Basically, the way I see it, there are two ways to pack for a trip. There’s my husband’s preferred method which involves throwing a bunch of a clothes and his toothbrush in a suitcase at the last minute. Then there’s my way, which involves a lot more preparation. Read on to see the tips that have helped me have packing success over the years.

Use a packing list. Having a standard list of things that need to be packed no matter when and where you’re traveling will save you time and keep you from forgetting a necessity. See the link below for my packing list. Use it as a guide and adjust it to your own needs.

Check the weather at your destination. This seems like a no-brainer, but it’s a vital step in packing for success. You don’t want to pack for sunshine when rain is predicted.

Give yourself time. If you start planning and packing well in advance of your departure, you’re less likely to forget something important. And you’ll have time to do laundry so you can pack what you really want.

Pack monochromatic outfits. When suitcase space is limited, pack clothes along one color scheme. This allows you to limit the shoes, coats,etc, you need to complete those outfits. (There’s no need for brown shoes if all your outfits are black, white, and grey) You can add pops of color with lightweight accessories like jewelry and scarves.

Roll your clothes. I don’t really know why, but rolling clothes instead of folding them in traditional ways uses suitcase space more efficiently allowing you to pack more items in the same space. Sometimes I save this trick for the return trip home when I’ve gone shopping on my trip and need to fit those extra items in my same suitcase.

Weigh your suitcase. Don’t wait until the ticket agent at the airport asks you to put your bag on the scale to find out that you’ve overpacked by just a few pounds. Overweight baggage fees are outrageous, so weigh your bag at home so you can adjust your packing if necessary.

Here is one last tip to help ensure your souvenirs and shopping scores fit in the suitcase for the return trip. I usually pack my boots, blazers, and any bulky items inside the suitcase for the original trip. Then I wear those bulky items on the plane for the return flight. This frees up a lot of space in my suitcase.

These packing tips have helped me pack well, and I hope they help you too.