8 Packing Hacks for Your Summer Road Trip

 This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and Walmart Family Mobile. All opinions are mine alone. #Tips4Trips #CollectiveBias

I have a confession — I am terrible when it comes to packing. No matter whether it is packing for a night or a week I am notorious for packing too much yet still managing to forget essentials. In fact, back when I was in college I went up to school for a weekend over the summer and totally forgot to pack underwear! I had to send my boyfriend out to the mall to buy me some. Talk about embarrassing.

I have to say that my packing skills have not really improved over the past 10 years. My husband, who frequently travels for his job, is always appalled. So, in honor of my bad packing skills, I have come up with a list of 8 Packing Hacks which will make you (and hopefully me) a better packer and will make your summer road trips go a little smoother.

Line Your Suitcase with a Plastic Garbage Bag

Here in Pennsylvania this summer has been miserably rainy. This also means that there is a very good chance your suitcase will get wet. By lining your suitcase with the plastic garbage bag, even if the suitcase gets soaked your clothes inside will still stay dry. Plus, after you get to your destination you can use the garbage bag as a laundry bag to separate your dirty clothes from the clean ones.

Pack a Dryer Sheet in the Suitcase

If you store your suitcase in an attic or the basement they may eventually develop a musty smell. This means that your clothes will also absorb that smell. To avoid this, pack a dryer sheet or two in your suitcase so your clothes come out with that fresh-out-of-the-dryer smell. 

Roll Your Clothes

Space is always an issue for me. Maybe because I always overpack? To fit more clothes in your suitcase, try rolling them instead of folding or just stuffing them in the suitcase. 

Put Socks in Shoes

Put that empty space inside your shoes to good work. By tucking your socks inside of the shoes it will save space in the rest of the suitcase. Plus, you can fit several days worth of socks in just one shoe.

Cover Shoes With a Shower Cap

I hate when I put a pair of shoes into the suitcase and the shoes end up getting dirt or sand all over the clothes. No one wants their clothes to be dirty before they even reach their destination. An easy trick to keep this from happening is to put your shoes in a shower cap and wrap them before putting them in the suitcase. This will keep all the other clothes from getting dirty too.

Put Plastic Wrap Over Bottles

I always seem to have trouble with toiletry bottles leaking while on a trip. This is especially troublesome when you are flying since the pressure can loosen bottle tops. To help make sure you don’t have a leak on your hands once you get to your destination, unscrew the bottle top, put a small piece of plastic over the bottle top, and screw the lid back on. This will create a second barrier to keep the liquids in.

Don’t Pack Shaving Cream

Don’t take up extra space by packing a bottle of shaving cream. Instead, just use your conditioner. Conditioner will not only soften skin, but is also a moisturizer so it is a great substitute for shaving cream. 

Make a Packing Checklist

I tend to start thinking about all the things that I need to pack several days before a trip. To help me remember all that I need to bring on the trip, I will create a packing list on my phone. I have the ZTE ZMAX phone from Walmart Family Mobile, so I just open the Notepad app and start writing down everything I need to pack. That way, when I am actually packing my suitcase I will have my list right in front of me so I don’t forget anything.

Walmart Family Mobile Makes Road Trips Easier

I love taking my Walmart Family Mobile phone with me on road trips. This way, no matter where we go I know that I am able to stay connected. This means that not only are family and friends able to stay in touch but that I also have a way to call for help in case of an emergency. That peace of mind is invaluable.

The best part is that this peace of mind won’t cost an arm and a leg either. In fact, you can get Walmart Family Mobile for only $29.88/month (for the first line) with an Unlimited Talk, Text & Data plan which includes up to 1G of 4G LTE data. The cost of the phones is really reasonable too, plus if you want to bring an unlocked phone from another carrier you can do that too. Some of the awesome Walmart Family Mobile phones include:

• ZTE Zinger ($29.88)
• LG 450 ($29.92)
• Alcatel Evolve 2 ($34.83)
• Alcatel One Touch Pop Astro ($64.88)
• Alcatel Fierce 2 ($99.88)
• LG Neon LTE ($99.92)
• Galaxy Avant ($149.00)
• ZTE ZMAX ($179.99)

Note: All prices for phones and plans included in this post are accurate as of the date of posting; however, these prices are subject to change. Please refer to your local Walmart or Walmart Family Mobile for current pricing.

Getting started with Walmart Family Mobile is easy. Just head to your nearest Walmart that carries Walmart Family Mobile and purchase a $25.00 starter kit and the phone of your choice. You can find this in the electronics section of the store.

To get Walmart Family Mobile for yourself, visit your nearest Walmart Family Mobile, or check out Walmart Family Mobile.

Leave a Comment: Do you have any packing hacks that I may have missed?

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