Ten Items that Stay Permanently Packed in My Suitcase

Over the past few years, my husband and I have had the privilege of taking many trips. In the course of taking those trips, I've learned that there are certain items I always miss if I don't have them easily accessible. And yet, despite the fact that I miss those items, I routinely forget to pack them! A couple of years ago, I finally got wise and purchased the items I always forget. They now stay permanently packed in my bags, so they never get left behind. This is my top ten list of items I hate to forget. Your top ten list may vary. My goal is to get you to think about the items you hate to leave behind and perhaps pre-pack them in your bags, too!

Item #10- A wine tool/bottle opener

My husband and I often enjoy a glass or two of wine or beer in the evenings. We don't, however, always enjoy drinking wine or beer in a restaurant or a bar. Sometimes when we travel, we just want to stay in, watch TV, and rest up for the next day. Some hotels provide bottle openers or wine tools to guests, but a lot of them don't. After being caught without a wine tool one too many times, I bought one while traveling and started carrying it in my luggage. Consequently, I almost always have one handy when I'm on a trip. It never leaves my favorite suitcase.

Item #9- Nail clippers

If there's one thing I can't stand, it's broken or ragged fingernails that catch on everything I touch. It drives me batty when my nails are uneven or dirty. While traveling by train through Europe back in 1997, I ventured into an Austrian location of The Body Shop. There, I noticed a big jar full of nail clippers and knew I needed to make a purchase. After a couple of weeks of rough European travel, my nails were all chipped and shredded. I bought the clippers and still carry them with me on every trip because they're tucked away in a pocket of my suitcase. I recommend buying toenail clippers with an attached metal nail file. That way, you can easily take care of all your nail needs!

Item #8- Tweezers

Tweezers are one of those tiny items that take up so very little space, yet have a multitude of uses. I keep tweezers permanently packed for the same reason I pack nail clippers. Sometimes, a splinter, unruly hair, or an ingrown hair can ruin a vacation just by being particularly annoying. It's easy to forget tweezers, but they're the kind of household/beauty tool that are inexpensive and easy to stow. That's why I keep them tucked away, right next to the nail clippers.

Item #7- A disposable razor

Many men have to shave every day, so having a razor is foremost in their minds when it comes time to pack for a trip. We ladies, however, don't necessarily have shaving on the brain when we're assembling our luggage. I hate having overly hairy legs and armpits as much as I hate having ragged nails. If I happen to notice I'm getting a "shadow", I feel self-conscious, which makes it hard for me to relax. Though some hotels have razors available to purchase, I now carry at least one disposable razor in my suitcase at all times. I recommend keeping the razor in its original packaging or packing it in a way so the razor blade is never exposed. I once got careless with a disposable razor, reached into my bag without looking, and shrieked in pain when I got a nasty flesh wound!

Item #6- Extra underwear

Let's face it. Sometimes unexpected things happen on trips and you end up getting delayed. And for me, at least, having to wear dirty underwear is a real morale sinker. That's why I always have at least one or two extra pairs of undies stashed in my suitcase. If I'm flying or cruising, I keep those undies in a carry on bag, just in case my suitcase gets misplaced somehow.

Item #5- Deodorant/anti-perspirant

Not having deodorant or anti-perspirant is another unfortunate condition that, at least for me, can really ruin a trip. I use anti-perspirant every day, yet somehow it's one of those items that sometimes accidentally gets left at home. After forgetting my deodorant one too many times, I purchased a travel sized stick that never leaves my bag. I rotate the deodorant at regular intervals so it doesn't get too stale.

Item #4- Two double A batteries

So many different electronics use double A batteries, everything from digital cameras to wireless mice to remote controls. I like to keep a set of double A batteries around, just in case one of my electronic peripherals unexpectedly runs out of juice. Double A batteries can also come in handy if you happen to be staying at a hotel where the TV remote's batteries need to be changed. Sure, it's the hotel's responsibility to keep the batteries fresh, but sometimes that detail gets overlooked and who wants to wait around for someone to bring them?

Item #3- Plastic utensils/spork

The need for this item came up the last time my husband took a trip somewhere. He had gone to a casual restaurant to pick up some takeout food. When he got to his hotel room, he found out that the folks who had packed his meal neglected to put any utensils in the bag. It was at that point that he realized it might be useful to pack a set of plastic utensils in his suitcase, just for situations like that one.

Item #2- Sunscreen

If you look at my picture on my profile, you can see that I'm a fair haired, light skinned person. And yet, I'm terrible about remembering to pack sunscreen... or at least I used to be, until I bought a small tube of the stuff that never leaves my bag. Before I remembered the sunblock, I had a bad habit of going out in the sun without protection and getting burned! It pays to pre-pack sunscreen for those situations where you might not be prepared!

Item #1- Over-the-counter drugs

I always keep, at the minimum, a trial size of over-the-counter ibuprofen and antacids in my luggage, especially if I'm taking a cruise. I learned this lesson the hard way when I took my very first cruise and developed a scorching case of heartburn after a particularly rich meal. The heartburn woke me up in the middle of the night. Fortunately, I had a single antacid pill that put out the fire until morning. However, the ship's gift shop didn't carry any heartburn remedies. Remembering how unpleasant that indigestion was in the middle of the night, I always make sure I have a few over-the-counter drugs available and I rotate them regularly to make sure they don't expire.

Honorable mention item- A sewing kit

A lot of hotels put small sewing kits in guest rooms. However, some hotels neglect this little item. If you keep a couple of needles and a small spool of black or navy thread, you'll always be prepared to make minor reparations or sew on buttons that come off at the most inconvenient times.

Why pre-packing right after a trip is smart

Some of the items on my top ten list may not apply to you or your situation and that's okay. Not everybody's needs are the same. The main idea I want to convey is that many people forget to pack little things they need when they're getting ready to take a trip. If you have a tendency to forget things, you might want to pre-pack a few items at a time when you're not planning a trip or, ideally, right after you've finished a trip, especially if you forgot something.

I like to do my pre-packing and restocking right after I come home from somewhere. That way, it'll already be done when it's time to travel again. Pre-packing right after a trip is also a good idea because if you missed a couple of things on your trip, they'll already be on your mind. You can stick them in your bag when you're still thinking about them. That way, you won't have to remember them when it's time to go away again and they won't be forgotten.

Of course, most places have stores available where you can purchase the things you forgot. But I think it's more convenient and less expensive to remember those things in the first place.

Source

Personal experience