Packing - why do I always do this?

[gotmychocolateimgood]

Every year when I pack my case and the kids' for our holiday I think we need more clothes than we do. It doesn't all get worn. I think we are going to spend most of our time in swim wear but I've still counted out 14 tops and 7 shorts for each of us plus a couple of cropped trousers and hoodies for the evening. 4 swimsuits each. Toiletries etc.

I've achieved my objective and the cases are neat, sufficient and under the baggage allowance. Why am I panicking we won't have enough stuff??

2 week holiday, hotel, in a complex with a pool and near beaches. Relaxed dress code. No washing machine.

Someone I know used to go to primark before their holiday, buy a few basic t shirts and shorts for everyone and throw them in the bin before coming home so there was more room for duty free and no post holiday washing.

Throwing them in the bin is a shocking idea. Really bad for the environment.

I know! I was polite when she told me but thought, 😳

How on earth do you own 4 swimsuits for everyone in your family? My children swim twice a week, plus we live on a small island by the beach and still only have one pair of trunks for each child.

They grow so fast seems a waste to have 4 pairs all the same size!

Sorry that wasn't clear. I have 4 swimsuits. DCs have 2 each, a go ple are second hand as they were hardly worn. DH has 2.

A couple are 2nd hand.

I have two friends who pass on 2nd hand clothes to us and there were swimsuits in there.

I have got better at not overarching through experience. Good to leave room to bring purchases back from hols, too! I find the trick is to gather everything together before packing, and then assume you can probably put back about a quarter or a third before packing the case. Depending where you are, if you get really stuck you can always buy some washing liquid or even a couple of extra bits of clothing if really needed.

Damn, it's overpacking I've improved on, not overarching....

Tree what an odd thing to be proud of if you swim that much I'd certainly own more pairs. My ds has 2 pairs of jammers for training, 1 pair racing jammers and 3 pairs of swim shorts for beach. 🤷‍♀️
He wears them all repeatedly and swimsuits/tracks do actually tend to grow with the child - they're Lycra

I never get it right. I look at the weather think it through, then take a few things for if its hotter/colder/wetter etc., feel v smug, then end up feeling comfortable in only about two outfits.

if you had 2x the suitcases you'd still think it wasn't enough.

I bet everything you might need you could buy there, too.

Worry is the problem, not the amount of stuff you bring.

I will have 14-16kg of luggage just for me for a week, lots of just in case items!

I've just finished doing the same. I just know I'm going to end up coming home with lots of clean clothes. But, we're only taking 3 suitcases rather than the 4 we're allowed and each of them is at least 5kgs under. But it's good to have choices although I think the 6 swimming costumes for me for a week is maybe overkill can never have too many pants though.

We are driving to Italy. I’ve packed loads of outfits plus joggers etc for the days of travelling. Then there’s bedding for the caravan, beach towels, normal towels, raincoats, sandals, flip flops, beach shoes, snacks, games, teddies, blankets, travel pillows, beach bags, Sunhats, toiletries, mossie stuff, various suncreams, etc etc

I am not thin so I like to have a choice of clothes as I never know what I will feel comfy in on any given day!

I'm very much an overpacker, especially when it comes to underwear. My DH always asks just how many times I'm expecting to shit myself (hasn't happened yet but you never know!).

I pack very light, you can wear most things twice and hand wash or use a wash and fold service, the one thing I don’t compromise on is knickers. Hand washing isn’t brilliant and it paid off when we were walled up for two days in hurricane Irma and couldn’t leave for the uk until four days after we should have.

Dh has to wash his undies but I was still good until two days after we got back home.

Can never take too many pairs of pants!

For 2 weeks I take 7 tops and 4 trousers for me plus 2 swimming costumes and 4 sarongs.

DD takes a new outfit for every day, sarongs, playsuits and kaftans and at least 7 bikinis! Thank god her clothes are quite small - I don't quite know how I've ended up with a fashion princess teen, not with me as a mother 🙄

I’m a minimalist packer for holidays. I hate having a pile of washing to manage when I get back.

For a week in The Mediterranean, I take 6 dresses, 1 pair of shorts and a top, 2 pairs of flip flops, 1 pair of sandals, 10 pairs of knickers and 4 bras. And 3 bikinis.

I figure I can cope without most things for a week and if I am really desperate, I can buy whatever I need. I do like clothes and shoes, but i enjoy having a low maintenance week.

@youarenotkiddingme it's not "pride" it's just a fact. We certainly can't afford to own multiple copies of an identical item for the hell of it. It takes two seconds to make sure the bathers are washed after swim lesson for the lesson in 3 days time.

Anyway, OP explained they were handed down by a friend which explains it

My DH always asks just how many times I'm expecting to shit myself

this is me too!

My plan always is to get everything on the bed (including the 900 "just in case" items!), try and cram it on the case, weigh it to discover it's nearly overweight, then take half of it out. I STILL bring back clean stuff tho!

Tree even better tip. Just rinse trunks is very cold water and drip dry over bath/ top of shower. They last even longer! My ds swims 6 times a week and we make 2 pairs of jammers last a year each!

Just come back from holiday, it was very hot. My cousin told me they get dressed up for dinner, so I had day/beach outfits and evening outfits, used the same trousers a few times (I don't do dresses) and took enough tops for one a day. I confess I didn't take loads of pants. I washed some stuff in the shower with me which dried super quick on the hotel balcony. I paid for extra baggage, which I didn't really use. 😳

i think it’s so hard for us mums to not have everything to hand and in reality we know we won’t need all the clothes we’re packing but in the back of our mind is what if!!

I always take way too much but I am really trying to curb this. Our last couple of trips I’ve took a photo of the inside of our cases packed and then on return, I photographed what I actually need/use. I’m trying to use that as a reference for next time.

Trouble is with kids, you never know if they are going to spill/puke up on/ruin an outfit before you even get there!

When going somewhere with a washing machine it is obviously miles easier!

@Ilikeanimalsmorethanpeople - I don’t understand your comment about 15 pairs of pants. l need fewer knickers, not more for a very good time.