Packing List Tips (From an former over packer!)

My freshman year at FFA camp was full of many life lessons. One of which included learning how to pack efficiently. This lesson was learned as my chapter boarded the bus to Camp Rising Sun. I was struggling with my suitcase so my advisor, Mr. Henderson, offered to help me load it onto the bus. 

Well Mr. Henderson didn't realize I had slightly over done it on my packing. I took his "suggested packing list" a little too seriously. My 7 pairs of shoes, two beach bags and travel fan were probably slightly unnecessary items in hindsight. He claimed my luggage strained a muscle in his back. Since then, I have reformed my ways. 

During my senior year of high school, I brought one carryon small suitcase for a two week trip to Hawaii. I may not have perfected the art of packing, but that one carryon was a milestone for this former over packer.

But, packing for trips can still be tricky. Do you ever wonder what on earth to pack when you travel? Weekend getaways, months abroad, camp outs or an annual conference... it seems like a traveling experience is always just around the corner!  While you will need different items for your dream vacation to Europe verses a family trip to the lake, I created a general packing list I always look over before I pack my bags.

My go-to items have been determined after numerous "interesting" travel experiences. Some things I had simply never thought of to pack before. (Like what countries don't use wash clothes? South American ones!) Others, I always seemed to have had to borrow or do without. (I really dislike paying inflated prices for tourist trap necessities!) 

I have learned you never want to be without a bath poof in the jungles of Costa Rica, forget your contact case one two many times or be in the Atlanta airport in Georgia with an overpacked bag of shoes! Here is what this Traveling Aggie always has in her suitcase: 

     Necessities

□   Body wash

□   Face wash

□   Moisturizer

     Lotion    

     Makeup bag

□   Tweezers/fingernail clippers

□   Bath poof & wash clothe

□   Toilet paper & Kleenexes

     Hand sanitizer

       Perfume

□   Deodorant

□   Shaving cream & razor

□   Tooth brush & tooth paste

□   Contact solution, extra contact & case

□   Glasses & case

    Hair Products

□   Shampoo

□   Condition

□   Anti frizz product

□   Straightening serum

□   Hair spray

□   Flat iron

□   Blow dryer

□   Curling iron

□   Teasing comb & brush

    Hair ties, headbands & bobby pins        

                 

     Misc.

□   Alarm clock

□   Picture of family/pets  

□   Dryer sheets

□   Zip lock bags & Wal-Mart sacks  

□   Bug spray

□   Chapstick

□   Hangers

□   Clothes pins & safety pins

□   Scissors

□   Q tips

□   Umbrella/poncho

□   Flashlight

□   Notebook/pen

□   Business cards

□   Address book/stamps/envelopes

     Sunglasses

    

     Medicines

□   Tums

□   Tylenol

□   Vitamins

□   Neosporin & band aids

□   Motion sickness medicine

     For the Plane

□   Language dictionary 

□   Book/magazine (throw away)

□   Granola bars/100 calorie packs

□   Water bottle (fill up in airport)

□   Light jacket & socks

     Important Items

□   Passport & photo copy

□   Drivers license

□   Debit card  & cash

□   Vaccine record copy

     Clothing

□   Casual t-shirts

□   Athletic shorts

□   Nikes

□   PJs

□   Sweat pants

□   Hoodie

□   Fleece jacket

□   Suite

□   Dressy tops

□   Dress pants

□   Dresses

□   Cardigans

□   Heels/flats/Sperry’s

□   Jeans

□   Shorts

□   Cropped pants

□   Work boots/rain boots

□   Short socks & tube socks

□   Undies

□   Gloves/ear warmer/scarf

□   Trenchcoat

□   Belts

□   Jewelry

     Baggage

□   Purse: crossover & tote

□   Backpack & duffle   

□   Beach bag

□   Large suitcase

     Electronics

□   Camera & charger

□   Extra memory card

□   Laptop & charger & bag

□   Cell & charger & headphones

□   Converter

□   GPS

□   Batteries

□   Extension cord