What type of packer are you? Do you have a checklist that you tick off meticulously, or do you fling things in and hope for the best – you can always buy what you’re missing when you’re there, right? Not without spending a small fortune first! According to a recent survey, British holiday makers spend £684 million on things that they haven’t packed.

Essential PackingBo Ismono / Foter / CC BY-NC-SA

Common Things to Forget

It’s almost inevitable that you’ll forget something, or even leave something behind because you can’t fit it in your case. Common things that are forgotten are often clothes, but are often things that you don’t even think about, like phone chargers, adapters, medical kits and toiletries. These can be among the most expensive things to forget, and things like another phone chargers will often be superfluous when you get home. The average holiday maker will spend £26 on replacing items that they have forgotten.

Not Using What You’ve Taken

Many people reported taking things on holiday that they didn’t even wear, with a survey reporting that eight out of 10 female travellers not wearing everything that they brought. This implies that many people don’t pack with any preparation or method.

How To Pack

Packing needn’t be stressful. If you’re organised it is relatively easy. There are a few things that you need to ask yourself before you even get your suitcase out. Think about it early enough so that you have enough time to do anything necessary, like buying a new suitcase or backpack, such as the ones from Skate Hut. Do your research and look at the forecast for where you’re staying. This will help enormously on the clothes that you should pack, but remember to throw in a few items for the ‘just in case’, like a jumper in case of cold. Think about what you plan on doing while you’re away, as this will also have an impact on the type of clothes you’ll take. If you’re going for dinner in a posh restaurant, you’ll need something dressier than if you’re in the middle of a sleepy village.

Make a Packing Listadesigna / Foter / CC BY-NC-SA

Don’t forget all those little things that you always forget anyway. Take your suitcase down a week before you leave, and start throwing things in as you think about them. Even if you need them again, you can always put them back in when you’re done.