12 Packing Hacks (That Will Save You Money)

Packing can quite honestly be the worst part of trip planning. Having a list of good packing hacks can minimize the stress that can come with packing, and hopefully leave you feeling less anxious before a trip.

We know everyone has their own opinion when it comes to packing. But after over 10 years of travel, we have put together our expert packing hacks that have allowed us to pack lighter and more efficiently.

In this post, we share a list of packing hacks that will not only make travel easier, but will save you money! And who doesn’t love money?

We’ve also included some actionable items at the end of this post that you can implement today to help you become a better packer.

#1. Avoid Checking a Bag

Hear us out on this one. When we travel, we almost always fit what we need in a carry-on bag and a backpack. You’d be surprised how much you can fit when you get creative (more on this in packing hack #3)!

This tip applies whether you are going on a weekend trip to Los Angeles, or an international get away. Since we often fly with budget airlines, checked bags are not included in the ticket price. And did you know that only two U.S. airlines provide free or complimentary checked bags? This means an extra $40-$70 dollars for you to over-pack clothes that you won’t end up wearing.

Even if the checked bag is included in your ticket price, you save time and sanity not having to wait it out at Baggage Claim. Instead, invest in a good carry-on bag. Most airlines allow a carry-on size of 9 inches x 14 inches x 22 inches, which is a lot of space.

If you are looking for a good carry-on bag, this is one that we use. We like it because of it’s expandable top, which allows for more room if needed (while still falling within the carry-on size requirements). The 4 way spinner wheels also come in handy when inevitably running through the airport (shout out to our fellow “just in time” travelers).

Outside of a carry-on bag, you’ll also want to pack a spacious backpack, which can be used as your complimentary personal bag on flight. Backpacks are perfect for storing toiletries, on flight entertainment, and travel documents.

We have been traveling this way for about three years now and it is not only doable, it is life changing! This is one of our packing rules of thumb that we swear by.

#2. Pack a Reusable Water Bottle

Did you know that bottled water at the airport can cost around $8 in some cities? Not okay. Plan ahead and take advantage of the FREE water you can get at airport water stations or drinking fountains.

You can get affordable reusable water bottles at Target or Amazon if you do not have a good one already. When we travel, we will usually stick our water bottles in the side pocket of a backpack or throw it in our purse. Just make sure you wait until you go through security before filling it up.

You might not see it as a necessity yet, but a reuasable water bottle is definitely one that you don’t want to forget to pack. Imagine if you buy a water each time you’re at the airport. That is easily $20 a trip.

It’s a simple packing hack that will leave you with extra cash in your pocket and less plastic in the world!

#3. Get on Board with Packing Cubes

Packing cubes have recently become a game changer for us when it comes to packing hacks. We really did not want to believe in it’s magic, but here we are writing about them in our blog post.

Packing cubes allow you to fit 2x the amount of items in your carry-on bag, and help keep things extremely organized. When we use packing cubes, we like to group by item type–so t-shirts in one cube, pants in another cube, bra and underwear in another cube.

And whether you are Team fold or Team roll, both methods work well here. This is such an easy way to create more space in your luggage. More space in your bags, means less luggage you need to bring and potentially pay for.

These are also super helpful when you have multiple vacations in a row because you can organize by trip. We use this 6 pack compression cube bundle that we got from amazon. It was only $14 and it comes in many cute colors and patterns like these stripes.

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#4. Dollar Store Run for Essentials

Another one of our favorite packing hacks is to hit up the Dollar Store to stock up on essentials. The Dollar Store is the perfect place to grab name brand products like Crest or L’Oreal to put in your travel bag. Everything you find will be $1 (hence the name), and because the portions are smaller, they are usually the ideal size for travel.

And let’s face it, people on planes are gross. Dollar store sanitary wipes are perfect for wiping down your seat, tray table, and seat-back when you get on the plane.

You can also pick up hand sanitizer and face wipes to help you feel more refreshed during long flights. Here is an example of a Dollar Store shopping list you can use before a trip:

Dollar Store Shopping List

• Toothpaste
• Suave 1.4oz Deodorant
• Hand Sanitizer
• Clorox Disinfecting Wipes
• Retinol Makeup Remover Wipes
• Advil
• Chapstick
• Lotion
• Crossword Puzzles

#5. Bring Your Own Snacks

We are always surprised by the amount of people we travel with that do not know you can pack food in your carry-on bag. This is one of our favorite packing hacks to prevent hangry travel days (it’s oddly our boyfriends’ favorite hack as well).

Airport food is grossly overpriced and can easily be avoided if you plan ahead. In the Minneapolis Airport, a bag of peanuts is $5, a candy bar is $2.99, and pretzels are almost $7. A portion of your travel budget will be spent before you even get to your destination city!

And what happens if your flight gets delayed? God forbid you are stuck on the tarmac without some Chex mix to keep you sane.

PRO TIP: If you are visiting a foreign city, try stopping in their local grocery store. This is one of our favorite ways to get a sense of a city’s culture. You’ll find some unique and tasty snacks to pack for your flight home.

#6. Two Shoe Rule

This packing hack goes back to our first tip on this list. It is too easy to overpack for a trip, which is why so many people feel the need to check a bag.

That is where the two shoe rule comes in. In most cases you will not need more than two pairs of shoes while traveling. We usually bring a pair of walking tennis, and then depending on the season, we will have small boots or sandals for our second pair of shoes.

The cool thing about this rule is that you are really only packing one pair of shoes–the other pair you will wear to the airport. Make sure to wear the bulkier and heavier pair like boots to the airport, and save the lighter pair for the carry-on bag.

Sticking to the two shoe rule makes packing super easy because you know what your limits are. Try it out and let us know what you think!

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#7. Reuse Mint Tins or Pill Bottles to Store Your Jewelry

Let’s be resourceful for a second. Jewelry is one of the most frustrating things to pack because it’s easy to lose and often fragile or sentimental. Too many trips we have returned home with mismatch earrings and a few less rings than we started out with.

Things like pill bottles and mint tins are the perfect size containers for travel. These containers come in handy when you need a place to pack necklaces, earrings, rings, or safety pins.

We’ve always had a hard time packing these types of items, so we found a creative solution that didn’t cost us anything. The next time you use a mint tin, think twice before you toss. A thrifty packing hacks that works wonders!

#8. Roll Your Clothes

We cannot write a guide on the best packing hacks for travel without including a tip on rolling your clothes. It may seem like an obvious one, but it is still a solid strategy to get the most out of your luggage space.

Of course not all items are meant to be rolled. The best items to roll are shirts, dresses, jeans, and shorts. You’ll want to leave the bulkier items like sweatshirts and jackets to folding.

But don’t take our word for it. See for yourself! The below side by side shows how much space you can save using the same amount of clothes, but with different packing methods. Mic drop.

#9. Pack More Neutrals

Filling your carry-on bag with items that can easily go together is a simple way to get the most out of what you pack. Packing more neutrals will allow you to layer up your clothes and adjust to changes in weather. We tend to plan out our outfits when we travel, but sticking to mainly neutrals makes it easy to mix and match while we’re on the go.

What’s always in our carry-on bag?

• A denim jacket
• An oversized white T
• 2-3 pairs of jeans in different shades (shorts if it’s summertime)
• Black leggings
• A solid long sleeve crop top
• A baseball cap 
• A tight black dress

So the next time you feel the need to buy a whole new wardrobe for your upcoming vacation, pause. Instead, build up your core neutrals and try swapping in new accessories like hats and scarves to make your outfits pop!

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#10. Have a Permanent Toiletry Travel Bag

If you travel more than 2 times a year, it is worth it to have a designated toiletry bag that you use only for travel. Toiletry bags are another easy item that you can pick up at the Dollar Store or Target for cheap.

It pays to keep a separate bag with a full set of travel sized toiletries that you do not have to pack and repack.

Bonus tip for you. Start filling your travel toiletry bag with free beauty samples and you can thank us later. We love getting free mini samples from brands like Ulta and Sephora to stick in our bag.

What better way to treat yourself than a fresh face mask after a long day of adventuring? Many places will give your free beauty samples with no purchase necessary if you just ask.

#11. Pack an Envelope for Important Documents

It is always smart to have a scanned copy of your passport and/or drivers license when traveling. You may end up needing it if you lose your ID on a trip, need a second form of identification, or simply just don’t want to carry around your passport.

We often pack an 8×10 envelope or folder to hold some of our important travel papers. You may not initially see this as a money saving packing hack, but the cost to expedite a passport or other travel documents can be substantial.

Another document to put in the envelope is directions to your Airbnb or hotel from the airport. While smart phones and GPS are great resources for directions, they are not always reliable, so we tend to travel with a backup.

We may even print out a rough trip itinerary to include in the envelope. Especially for international vacations, or multi city trips, it can be a lot to keep track of. Having the info in paper form to reference can be really useful.

Your travel envelope does not need to be anything fancy. It is just a simple thing to store your document copies, and help prevent additional costs if something goes wrong.

#12. Visit the Public Library for Books & Mags

We find that we do the majority of our reading while traveling, so this packing hack is huge! Whether we are stuck on a long flight or soaking in the sun at the beach, a good read is an essential item for our trips.

Check out the book selection at your local library before every trip. You could save between $10-$30 by simply taking advantage of that handy library card.

You would be surprised by the amazing reads you can find and all you need is $1 to register for a library card. Most public libraries also have a magazine selection if that’s your thing too.

What we’re reading right now?

• More Than Enough by Elaine Welteroth
• The Moment of Lift by Melinda Gates
• I’m Judging You: The Do-Better Manual by Luvvie Ajayi
• Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

And that’s a wrap! Even if you do not have a trip coming up soon, there are a few things that you can do today that will make packing easier and more affordable for you in the future. Based on our 12 packing hacks, we’ve compiled a list of to-do’s that will help you achieve these packing behaviors. These are easy and actionable items that anyone can implement today.

PACKING HACK TO DO’S:

1. Pack your designated toiletry travel bag.
2. Sign up for your local library card.
3. Start saving mint tins or old medicine bottles.
4. Practice rolling your clothes. It’s an art.
5. Check out Amazon for inexpensive compression cubes.
6. Make copies of your passport and other photo IDs.
7. Save this list for your next trip or pin for later.

Make sure you save these packing hacks so you can reference this list the next time you are packing for a trip!

Check out our About page to learn more about the Thrifty Girls behind the post! Comment/Like below.