Packing smart and planning can save you a ton of money when traveling, especially if you’re on a budget. It can be the little things you don’t realize you need until you’re in the heat of the moment, which can be a stressful experience.
1. Compression Packing Cubes
These are lifesavers when saving space and ensuring you have room in your luggage for more items. These compression packing cubes compress your clothes and items into smaller sizes, squeezing out the air and making your clothes more compact. You won’t have to buy more luggage in another country to fit items.
2. Filtered Water Bottle
Bringing a filtered water bottle everywhere you go is always a good idea. You never know when you might get thirsty and can save on buying water. Plus, a filtered water bottle will filter out any impurities in the water, making it safer to drink. You can never be too safe.
3. Hanging Toiletry Bag
Having all your toiletries in one place is a godsend, and being able to hang them helps you save so much mess and space. This is especially true if you find yourself in a small communal bathroom or a compact budget hostel with limited space to avoid clutter.
4. Menstrual Cup
This is for the girlies. Bringing along a menstrual cup on your travels saves a lot of space in your bag. It is reusable and can be washed, so you don’t have to worry about how to dispose of your pads or tampons after use. Plus, you’re saving money on menstrual products.
5. 2 in 1 International Adapter and Power Bank
A power bank with an international adapter that can charge your electronics while charging itself is a no-brainer. When everything is set, you can head out in the morning and not worry about your battery dying since the power bank will sustain you. Hence, you don’t have to sit in a cafe to charge your phone and save money.
6. Pegless Clothesline
Doing your laundry during travels could save you a lot while keeping you smelling fresh throughout your travels. Just remember to bring some detergent as well. A pegless clothesline allows you to hang your clothes in any room and surface, making drying easier—no need to pay for laundry or head to the laundromat.
7. Cable Organizer Pouch
If you travel with a lot of tech like cables, cameras, and more, a cable organizer pouch is necessary to store your items and prevent them from getting tangled up. Plus, it will come in handy to know where everything is. Find a waterproof cable organizer pouch for extra safety and to save money from buying new cables.
8. Travel-sized Toiletries
Sometimes, the budget hostels or rooms you stay in need to provide the necessary toiletries, or they require extra payments. Especially if you’re on a hiking and camping trip, bringing your toiletries is a lifesaver. There are a ton of travel-sized bundles of toiletries out there you can choose from.
9. Extra Long Phone Cable
This will be useful if you find yourself in a location with a limited power socket. You can plug in your phone and charge it from a distance with no problem. A dead phone is an anxiety-inducing tragedy that we do not wish upon anyone in this day and age.
10. Quick Dry Towel
Similar to the toiletries situation, there are cases where towels are not provided at your location, or they require additional charges. Bringing a quick dry towel ensures you will take showers with no issues. Plus, since it is a quick dry towel, you won’t have to bring a soggy or damp towel everywhere.
11. International Adapter
This is essential when traveling, especially when heading to a foreign country. Since you will be bringing some tech when traveling, you must charge it when it runs out of juice. An international adapter ensures you can connect your charger to a power source and power your tech. We don’t want to fork out more money for a new charger, do we?
12. Kindle or E-reader
Entertainment is needed when traveling, as you will be on a commute or have downtime before heading to sleep. Bringing along a Kindle or e-reader will help you entertain yourself for hours with a book of your choice. It’s more compact and accessible than an actual book and costs less in the long term.
13. Dry Bag
A dry bag is helpful for situations where you might encounter water. This includes beach days, waterparks, kayaking, hiking waterfalls, and more. You keep your essential items in a dry bag to keep them dry and protect them from the elements. They typically act like a small backpack; some can be slung over your shoulder.
14. Inflatable Neck Pillow
We’re all familiar with bringing neck pillows on our travels. The inflatable neck pillow allows for compact storage when you’re done using it. You can deflate it when you’re done and inflate it when needed. This will enable you to sleep anywhere with ease.
15. Earplugs
Often overlooked, a pair of earplugs could mean the world to travelers, especially if you’re staying in a communal hostel where people are in and out at odd hours. Plugging your ears may be essential for a good night’s sleep. It also helps when you’re flying and trying to catch some sleep.
16. Padlock
Often, backpackers or budget travelers need to put their stuff in lockers. Hence, having padlocks to secure your bags can be an excellent protective measure to ensure your items are not stolen. Not all hotels provide a locked safe for your items, so padlocking is a good option.
17. Wet Wipes and Tissues
An underrated essential for travelers is wet wipes and tissues. This is handy if you’re a messy person or traveling with kids. Either way, bringing wet wipes could help you feel and smell fresh throughout your travels. You never know when you need tissues to wipe a spilled drink or blow your nose. It saves money from spending to clean your items while traveling.
18. Emergency Whistle
An essential and underrated safety tool is the small emergency whistle. This can help you alert others or make noise to gain attention when you are in trouble. It is a simple tool but a highly effective one.
Source: Google, especially TheWanderingQuinn and St.Christophers.
