Make a List of all Items you would like to take with you. Show the list to others and let them go through it with you.

When you are packing use the list and take it with you on your vacation.

Scratch off things you don't need and add things that you forgot. Write down specifics (e.g. Mosquito repellant is not needed everywhere).

Over time your list will evolve and you will become more efficient at packing.

If I fly only for a couple of days, I don't bother as much, but if you are going away for a longer time, it becomes more important to pack efficient.

Andre

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So, I'm not the only one that experienced this. LOL

Study your attitute and convince yourself. 

As for me, I figured that simply it was because that I'm so used to my home, and suddenly I've to leave everything behind, and this make me grabbing as much as possible with me.

Also, my attitute that I always keep reserve and backups. So, I'll take spare this and that.

And I'm not that kind of person that would just sit there relaxing and do nothing. So, I'll have books, games, or anything that could fill up my time while being there.

It's always went out the same that I carry these unnecessary stuffs back and forth, unused. LOL. Those stuffs increase my luggage weight, fine, but if I need to buy additional stuffs at destination, space would be more headache.

So, I'll never take anything that I feel may fill up my spare time. For clothes, I'll take the exact amount. No spare necessary. I can always buy at destination or wash them.

If you can convince yourself to take the minimum stuffs just for one time, you went there and came back, you can easily convince yourself and handle this problem! That's what I did.

I always thought thats a phenomenon pertinent to women only.

I could go on a week long travel with a backpack only. Some underwear, shirts and a toothbrush. What more does a guy need?

Most of the time when packing, I take comfort in the fact that I can buy something essential that I forgot to take.

The most prepared I ever left was for my trip to Peru. Needless to say, I didn't need the water purification tablets, I didn't need the med kit, I didn't need 2 spare pants, I could have bought cheaper raincoats over there ..... 

Andre

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My mom taught me to always make a list when you're packing to go somewhere.  She's a firm believer of "if it's not on the list, you're going to forget it".  And you know, she's right.  So, now I've turned into my mother and write lists for everything.  Mom has a standard list saved on her PC that she just prints out when it's time to go, I haven't gotten that good yet. 

Gee I thought I was the only one who has this problem. Thanks for all the tips. I have only just yesterday got into trouble for packing everything but the kitchen sink just to go camping for the long weekend. (three days) but I can not live without my hair dryer and hair straightner or my makeup what do they expect. Where my partner is the opposite he uses a detailed list and only what is on that list is packed no matter what. And you can not change his mind no matter how hard you try.

I like that procedure you do and that's also what my father is doing everytime he goes for a long destination trip. He has a list of things to carry and then he puts check on it if its in the travelling bag already. With this kind of procedure, every necessary item is accounted for and all unnecessary things will be left behind.

When we went to Mexico we had two suitcases for two passengers. One heavy suitcase for me to carry and a lighter one for Dani. I always put both of them on the scale at the same time. No problem.

On our last leg back from Dallas, the lady at the counter asked me to do it individually. As it turns out, one suitcase was slightly more than 50 pounds.

She mentioned, that this would actually mean, that I would have to pay for the overweight, although the other bag was much lighter and we were two people to split the weight.

Since it was only slightly more, she let it slide. But from this I learned that it is important to split the weight equally if you are planning to take a lot.

Andre

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