No, you don't need to rub your eyes like you are in some sort of cartoon, there was a post yesterday based on how to pack lightly, but that was a post on how to actually pack lightly, this one is about how to make it seem like you've packed lightly, even if you've packet an entire zoo (metaphorical exaggeration). Let's face it, we would love to take our entire wardrobe with us whenever we go away somewhere, no matter how far away or for how long we are going; that is just not feasible. Because our mothers won't let us. So, here is the blog to end your woes, a guide on how to trick your bossy parent(s) into thinking you've packed lightly when actually, you haven't.
1) Roll Everything
By rolling all of your clothes it gives them less surface area, therefore meaning that you can fit loads of rolled items in where you could have maybe fit one or two non-rolled ones. When I say roll everything, I mean roll everything, this trick works better than anything else. Once you've rolled all of the things in your suitcase, cover your rolled goods with folded clothes to make it look like you folded all of the things underneath.
Helpful tip: roll clothes around other stuff eg. T-shirts can be rolled beautifully around toothpaste tubes.
2) Individual Bags
This one can be done using any type of bag- drawstring, plastic, canvas, big, small. All you need to do is stuff these bags full of clothes and other crap (if you roll them this is even more fabulous) and arrange the bags in your suitcase in a neat jigsaw pattern.
Helpful tip: arrange your bags into categories, this makes life easier when trying to find things and unpacking eg. Jewellery, undies, tops etc.
3) Stuff Shoes
This doesn't cover much but, like Tesco said so wisely, every little helps. Everyone knows that you put your shoes at the bottom of your packing, but a brilliant thing to do is to put small things, like jewellery, socks and makeup in your shoes. Shove 'em right down into the toes of your shoes- you'd be surprised how much you can get in there.
4) Pockets
This, unfortunately, can't apply to everyone because it depends on whether you have pockets on your suitcase or not- if you do, read on! If you don't, you'll have to ignore this point, I'm afraid. Pockets are actually a lot more useful than you thought; they hold quite a lot. People are wary of putting things in pockets because you can't lock them and some people don't even remember that they're there. I like to put my electrical chargers in my suitcase pockets, because these can take up a fair amount of room in my suitcase and I wouldn't be too sad if they were stolen. This then gives you more space in the main body of your case to fill with anything you like. Other things that you could fill a suitcase's pockets with include: underwear, waterproof clothing, some books, flip-flops...
5) Sides
This may seem like an obvious one, but it is often forgotten: stuff things down the sides! Once you've packed in all of your (rolled and bagged) clothes, you think you have nowhere to put your cosmetics and toiletries! However, never fear, there is space- down the sides of your suitcase. Down there you can shove hairbrushes, deodorant, flip-flops and much more. It is brilliant.
Helpful tip: Don't put your toiletries in a bag altogether, distribute them into tiny wash bags and stuff them down the sides.
And finally, it may seem like cheating but... 6) Secretly put things in other peoples suitcases
This is only to be used in desperate times, we all know- desperate times call for desperate measures. Pick the person in your family who is least likely to notice (ie. Not your mother) and don't do it with big things like jumpers, just small tops etc. Also, don't pick things that could be mistaken for the other persons. What you need to do is fold your chosen item very thinly (one cannot roll in this situation) and place in between their clothes in their suitcase near the bottom, if possible next to things of the same colour, but not actually at the bottom as this could make your item easily discovered. Once at your travel destination you must stealthily remove your item from chosen family member's suitcase (best time is when they are using the loo). This can be done with up to 4 items, any more and you are taking a major risk.
You know sometimes when you to go away, there is a specific item of clothing that you really want to bring, but you can't really envisage wearing it on this trip so mum makes you take it out? Now you can ignore her! Because you'll have tons of room! Also, now you will have plenty of room for shopping.
You can thank me later, but for now, enjoy packing a giant suitcase-load of things into a small carry-on bag.
M x
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