Beaching On the Cheap

Somebody asked for the essentials for beaching.  I try, as best I can, to do it as cheap as possible.  This includes buying extra swimmy suits at the end of the season when they are marked down 75% off.  Ain't no reason for a woman to show up at the beach with a six year old swimmy suit that the elastic is shot and her rear has a sag line, if you know what I mean!  It's best to have two or maybe three suits so that you will always have a clean one while the other is either drying or being washed.

When you travel to the beach as much as we do, you figure out that chair and umbrella rentals are expensive!  We opt to bring our own.  I like the Sportsbrella model the best because it is light weight and has the UV coating on the underside.  Luckily we have never had one tear up on us by the wind.  I use plastic anchors to hold the umbrellas in the ground.  I tried using a metal one once, but the tightening knob rusted shut after one season.

For me, I cannot do without my beach cart.  They roll great, til you reach sand, then you end up dragging to your spot, but it can carry just about everything you want to bring. We then collapse it at put it behind our chairs.

We like using sand spikes to hold our cups, and sometimes our electronic devices.  These spikes help keep the sand off your stuff.

This year we have added a Bluetooth speaker so we can listen to Internet radio or pandora.  Helps pass the time when the beach birds aren't flocking that day.

If you are into shelling, be sure to bring along a mesh bag and also pick up a dip net or shelling stick.  These are helpful in keeping the sea water out of your mouth when those rogue ways come your way.

Most resorts furnish beach towels that can be exchanged at some point for a clean one.  We tend to bring extras, just in case.

Toiletries are a no brainer, but you can pack a littler lighter by bringing the small sample sizes of shampoo and tooth paste to save room in your suitcase.

If you are bringing a wee one, a fitted sheet makes a great play pad.  Just put something substantial in the corners to keep the sheet stretched out tight.  Your wee one will have a ball and be "sand free" for the most part.

If you are doing the Condo thing, you need to pack a box with all the kitchen items that you will need:  washing powder pods, foil, paper supplies, seasonings, etc...

We bring along our margarita machine, ziploc bags, and all the ingredients for frozen ritas.  I freeze them overnight and use them as ice packs for the early part of the day, then by 11 or so, it's "5 o'clock somewhere"!

I've learned from other guests, that if you are flying in for your beach vaca, think about stopping by the resale and consignment shops for umbrellas and chairs.  You can either sales them back to the shops, or leave them at the complex for newly arriving guests to enjoy!

We usually cook at least half our meals at our unit and also do simple breakfasts and pack sandwiches and snacks for our all day stay beaching.  Bringing the basic seasonings from home help keep down the cost of the trip to the grocery store.

Once you are at the beach, enjoy yourself.  Respect others by not playing you music too loud, and pick up after yourself.  Be mindful not to feed the birds.  You will start a freezy, and some poor soul will get "bombed".

That's about it for this one.  Enjoy yourself, especially when you are beaching.  No problems, no worries, just wind, sand and surf!