Fess up: who has a 'packing and preparing for holiday' spreadsheet?

[WilfSell]

and would like to share it with me? and [anal retentive emoticon]

[lazy emoticon]

Of the driving to France with lots of kiddy kit kind. The kind of kit I can't possibly forget otherwise we're gonna have to drive back 800 miles or spend a HUGE amount of Euros replacing pushchairs etc.

And while I'm on... Best exchange rate gamble please? Buy some Euros now? Wait a coupla weeks? Buy em in France?

Ta. Now if you could just come over and actually DO my packing I'll lick your face.

We have spreadsheets for
our bank accounts - broken down into categories of spending.
dd chores and pocket money
camping packing
when we go away we pan activities and dp puts them on a spreadsheet with costs, desirabilty
When we went to florida we also had spreadsheets galore, comparing different villas etc.

I bet he had a sex spreadsheet

Anna I have lived all over the world since the age of 2, so plenty of practice. I just find with a list I don't have to think and fret about wether I have forgotten anything. It just means everything is done in half the time, with no stressing. Makes the process more enjoyable.

No fretting or forgetting or anything in our household! Honestly, the spreadsheet seems like extra work for nothing to me!

I never ever make shopping lists either...

Its not extra work, it is done once and brought out each holiday (occasionally updated) and ticked off. If anything it is less work.

I find it much easier to pack for 4 people, sort out house, shopping, cats, plants etc if I have it all written infront of me.

I'm off to Bangladesh in a week for 3 weeks.Will just throw some stuff together night before.What's the big deal?

Mind you I have a memory like a sieve (dd sucked it out of me during pregnancy I'm sure as she has a fantastic one). Hence the spreadsheets, notebook by the bed, dictaphones pen in handbag. family wall planner, 2 diaires etc

Also I find it means we take less if I am more organised. I was so disorganised when packing for our honeymoon I ended up taking over 15 pairs of shoes - we went to the maldives and basically lived on the beach for 2 weeks

erm - I think DH has a special camping holiday spreadsheet. Laminated. Surely that out-anals everyone?

OK even by my standards the laminating is going a bit too far.

No our camping one is laminated. On the inside of all my food cupboards is a laminated checklist so I a can mark things off as we run out.

Dp loves spreadhseets and I love laminating. We are a match made in heaven.

When dd went to stay with her dad for a fortnight she went with a laminated collection of recipes that I had typed up

I love lists - and I love spreadsheets

Why oh why did I never think to put my packing lists on a spreadsheet? Oh the joy!

For me it's about not forgetting things. And I do it because I love the planning bit even more than the holiday

I just love to plan.

I have a packing list, a shopping list and a to do list for every trip, even overnights.

I also write to do lists for our rare nights out when we have babysitters

I think this deserves a nomination for quote of the week:

"Dp loves spreadhseets and I love laminating. We are a match made in heaven."

lol tsap - that sounds good.

If you laminate them, can you tick things off with a whiteboard pen and then wipe it off again?

I love to plan too, I could not be with a normal person who did not share me anal habits, so to speak.

We have a to do list, with things on it like order money, empty and clean fridge, print postcard labels etc and several types of packing lists depending on what type of holiday we are going on, cold or hot weather, hotel or apartment etc. Takes the stress out of trying to remember everything in your head.

Only on MN - a thread about packing spreadsheets, and there's a tangential allusion to bumsex

Yes if you use a dry wipe pen.

Thanks tsap

Dh has one - obviously I have absolutely nothing to do with it. Other than bludgeoning him with a suitcase when instead of helping me pack he is printing off his precious spreadsheet to 'save time' Aaaaaargh!

I do lists. This thread has reminded me to type up a definitive computerised list. Because despite making all these lists, I have at one time or another forgotten:

• knickers (mine)
• socks
• shaving gear (dh, obviously. Not mine)
• swimwear (seaside hol)

I like lists. Not organised enough to do a spreadsheet though. Never really got the hang of spreadsheets.

DH however is an accountant and loves spreadsheets. He has his ultimate spreadsheet for our financial planning/retirement and he actually asked me when i was going to die so he could enter that info. I console myself that he won't trade me in for a younger model as she would be around longer to spend his money!!!!

We have packing lists ok a spread sheet

There is a camping additional section and a going abroad one.

I hate forgetting stuff

Right then. Since you tightwads organised people won't post your lists for a 'trip to France with 3 kids for the first time' virgin, I'm going to do mine on here. And you can all laugh uproariously correct it.

Me, DH, 3 kids, including one toddler. I'm going to use the what each person needs from morning to night method...

Here goes

DS3

Nappies (1 medium size pack of disposables)
wipes
plastic bags for wrapping

all in one vests

[argh! panicked already: how many? Trying to cut down stuff so if I say four, that's 1 for 2 days plus 1 spare for 2 days, so will need to do 1 wash...)

t-shirts 4
fleece/jumpers 2
trousers 4
socks 4
wellies
swim nappies
all-in-one UV swim suit
sun hat
baby sunscreen
VIP Baby Monkey (which must not be left at home, or in France)
baby's duvet

waterproof/allinone

snacks for journey
milk/water for journey
small bag of books/toys

How am I doing so far...?

Tommee tippee cups 2

Argh!

DS3 still:

toothbrush
baby toothpaste
teething gel

DS2

Inhalers (and spare canisters)
socks
underpants
vests
trousers
t-shirts
trousers
I reckon 4 of everything is gonna be enough for everyone isn't it?

shoes
wellies
swimming trunks
waterproof

dummy and spare
Fire Engine (ahem, that's the name of his teddy bear... )

toothbrush
toothpaste

Leapster
DVDs
small bag of books/toys

DS1

clothes yada yada yada (this is why I'm disorganised: easily distracted )
toothbrush

wellies
waterproof
shoes
swimming trunks

Nintendo DS
DVDs
books etc

OK. What have I forgotten already?

Now, general stuff and me/DH...