Tat

Thinking of buying men, woman, children socks, underwear, from Dollar store.
Point is throwing it away without storing while traveling. 12 pair of underwear for 3 people can free me some space that will be filled with gifts on the way back.
Also thought about buying cheap t-shirts to throw away. As long as it's new - it looks not bad even if cheap.

What do you guys think ?
Are there more items to pack-to-throw.

Thanks

MelJ

I'd just be careful about buying underwear at the Dollar store because you want to be totally comfortable while on vacation and not have to worry about riding up, bad elastic, etc. that probably comes with the cheap stuff.

Also, as for discarding, if you really want to toss your undies, you might want to take along a few of those plastic bags groceries come in. At the end of the day drop your stuff in them, knot them and toss them in the trashcan. That way the maids don't have to look at or handle them.

Have a great trip!

Patrick

about the maids -- yes, or think you mistakenly put them in the wrong place, and have them washed, ironed, and returned to you and charge your bill.

Renee

I've always heard of people taking clothing items that were on their last legs (so to speak) and tossing them after a few wearings....especially if they were going to be away for an extended period of time. Sounds like a great idea to me!

Tat

And I thought I was original

thanks and if someone knows what else can be added to the "trow away" list ?

ira

Hi Tat,

Is there any reason why you can't throw away all of your clothing?

Tat

There is a reason, ira.
I do not want to be arrested at the end of my trip walking naked somewhere in Europe.
If you wanted to be a SmartYouKnowWhat - you have to try harder.

xxxx

I don't buy the dollar store stuff, but we have worn and then thrown away old socks and undies. It really doesn't free up that much space in the suitcase, but it is just less to unpack and wash at home. I also take toiletries and make up with just enough left to get me through the trip and then toss those as well. It seems we all have our own little "dirty secrets" and ideas when it comes to packing!!

easytraveler

Agree with ira:

Throw away old socks, shoes, jackets, sweaters, pants, hats - anything that you would have given away to the Salvation Army at the end of the year. Wear those one last time and toss!

Also those moldy cookies, candy, apples, oranges which you thought you might want to eat on the trip.

And, for heaven sakes, forget the nail clippers, the Swiss Army knife, the screwdrivers, and other handy tools.

Fact is, you could conceivably bring along entire suitcases of things you would toss and bring back all new purchases!

On the other hand, I have clothes from 20/30 years ago that I pack and wear and, when it comes time to chuck them, they have too much sentimental value. So they remain to be packed along on the next trip! LO!

Have fun on your trip, Tat!

Tat

All Thanks !
Great idea of wearing old clothes and leaving behind !

ira

Thank you, Tat. I am glad that you agree.

SeaUrchin

I wouldn't want to wear old clothes, why would I want to look foolish on a vacation, I have some pride.

I wear nice things at home and on a trip also, I love my currently stylish things and feel better wearing them. I like to think that I can enter a nice restaurant or hotel and not be ashamed of how I look.

I went to Milan with a co-worker who dressed in sweats for "comfort" and when we wanted to run into a hotel to use the restroom in town, they let me in and wanted to shoo her away...not the way I want to present myself.

grantop

We've been doing this for years, it's a great idea. I for one do not wash my clothes in the sink at home and I'm not going to do it on vacation either! By the dollar store stuff (wash once before you pack it) or bring your older things and then toss them out after you wear it! But as Patrick has pointed out, do be discreet - put your things in a bag when throwing them away. You don't want them back, and trust me, nobody wants to see them! This does save space as anyone who has packed a week's worth of men's t-shirts can tell you. If you are packing for 3 you will really be thankful to toss all that stuff instead of trying to re-pack dirty underwear to bring home - YUCK! Much more fun to bring home goodies than laundry!

StCirq

Although I've been known to pack socks and underwear that I'm willing to toss out to make some room in the suitcase, I have to agree with SeaUrchin.

If anything, I usually look better when I'm traveling than I do at home, where I run my own business and, except for meetings, don't even have to get dressed up for work. I certainly don't include "cheap t-shirts" on my packing list - unless it's a hiking trip, and I don't do those much these days.

And I'm not sure how going out and buying a throwaway wardrobe just for a specific trip fits in with Tat's purported attempt to keep costs down.

Tat

Sea,
I am with you on looking nice,
but let's not be so snobish, old clothes from Bloomingdale's are still being clothes from Bloomingdale's, right ?
I do not mean to wear scarecrow costume.
I have plenty of blouses and pants I can't throw away as it is looks great and still fit me, but I just stoped liking it, got bored, sick of it ...
So,
idea rocks ! I like to let my old clothes to see Paris and die !

mitchdesj

I agree totally with Seaurchin, if there's a time I want to feel and look good, it's on vacation....
I buy clothes that travel well and I wear a lot of black so I bring my best and favorite clothes when I travel; even if it's wrong, I find you are often judged by how you present yourself when you travel.

I can roll and crush my dirty clothes so tightly in my suitcase, I always have room to bring back stuff no matter where I am...
or else, I have it shipped.

SeaUrchin

OK, I will confess, last trip I bought some cheap panties and a white tshirt at a dollar store to wear on the plane, then ditched them. But I wore a nice jacket over the tshirt so I didnt look like a thrift store refugee on the plane.
I had to laugh at your scarecrow reference, pretty funny way to see Europe.
I still would not want to ditch Bloomingdales out of season clothes in a trashbin, someone could use them at a shelter here in the US.

I, along with St. Cirq, I would not buy a throw away wardrobe but if that suits you, do what is best for your style, Tat.

LilyLace

Hey Tat! I throw away everytime I go! It all started with a pair of pants that would stretch a little too much after wearing them awhile. They were perfect for my overnight flight to Northern Ireland - I simply threw them out, by the end of the trip I decided on several other items I really didn't need including a pair of sneakers! It's a GREAT way to make room in your luggage!

Because I often visit several countries while in Europe I also pack shampoo, soap, make up in small bottles and discard as they empty......same with the "just enough left" theory mentioned by xxx!

Another suggestion: I always seem to need more towels & wascloths than are provided by the little places I stay soooooo....YES I take several old ones along and discard them too when I move on to the next country.

Lily

carrolldf

I don't do this. But I use an expandable suitcase which is not expanded on the trip over. This gives me plenty of room to add whatever I pick up when I unzip the expansion for the trip back.

I'm afraid I'm with the crowd that doesn't take clothes I wouldn't wear at home but to each their own. One school of thought (the one I subscribe to) says we want ot look our best on our trip and the other school of thought says who cares because we'll never see the people at our vacation destination again.

Guess I'm afraid I'll meet the love of my life on one of my trips and want to look my best when we fall in love at first site. Or then again, maybe me looking my best is just part of the overall feeling wonderful part of vacation. Sometimes, I even feel sophisticated and beautiful when I travel -- I don't always feel that way at home. But looking nice makes me more confident, especially when no one really knows me -- all they have to judge me by is my appearance.

Degas

I agree totally with Seaurchin, I want to feel and look good on vacation so I only wear stuff that's less than five years old.

I know, I know, it costs much more to buy new clothes at Wal-Mart every five years, but I don't want to scrimp when it comes to setting a fine example for those poor Europeans that only have a couple of sets of black clothes and no closets!

There is just something AMAZING about a husky, big-boned guy with some flashy new discount duds and a few new gold painted chains around his neck that says: you can look this darn good if you want it bad enough!