Packing....Newest Option

Old Mar 6th, 2009, 05:40 PM
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Packing....Newest Option

This is my newest method to solving my "over" packing issues

Before I go on vacation I go to my local Thrift Shop and buy t-shirts, sweaters, or whatever I may need .....(maybe $25.00 for a week's worh of clothing..some even with the tags still on them)....then when I get to my destinations, I leave the clothing there, which allows me to have lots of room in my suitcase to bring home many other wonderful items....I did this in South Africa, on my last cruise, and plan to do it when I go to India.
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Old Mar 6th, 2009, 06:40 PM
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See long discussion at http://www.fodors.com/community/smar...re-freedom.cfm
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Old Mar 7th, 2009, 03:12 PM
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Why do you think it's a good idea to contribute to the planet's garbage problem by throwing out perfectly good clothing - and to do so in someone else's country?
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Old Mar 7th, 2009, 07:51 PM
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Since I already responded to this on another thread, I'll just repeat it here:

Gizmo - I've heard others talk about doing that (or wearing old clothes that you're going to get rid of anyway).

My biggest issue with this is that I know folks who can't afford to buy clothes anywhere BUT the thrift store - if I go in and buy up the nicer pieces to wear once and dump, I'd feel like I was taking away their best chances of having nice clothes for nothing more than so I can buy even more stuff.
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Old Mar 8th, 2009, 02:57 PM
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toedtoes, that's an interesting view. I've never thought of it.
Actually, I don't have that many clothes but the pieces that I have fit well and are in colors that suit me and I want to wear clothing I like on vacation.
Besides, throwing away clothing that I've spent good money on bothers me.
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Old Mar 8th, 2009, 04:36 PM
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LSky - I never did either until I became friends with a woman who was trying to get back on track. She could only afford to buy her clothes at places like Goodwill and it was very hard for her to find stuff that was nice enough for the office. Most people around here take their nicer clothes to the consignment shops and she couldn't afford them AND clothe her kids.
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Old Mar 8th, 2009, 06:26 PM
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We often take our stuff to a women's shelter, but that only helps women who have been abused and need the shelter. There must be a better way to make sure women who need nicer clothes can get them.

I've been cleaning out kitchen cabinets today, sealing the countertops and thinking about getting some neighbors together for a garage sale. I'll mention the clothes issue while I'm organizing the sale. Thanks, toedtoes. And btw,it really nice what you did on the other thread with the restaurant thing.
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Old Mar 8th, 2009, 07:42 PM
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We set up a "clothing exchange" at work. It was a less obvious way of helping out the one woman, but it worked well. Every few months, we each brought in quality clothes that we no longer wore (wrong size, didn't like, etc.) and we would do an exchange - each person taking another's cast off's. We'd go through the one person's stuff and then make a second switch after keeping what we liked, and so on until we had all gone through each person's bunch of clothing. We actually had it "fixed" in that we made sure the nicest stuff made it's way to the one who needed it the most. It worked out nicely.

There are some charity places set up that provide career clothes for folks who need them. They get the clothes from donations, and they give them to those in need (rather than selling them to whoever walks in). If you can find an organization like that in your area, it's a great option.

Thanks.
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Old Mar 10th, 2009, 06:19 AM
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The poor will always be with us. Are we to stay home and not use the fuel to travel because a poor family has no heat for the winter? Are we to eat only crackers and drink water when we travel because there are children starving in Africa? Are we to walk barefoot when we travel because there are children without shoes in the slums of South America?
Travel when you like and where you like. Eat what you want. Wear what you want and if leaving articles of clothing behind suits your travel style, do so.
For my personal needs I buy thriftshop casual clothes for traveling (mostly knit pullovers). What the thriftshop does not provide I purchase in the appropriate store. My purchase at the thriftshop funds the work of the sponsoring organization. My purchase at the regular store funds poor working families making clothing in many countries. I sometimes buy all new underwear before a trip; take my old undies with me and discard it as I go. Please help yourself to the rubbish bin if you like.
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Old Mar 10th, 2009, 10:17 AM
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Keltic - no one has said don't travel. No one has said don't buy thrift shop clothes and dump them as you go. We're simply pointing out some of the negatives of doing so.

Personally, I would rather find room for my purchases in another way than to buy clothes my friend needs for work and toss them as I go. Just like I prefer to not waste food and water because there are kids starving in Africa.

Wearing something once and throwing it out is a waste. If you don't have a problem with that, then that's fine, but to make it out like the rest of us are somehow being ridiculous in our beliefs is, well, as ridiculous as suggesting that someone stop wearing shoes because other go without. Wearing them once and throwing them out would be ridiculous.
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Old Mar 10th, 2009, 10:42 AM
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I agree with you keltic that the poor will always be with us blah blah blah. And I agree with toedtoes that buying something to throw away seems like a huge waste of time, (searching through thrift stores to find the darn things) and money.

You certainly have a right to where what you want but I can't figure out why anyone with enough money to travel wants to show up wearing some stretched out and faded cast off?
If my underwear is so uncomfortable that I'm going to throw them away, I'll do it the moment they get the first hole in them. Why wear a rag?

How much junk do you buy when you travel that you need room in the suitcase?
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Old Mar 10th, 2009, 08:05 PM
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I hate the idea of leaving underwear, clothes, etc. behind. I pack exremely light and bring home everything I start out with. I think of it like camping... "leave things cleaner than you found them". I just can't wrap my mind around (assuming Americans) leaving stuff behind. I can't get beyond picturing by worn out baggie underwear in a landfill in Mexio. Not good.
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Old Mar 10th, 2009, 08:58 PM
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The "disposable" clothing idea just doesn't appeal to me. I like my everyday cloths which fit me and are comfortable.
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Old Mar 10th, 2009, 09:21 PM
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I always wonder how big people's underwear can be that it leaves that much space in their suitcases.
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Old Mar 12th, 2009, 07:58 AM
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I never got the leaving the clothes thingy either. I do seriously think it's a waste of money. I am a thrift shopper and a thrifty no-nonsense solo traveler. Although I know it is honorable to help the needy, I think leaving my old clothes, especially my unmentionables would be a tad bit humiliating (my own personal opinion).

I shop at thrift shops all the time and love the bargains I find there and since I travel to Europe often, I never overpack and I never leave anything (not intentionally).

I pack the day before and I pack enough for up to 6 days worth of travel (even though I may travel for 9 days). I roll my clothes up military style which are mostly street clothes and one dress item (with shoes). I take one pair of walking tennis shoes (no need to pack them, I wear them on the plane) and one of my 6 days worth of clothing I'm actually wearing on the plane as well.

In total I pack 3 pants, 3 shirts, 3 pairs of socks, one dress and up to 7 days worth of umentionables (sorry, gotta change my undies daily). My flight clothes becomes item #4.

I take 1 carry-on suitcase on board and an overnight bag (purse). I store my documents, meds, money, passport, one change of clothes, etc in my purse and secure it with a lock and key while on board. I have a flight bag that I keep with me in my seat for things I will need to have handy inflight.

I have never gotten the idea of trying to pack everything you own for a trip to anywhere. It's too much of a struggle and it makes you a target. I am a fan of wearing things more than once and yes, I have traveled 9 days with the amount of clothes mentioned above.

My rule, 1 carry-on suitcase, 1 overnight travel bag and a purse. Thats it!
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Old Mar 13th, 2009, 01:42 PM
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LOL about the size of the underwear. My husband wears Hanes knit boxers, which end up taking up a fair amount of space. I have tried to get him to try ones that are made of a thinner material - then they wont take up as much space in the suitcase and they would dry in a matter of hours after handwashing - but those types are always expensive and he cannot bring himself to part with that kind of money for underwear - LOL.
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Old Apr 10th, 2009, 07:49 PM
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Let me be real clear...I never said that I throw the clothing away, but gave it away to individuals who appeared to need it in the various places that I went to...for which they were very grateful. Lastly, they clothing was never old clothing that I bought at the Thrift Stores, but fairly new clothing.

Somehow what I thought was a helpful suggestion, really got off the track!
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Old Apr 11th, 2009, 08:00 AM
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Buy clothing items at thrift stores.

Wear them to travel.

Leave them at a thrift store abroad.

I don't see problem.
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Old Apr 11th, 2009, 08:00 AM
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Old Apr 11th, 2009, 08:34 AM
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gizmo, I'm sorry, I apologize, my post should not have been so harsh. I'm a finen idea for some people. For me I'd rather just pack and wear (and bring home) my regular clothes. plus I probably wouldn't feel comfortable giving out clothes to strangers along the way. just a 'different strokes' kind of thing.
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