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Advise for living out of a suitcase? Possible links to websites or advise from people who do it?

40 replies

KatyMac · 06/09/2018 08:38

DD is working all over the country, she is struggling with having everything she needs and with staying away longer than she expected to

I have come up with all sorts of advise that isn't going down well as I'm her mum

Has anyone practical advise or links to websites/podcasts/youtube videoas about how to do it efffectively? So she can read and work out better ways to pack/live

She does know I'm asking - she trusts MN more than me Grin

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Lofo · 06/09/2018 08:50

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Peridot1 · 06/09/2018 08:51

Packing cubes. Available on Amazon.

CMOTDibbler · 06/09/2018 08:52

I've travelled for work for 18 years now, and the biggest thing that helps me is having a travel kit - cosmetics, wash stuff, hair brush that all lives in my suitcase. It has things like blister plasters, immodium, allergy tablets, cold+flu tabs, migraine stuff and so on as well as tiny sewing kit, tweezers, scissors, safety pins and bits to fix me or my stuff wherever I am.
I also always have a spare pair of knickers and tights in my work bag and a tiny wash kit (mini deo, moisturiser, few wipes in a sealed bag, mini toothpaste and brush) so if I got kept overnight when I didn't expect to I am still OK.
I'm a recent convert to packing cubes as they really do make it easy to find everything and keep your dirty laundry separate.
I have a lightweight down jacket from Lands End which is brilliant as it packs down so small, but is really cosy. I also have a pashmina type thing that schleps round with me as it is useful in so many ways.
Only pack one base colour with other accents - mine is black and I add cobalt/cerise/red but then the shoes go with everything and I can mix and match.
What in particular is an issue for her?

Xiaoxiong · 06/09/2018 09:03

I literally typed in "live out of suitcase" into Pinterest and got loads of hits. Also "capsule wardrobe".

Main thing she will need to be considering is where she will be staying (can she wash clothes regularly) and whether she'll see the same people every day. When I go on a business trip to one of our offices, I know I will see the same people every day for a week so I will need 5 different combinations of outfits. I could bring 5 tops, 3 bottoms, 2 pairs shoes and accessories that all colour coordinate so I then have 15 potential outfits and don't have to wash clothes during my trip and can iron a few things the night I arrive that I can wear through the week. But when I was travelling office to office and seeing different people every day, I brought fewer clothes, all had to be ok straight out of the case as no time to iron, and wore mostly the same thing daily. (I rely on merino wool tops and "easycare" trousers from Uniqlo, throw on a necklace, heels and a jacket and it's fine for the office.) If she's coming back home every weekend she will need to bring less than if she is gone for 5 months and reliant on laundrettes.

Also - hotel rooms will have kettles, tea, hair dryer, that kind of thing. Staying in someone's spare room is another matter - I like to have a travel kettle so I can make myself tea in the morning without waking my host and I bring a robe and slippers so I can go to the shower in the morning in comfort.

KatyMac · 06/09/2018 09:03

Things like packing cubes will help I think

Thanks for the idea about the pashmina/lightweight jacket - we can look into that

& the black with accent colours - that will really help

I've suggested keeping a bag packed with stuff and having spares at home - but she will listen to you guys more than me

This week she went away for 4 days 7 then today it worked out that she needs another 3 days - she probably has enough of everything she just needs to get it straight in her head & maybe a little bottle of hand washing stuff so she can rinse through leos and knickers

I wonder if a micro towel might help

I think it's a mind adjustment more than anything

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Xiaoxiong · 06/09/2018 09:07

CMOT I do the same - my base colours are all navy blue and grey, and I add accents of gold, white, green, gold jewellery if I wear any, and red or plum coloured lipstick.

KatyMac · 06/09/2018 09:08

I wonder if half the problem is the wrong sized suitcase - she has enormous and too small!!

I think maybe medium sized with a sealed bit one side - for all the things you suggest and then the other bit for clothes/shoes maybe? so many bloody shoes!!

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Xiaoxiong · 06/09/2018 09:11

How many shoes is she bringing? For 3-4 days she should really not need more than one pair on her feet and one pair in the case. I love shoes but even I don't notice other people's shoes much unless they are very eye catching. She can make it a challenge to bring a different pair each trip that her outfits all work with.

Xiaoxiong · 06/09/2018 09:15

In terms of size, a carry on size one should be plenty for a few days unless she has to haul around loads of sales or promotional materials. I have one from Muji which is fab. That plus a laptop bag, or a tote handbag that can fit her laptop if she needs to bring one.

KatyMac · 06/09/2018 09:17

Tap/jazz/Ballet/Latins - she wears the same(ish) outfit for most work/auditions but the shoes are show specific

Extra work is a nightmare - no black no stripes & 3 outfits a day - but she may decide to do less of that as time goes on

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KatyMac · 06/09/2018 09:19

So far it's all been uk so train/tube - I'll find some links for packing cubes and see how it goes

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Xiaoxiong · 06/09/2018 09:21

Ok that is an entirely different scenario than I was expecting!! She is a dancer it sounds like?

Xiaoxiong · 06/09/2018 09:22

And what is extra work with three outfits a day? Can these be reused every day?

CMOTDibbler · 06/09/2018 09:32

I think that she needs to have a really standard audition outfit and work out for her extras work what will give her outfits for that that she can wear casually as well. And then get in the pattern of washing out leotards/tights/knickers every night. Roll them in a towel after washing then stand on the towel and they will dry super fast.
Rather than microfibre towels, I like hammam towels as they dry so fast but also double as something to lie on/sarong if needed

KatyMac · 06/09/2018 09:32

Dancer - yes

Extar work is for film/TV and 3 outfits per day - we sent 5 for 3 days and were fine but less is dodgy!

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KatyMac · 06/09/2018 09:36

I'll look up some of that later - but these are great ideas - thanks

Off to work now back later - thanks all

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BiddyPop · 06/09/2018 10:11

Yes to picking a base colour for trips. She can have 2 sets (or more if she really wants) of base colours in her wardrobe at HOME, but for each trip base it around 1.

So black trousers and shoes, with different accent colours in tops or scarves or jewellery, and any dresses should have a black base rather than navy or brown.

So for 4 days, maybe black trousers with a black jacket and coloured top day 1, black and red dress day 2, trousers and a black top/jumper with no jacket but a coloured scarf or statement necklace day 3 and back to the jacket and trousers and a different top day 4 or a second dress.

Packed case includes 2 tops, a dress, pair of heels for the dress, underwear/tights and 1 or 2 scarves/pieces of big jewellery. Wash kit. PJs. And something for evenings - possibly gym kit if there are facilities, and also maybe a lounging trousers to wear with that day's top, or jeans if wearable with runners. That can fit into even a small carryon if you are careful in folding them - and packing cubes can help to split dirty from clean and also to have each days outfits ready to go rather than having to unpack everything at once.

And for another week, if she has the wardrobe to do that, she could do a similar type of packing but based around navy or grey or brown and with navy/black?/brown shoes and handbag. But possibly able to use many of the same accent tops and scarves and jewellery.

I keep my travel wash kit packed, and repack it as soon as I get home rather than when I am setting off again.

Places like Muji sell travel bottles in a range of sizes - so buy some to decant shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, cleanser, etc into. I mark mine with a letter, in different coloured nail varnishes, to tell what's in each. Use travel sized toothpaste - muji sell a tube to fill if her favourite is not generally available in travel size.

I use 30ml sizes for shampoo/conditioner for overnight/2 night trips, but 100ml for 2 weeks. And usually hotel shower gel at least is ok if you do forget yours.

Perfume decant into a small dispenser, and when she's buying her regular moisturisers/cleansers etc ask for sample sizes as well as they are great for travel use - especially if she uses any "big brand" names (I use Estee Lauder and mostly go to the same Dept store for mine). Some samples are single use sachets, while some are small bottles or tubs and last a while (and those can usually be refilled from the big sized containers at home as well).

I also keep a decent scrubby sponge (little round exfoliating type), some cotton wool pads, a few cotton buds, a tweezers, nail scissors (if not flying), small hair brush and nail file in mine. And while deodorant is not possible to decant, I use a full one to about halfway gone at home, and then transfer that to the travel kit to cut down on weight.

And I have a full second set of makeup which lives in my washkit ready to go.

Also look for some bits of luxury in single use - hair conditioning treatment, face mask, black head remover strips, serum masks, hand scrub and hand cream...to be able to treat yourself on some nights when sitting with not a lot to do.

If there is the potential for her trips to extend while she's already on the road, I would add a spare bra, 1 spare knickers and tights/socks, and maybe 1 spare top if she has space, or just a spare scarf/jewellery item, and bring some travel wash (and maybe a travel washing line - it takes up no space, pouch for earbud type headphones, but can be handy to get things dry in limited space bathrooms!). And in winter, add thermal vests if necessary - but wash day 1 to be able to reuse on day 3/4.

I use this case as DH got it a few years back, and it holds plenty for up to 3 days (and I tend to pack heavy!), DH takes it for 6 days. Before that I used a Samonsite an older version of this basic model which actually has more room but everything is in 1 compartment and it is more cumbersome so I only use that on longer trips now.

And as someone mentioned kettle - I usually bring a handful of my favourite tea bags and a couple of 2 packs of biscuits for late evening (rather than always going to the bar for wine), and buy a pint of milk. It's rare for me to find them, but I stock up on the boxes of 2 packs of chocolate digestives and chocolate hobnobs when I do see them, or maybe get a single piece of chocolate biscuit cake from another maker that does individual slices pre-packaged. And I keep a couple of single packs of dried fruit and nuts from Lidl and bar of plain dairy milk for nibbling as well during the day or night. I do TRY to get fresh fruit when travelling as well, to offset the pastries for breakfast and with coffee and not eating the same way I can at home.

BiddyPop · 06/09/2018 10:15

OK I was typing that mega post while you mentioned dancer.

Sorry its mostly useless....

Xiaoxiong · 06/09/2018 10:24

Biddy not useless to me, I've picked up some good tips from your post!!! I've been wrestling with what to do about deodorant, I find myself either buying a travel size one at boots after airport security and then throwing it away half full, or lugging around a big heavy brand new one.

Also repacking toiletries as soon as you get home is such a good idea, gathering that all together is always the most annoying thing when I'm off the next morning and I often forget one or two things because my head is full of work outfits/presentation prep/handover of kid and home related responsibilities to DH before I go.

BiddyPop · 06/09/2018 10:34

Xiaoxiong I use a 100ml rollon deodorant, so it does work for the onboard liquids rules - I just hate the full bottle adding unnecessarily to the weight. So its easier for me to wait until it's well started before transferring it, and still getting loads of trips from it.

Yeah, the repacking on arrival not departure came after 1 too many "I've forgotten A, B and C" moments, and I packed EVERYTHING - and airport security were having a strict day so I lost LOADS to their bin. So now I do it when I have time to think.

KatyMac · 06/09/2018 12:38

no this is really good stuff - it's all adaptable!

Love pack when you get home - that will really help I think!

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KatyMac · 06/09/2018 19:02

She is overwhealmed going from an odd day, usually in London to working 2 jobs in a day, moving across country (Norfolk to London to Manchester) in 15 hours, staying away for 10 days (but not all in the same city or the same job). It's a learning curve & to be fair one I never had to learn so I'm a bit lost!

I think the sectioned suitcases are fab - she has a small version of one from a while back, so I'll get that back out and see what I can do - I'm guessing toiletries, medication (she has enough to leave one set at home & take one set), first aid kit, tissues, tiny sewing kit, extra spare undies and pjs all left in the case - with the other section having what she actually needs

I may suggest a set of letoard/bra/shorts as well, just in case

hammam towels - seem to vary in price a lot, does it matter which she buys?

I looked at the packing cubes - but she has hundreds of small toiletry type bags from birthays/Christmases - they are an easy present from aunties & uncles - so I'll suggest she uses them

I do think compartmentalising will work - but I'll link to this thread and let her make up her own mind

Thanks for all the tips (at least she wears lycra so no ironing!)

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Madcats · 07/09/2018 11:24

I am a big fan of cubes. They are really useful for when DD(11) goes away on a residential (so she knows that she has ample socks and pants in one...jeans and shorts in another etc). It is much harder to lose things.

Places like Muji (or try Poundland if cash is tight) are great for travel bottles. Definitely decant stuff (but label them so you don't end up showering in washing detergent)!

Another suggested the handwash & rolling technique for clothing. Get her to wash things as soon as she gets in and also tread on the towel roll to soak up water quicker...then hang up. It is better to do it little and often otherwise the room might become too humid for things to dry.

We've been travelling around a bit this summer as a family and I have got into the habit of packing separate cubes/bag to hold things if we are just doing an overnight stay

vitaminC · 07/09/2018 11:31

There is an interesting blog and FB group called Travel Fashion Girl, which is full of useful tips for travelling light and living out of a suitcase. The founder is American, but based in the U.K. and most of the stuff she recommends is available on Amazon.

KatyMac · 12/09/2018 14:25

Coming back to this - lots of the tips have really worked (at least short term

Packing as soon as you get home is a bit of a conflict but she sees the necessaity

Toiletry bags/medicine being duplicated is working as it smaller bottles with shampoo etc (2 sets being refilled by DH when never left at home)

But the bag is an issue - it's almost like we need a 1/2 day bag then a second bag that it can be strapped to if it's a longer period or she needs more shoes

Taking 2 bags won't work - trasferring stuff hasn't worked - so new bags is a rethink

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