Be A Master Packer
I’m pretty sure I’ve mentioned my love for “Master Lists” in the past. I have a master dinner menu, a master lunch menu, a master schedule for my household, and a master packing list. Of all of those lists, I probably use the master packing list the least simply because we don’t go out of town as a family more than two or three times a year. However, when we do go out of town, it is my saving grace! Packing for a family with children, or even worse, a baby, is quite a challenge. If you’re going far from home and will be gone for more than two or three days, there are a LOT of things you must pack to insure a successful trip…and I’m only thinking about the car ride so far! There’s the portable DVD player, movies, puzzles, coloring books, snacks, a roll of paper towels (in my “emergency bin” in the back of the van), my children love Adventure in Odyssey cd’s, so we pack a bunch of those for the car as well. Then there are the items that will not go in a bag: beach chairs, pack-n-play, bikes, and a laundry basket (I always bring a laundry basket on trips where I’m required to bring my own linens or towels. It makes laundering a lot easier). I have a great, square laundry basket that fits perfectly into our van for trips.
Of course your master packing list also has all of the “normal” items you’d take on a trip. Everything from underwear and socks to how many outfits and a detailed toilettries list. For each trip, you can cross off items that you won’t need to bring and you can add a number by specific items, like how many diapers you’re estimating you’ll need for a six day trip with a one year old! This list doesn’t solve all of your packing problems, but it is a really great start and almost guarantees you will not forget anything. If you have children, it is always a smart idea to pack a first aid kit with children’s medicine in it. For my family, we always pack tylenol, motrin, benadryl, benadryl gel, bandaids, and tea tree oil (takes the sting out of bug bites, burns, scrapes, etc.)
It is a great idea to pull your master packing list out and start altering it weeks before your scheduled trip. Try to think of as much in advance as possible. If you know you’d like to do a load of laundry or two while you’re there, put a few scoops of your own laundry detergent in a gallon ziploc bag and throw it in your suitcase. One less thing you’ll have to spend money on when you get there! Go the extra mile and buy travel sized items. This is an inexpensive way to save space in your luggage and if you designate a place for travel items in your household, you shouldn’t have to buy them again, you can simply refill them.
Some of you may already do this, but if not, I’m about to save you a LOT of time when you get home…wash as much of your laundry as possible the day or two before you leave. It is AMAZING how much easier it makes unpacking. You can put everything back in their place, return the suitcases back to the attic, and take a deep breath because you don’t have a mountain of laundry to do!
I’m saying all of this because my family is going on our annual vacation to my mother-in-law’s family reunion in just four short weeks. We look forward to this trip every year. It is a LOT of fun. I start altering/adding to my master packing list at least a month in advance. I make a grocery list and estimate the total price of the items I have listed. We do not eat fast food unless we absolutely have to. I calculate the mileage and figure out how much we can expect to spend on gas, and then there is spending money that also must be accounted for in the budget. It sounds like a lot of work, but it really isn’t. I usually work on the list and the budget after the kids go to bed and my hubby and I are watching TV or reading in bed. That is the advantage of starting several weeks in advance. You will almost definitely think of EVERYTHING! The more detailed you get, the more time and money you will save. If you aren’t already like this, your husband will be shocked, impressed, and grateful!
I hope this helped get you motivated to be a “master packer” for your next trip. When you make your “Master Packing List”, put it in a word document and save it on your computer. Everytime you go on a trip, print it out and start from there!
Have a WONDERFUL WEDNESDAY!!
~audrey