Chronic overpacked. Help!!!

[StereotypicalBarbie]

We’re off on a 7 night all inclusive break this week to Spain: me, DH, 2 DCs.

My whole life I’ve been an overpacker. I can remember going on first holiday alone as a teen and dragging case which I couldn’t lift as so heavy.

We’re never over weight with cases, in fact, we’re usually using about half luggage allowance but it’s the fact that lots of clothes don’t get worn and we normally bring back a “clean clothes” case.

We went on a city break at Easter and same thing.

DH and DC1 are better than me, but DC2 is similar and wants to take loads (she
loves fashion and has a lot of clothes).

And toiletries…. Don’t get me started!

Any advice, it actually stresses me out and then my DH is stressed seeing me stressed and then the recriminations at the end of the holiday when we’re packing to come home and putting all these clean clothes away. Recriminations is a bit strong but hopefully you know what I mean.

Exactly this

Use a smaller suitcase. I can do two weeks in a carry on size suitcase - with an outfit for every day. Give me a bigger suitcase tho and I will fill it to the max!

What's the problem?
Your luggage isn't overweight.
Sounds like you've packed well with enough space for 'options' if needed.

You’re only going for a week. I’ve just been away for 2 weeks and the four of us only checked in one suitcase of 20kg.

You’ll need a couple of swimwear. 2 pairs of shorts. A beach/pool dress. A pull on day dress or two for breakfast or sightseeing. A couple of vest tops. A nice top you can wear in the evening with shorts. A couple of evening dresses. Trainers for travel. Sandals for evening or walking. Flip flops for pool and breakfast.

My problem when we go away (hot-abroad) is that I have quite a few dresses/outfits that I can’t ever seem to wear in this country as they are too light/floaty/short and need very hot weather/somewhere nice to be so I want to take them as otherwise they’ll never be worn!

With toiletries, don't you just share for the week? I share shampoo, conditioner and shower gels and deodorant with dd, then the boys share theirs. All share toothpaste. Means no faffing about with minis and you don't come back with anything. I can live without my posh conditioner for a week.

i Think you need to stop seeing it as a problem? If you’re within baggage limit, and you’re just going to one place - why not take as much as you want. Why stress yourself out packing less. But if you do want to reduce - only 3-4 evening outfits, you can rewear. Assuming a beach / pool holiday - 2/3 swimwear and cover up combos is really all you need. You can rinse or hand wash.

Yes. I agree.

I’m a terrible over packer, but as long as I don’t go over weight/my share of the suitcase, I don’t really care.

I hate packing. I start off well, have a mosey on Pinterest for outfit ideas, go through my wardrobe and put outfits together, work out what I can mix and match, swear to DH that I’m going to be ruthless and I promise I’m not going to pack the high heeled sandals again, that I never wear anyway. I follow all the packing hacks/tips/lists and bought packing cubes.

Then panic sets in and before I know it, half my wardrobe has been packed and I’m sitting on my suitcase in an attempt to get it to close - and those bloody high heeled sandals have been packed again, along with the hair straighteners, hair dryer and curling implements that will never make it out of the suitcase.

I’ve given up. As long as my bag isn’t overweight, I don’t care. I just make sure dirty and clean clothes don’t get mixed up.

For 10 nights I'm taking
3 swimwear
3 shorts
3 t shirts
5 day dresses
5 evening dresses
I fit flops
I wedges
Trainers on plane
Toiletries

Rather than packing everything you think you might possibly want, pack only those things you know you absolutely can't do without. And unless you're very hard up and/or going somewhere very expensive or the back of beyond, rember that you can always buy things like suncream or a t-shirt or whatever in an emergency if you really do find you are short of things.

Same here!

I see it as I’m giving all my summer clothes their time to shine and the opportunity to fulfil their destiny 😂

@MrsRobinsonsHandprints @InSpainTheRain @Bunnycat101
Haha I hear you! And love the ideas of
my clothes going on a little holiday.

Its more about how it makes me feel, I just want to be more streamlined and in control.

Interestingly, I had instances in the past where my case was overweight and had to pay a charge a couple of times. Once my case was so loaded it split in transit and was going round the carousel at Rhodes airport with my knickers hanging out.

So I guess I have made progress, but just need to move to the next level.

@alloalloallo I love that idea, they have their moment in the sun, literally.

Who wants to be washing clothes on holiday?
I always over pack slightly, especially silly if you’re doing an Easter trip and won’t be sure of the weather.

I do this, too. We brought a small case of unworn clothes home. I have just put my share of that on Vinted, along with the holiday clothes that didn't make it in the case at all.
I only took 4 pairs of sandals and 2 beach/pool flipflop too. Massive downsize for me.

With toiletries, given that you don’t need small bottles (ie it’s checked in luggage) is the problem more about organising the stuff when you are there? I have a roll up bag which you can put on a hook, so I unpack the main things (shampoo etc) but leave the less used things in there. It’s like this.
https://amzn.to/44c624R

Why stress about it if your luggage isn’t overweight?

Like most, I love going on holiday so no way would I pack as few clothes as possible. Holidays are supposed to be fun, so no way am I limiting myself or washing clothes in the bathroom sink. For two weeks I would pack -

10 evening dresses and wear a couple twice
7 breakfast/sightseeing dresses to wear twice
4 swimwear
4 beach cover up dresses and 3 sarongs plus t-shirts
2 cardigans
1 pair flip flops, 1 pair tan sandals, 1 pair black sandals,
1 tan evening bag and 1 beach bag
14 pairs of pants and 3 or 4 bras
1 sun hat

I always wear trainers to travel in as they tend to be the heaviest shoes.

With toiletries I take tiny travel sizes as I find you don’t actually need that much for two weeks, apart from sun cream.

Don't assume there will be soap, shampoo and shower gel in the hotel. Sometimes there isn't and it's annoying to have to pay over the odds for what you wouldn't buy if you had a choice.

Make a list of what will ruin your holiday if you don't take it (e.g swimsuit, something elegant to wear in the evening) and pare back on shoes. Don't take anything bulky.

This.
Fellow overpacker here.
If you are within weight and no physical reason why you can't pull the cases what is the problem? Is it just the people who travel with a toothbrush in a rucksack that bother you?

We spend a lot of money on holiday, why spoil it by having to wash your pants every night and having little choice of clothes?
My problem is shoes. I do a lot of walking on holiday, even a beach one and my feet blister in hot weather so I take lots of shoes so I can vary where it hurts.

I'm going for a week in the sun next week.
For me I will pack
2 pairs shorts
5 t shirts
4 bikinis
1 beach wrap
1 day dress
4 evening outfits
flip flops
2 pairs sandals
2 pairs trainers plus travel in trainers
7 pairs socks
10 pairs pants
3 bras
nightie
hat
cardigan

Plus of course toiletries, sun cream etc.

@Octomingo yes please would love your list, thank you.

Sorry for not tagging. PP said they write a list after holiday of what they’ve worn/not worn. I often think of doing that. Guess what though? I don’t.
😂

Another PP said three tops to one bottoms, then you’ve got three outfits from four items. That is really helpful. Thank you.

The lists posters are sharing are really helpful. Thank you.

we normally bring back a “clean clothes” case.

Lay the stuff out on the bed from the case and take a photo-something to refer back to!

@Shinyandnew1 thanks, great idea. I’ll do that.