How to Get the Most Out of Your Suitcase

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If you're like me, you tend to over pack whenever you travel anywhere. Though that might seem like a bad thing, my thought is that it's better to have too much than not enough...right? I'd say so. Nothing is worse than not having a clean shirt or clean pair of socks for your last few days on a trip.  We all know that it can be a hassle to check two bags, not to mention expensive.  Ever wonder how some people manage to travel for two weeks with just one bag?  Well I’m about to share the secret.  I'm here to tell you a way to get the most out of your suitcase in 6 easy steps.

1. Plan. Instead of throwing random items into a suitcase, plan out what you will wear each day for wherever you may be going--maybe even make a list.  Then add a few extra pieces in case you change your mind.  This will assure that you have enough clothes for your trip, plus some more, without going overboard.  

Photo from: http://www.travelandleisure.com/
Roll your clothes like this!

2. Roll. Yes, roll your clothes.  Believe it or not, I have found the folding takes up more space then tightly rolled clothes.  Plus, I find that my clothes don’t get as wrinkled this way.

3. Surround the outside edges first. Then, put your clothes in your suitcase starting on the edges of the space.  I prefer putting clothes that don’t wrinkle easily on the bottom and outer part of the suitcase.  Slowly keep filling your suitcase almost in a circle.

4. Add extra items. In the center, I like to put jewelry, toiletry items (they won’t get squished there), or any other delicate items you may be bringing.

5. Shoes. Your shoes can either be put on the bottom around the edges of the suitcase with your clothes or on top. You can even put socks or other items inside your shoes to maximize space.  You wouldn’t believe how much room that saves. And I would say that gives you permission to bring another pair of shoes...and if you're a girl like me, that's a major advantage.

6. One more quick tip: Keep things that you need to reach easily on the outside pockets of your suitcase.  This will save you the hassle of opening everything and digging out everything in the middle of the airport (Yes, I’ve seen someone do that).

Now you are prepared to over pack without going too crazy, but if you still have too much stuff you might want to reconsider everything you're bringing. Just remember these little tricks, and your packing experience will be a lot easier!