some “variable” costs, especially for reparing stuff. You can budget for it, but you don’t know when it’s going to happen. Also, stuff gets lost, stolen, misplaced, left behind, etc. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve purchased a brand new shiny thing, only to no longer have it in my possession after only a few uses.
