Last week we talked about the outrageous fees that the airlines charge their passengers to take their luggage with them. I personally think this is just a way for them to get more money from us all! I mean really, they know we are going to travel with clothes. So why not charge us for that? Well I for one think it is a rip off. I get charging for a check in, but not $35, $45, $50. That is insane. And to charge that much or more for a carry on. Really? There is something wrong with this picture. So I have made it my mission to learn to pack and just take a free bag. Even Spirit airlines gives you 1 personal item. If you can fit everything you own in a bag no bigger than an 18X14X8 . They know that most people aren’t going to do that. Heck most women pack purses bigger than that. Well not me folks. I’m fitting everything I need in a back pack!! My husband, Ernie and I leave for Vegas today. I have 2 pair of jeans, 2 tee shirts, 2 long sleeve blouses, 4 underware, 3 pair of socks, PJ’s, my toiletries, passport, mints, headphones, pen, documents, wallet, phone, charger and cord, and even a book to read in the airport all in my back pack. I’ve even made poor Ernie pack all this things into a small bag. Now it is a bit tougher on him as each pair of his jeans are about twice the size as mine. Not because he is a big boy. And surly not because I’m a thin mint. But because he is about 6 foot 3 and I top out at 5 foot. So a you can imagine that’s a lot more material per leg. But he did it. He packed 2 pair of jeans, shorts, underwear, 3 shirts, his toiletries, 3 pair of socks, phone, cord, charger, and headphones all in his little bag. I’m actually kind of proud of him! Everyone has a theory of how to get more in a bag. Some people roll their clothes. Some fold, some layer, some tuck. I really don’t have any specific way that I do every time. I just do what it takes to get it all in my bag. A lot of it has to do with the bag. I found a great bag while in Japan this year. It doubles as a purse so after I unpack I use as a back pack purse on my adventures while traveling. When you are picking your bag make sure it is a multi purpose bag, and I like the taller, thinner bag, versus the shorter, wide bag. Pack the necessary items, leave behind the things your hotel provides, like shampoo, conditioner etc.. If you feel you have to take those things, take the ones left from your last hotel stay that you didn’t use. They are small, and don’t take up a lot of space. And they are FREE!! And when you pack to come back home, you leave them there. One, There is no need to pack them back up, because they are disposable rather than the travel bottles people fill with their favorite products. Leave them behind, same with the free toothpaste you got from your last dentist visit. This makes room for anything that you purchase to bring home with you from your travels. Pack sensible, pack light, pack only what you need. Pack disposable. Happy travels!