I’m a flight attendant and I can honestly say…packing cubes are the absolute best! I can fit so many things in my carry-on because of them. And it keeps things super organized and tight. Especially if you roll your clothes. I have big ones for everything, smaller ones for undergarments, and I even have one that zips twice to compress it even more for things like underwear or a backup uniform for if I need it in emergencies. I also have those vacuum bags (the ones where you squeeze the air out) for dirty clothes since you won’t care if the clothes gets wrinkly. They seriously are the best! But get the ones that you are actually gonna use. Invest in ones that are gonna be useful for you and not just a cheap multi pack off Amazon that are gonna break on the second trip. I use eagle creek and I only bought like one or two at a time until I had the collection that I actually use every trip. They have held up great!
I can pack without them just fine.....but my husband!.....has bought at least 3 multi packs, which weigh in at 2kg total, and there are quite afew he has never used. They take up space with all the other cases he doesn't use either! Hmmm.
Packing cubes: YYYYEEEEESSSS! I don’t travel but like 2-3 times a year (vacation, trips, family visits) Best invention and money spent ever! I am a very organized planner and I couldn’t live out of a suitcase without them!!
Kathie wow you just flipped the script on the entire theme of the article. That is such a great observation and something to really think about. It is soooo true!
My local thrift store sells cookbooks for .25 I’m sorry but I love me some cookbooks especially old well loved cookbooks and I’m old and like a real book in my hand. cookbooks or reg books. And for .25 if I can find a few great recipes totally worth it, if not..... I donate it back Cheaper than magazines.
Same here. As a prepper, I believe that old cookbooks using simple inexpensive ingredients may become invaluable, particularly if the internet becomes unavailable. I, too, like the feeling of a "real" book in my hands as well.
I need to echo the sentiments of others who use packing cubes. I do love them. I only travel about twice a year, but they are so practical. They help to corral like items together and keep your suitcase tidy without the jumble of clothes and other accessories. If you don't travel frequently, you won't need an expensive set.
I am with you on many of these, but I can't overstate the benefit of supporting local news and local journalism. It's so valuable to know what's going on in your community. And often, it's very inexpensive. I'm one of the proud people who supports her family working at a newspaper.
I agree with the keepsakes from holidays and trips. However, my three daughters know I love a tea towel and so I will get one from where it is the go. My youngest daughter had an obsession for snow globes and still does 😂 so again that was easy gifting. Other than that, edible are the best gift. My youngest daughter wanted to explore our capital city London. After being in a palace museum we went to the shop. The only thing I could afford was a small tin of lemon shortbread. We then went and got a drink from another shop and sat on the steps of saint Paul’s cathedral. To this day she remembers that trip. Even now if we see lemon short bread that day trip gets a mention. Memories are the best keepsakes.
I am quite frugal and I am not a dress-wearer. I paid quite a bit more for the dress I wore to my son's wedding than the two dresses I wore to our two daughters' weddings! Even though I'll probably never wear that dress again (the one I wore to my son's wedding), it was worth it to me--because it was the kind of dress my daughter-in-law wanted me to wear. I think it was worth the price to please her, if for no other reason!
Packing cubes are THE most useful travel accessory for the two of us. They keep everything organized both in AND out of our suitcases. We use them for both clothing and non-clothing items. We only buy the ones we need, in the sizes we need them, and we color code them (one color for me, one for hubby). They really do make things fit better when you want to compress things, and when we get where we're going we just pull them out and store our clothing in the drawers while still in their cubes. Love them!
Totally agree, packing cubes are a game changer. Bought some as Xmas present for all the family. So easy to use just pick them up and put in the drawers of your accommodation. I've got green, hubby has blue and we also bought a hanging wash bag with lots of compartments. We keep the washbags packed so when we go away just put straight in suitcase. These two things have made picking formgoing away so much easier highly recommend.
We have used packing cubes for long trips where we only wanted to take carry-on luggage. They did allow us to pack everything very compactly and worked well for us. (But to be honest -- I made mine from directions I found online. I sew and already had the fabric and zipper -- so, no cost to me.)
There are certain souvenirs we enjoy and actually use. Food is #1 on our list for both souvenirs AND gifts. Clothing is another one, usually attractive souvenir t-shirts from national parks (that we wear for years until they are completely worn out). We went to England and Scotland on our April honeymoon many years ago and didn't realize just how dang cold it was going to be, so we each wound up with some new sweaters, mufflers, gloves and hats! I am a big mystery book fan and one of my favorite souvenirs to buy (when available) are mystery books from local bookstores, that actually take place in the area we are visiting, usually by a local author. I love browsing local new and used bookstores when traveling so I get my entertainment AND my souvenir at the same time :-)
Love love love packing cubes. They keep categories of clothing/bath items organized. It’s easier to move them around to find things in a suitcase and keep everything folded. Otherwise you create a big mess when looking for something. Especially when on a trip where you go to multiple hotels and you rush around.
Many years ago when my son was young, I would give him a one-gallon ziplock bag for each day of the trip to pack his daily clothes into. At the end of the trip, the bags were folded and left in his suitcase until the next time.
I use the plastic bags that sheets, curtains, etc; come in. they are great for travel and putting seasonal clothes in- for instance I put all winter socks in one, winter or summer tops in another, etc; when the season I need the items I just pull out the bag and switch out the clothes
On my wedding day, I wore a hot pink dress that I had for years and wore til it was worn out. I just couldn't see spending money on a dress that was a one use only.
I love your tangents Jennifer and your sense of humour, you made me laugh all the way through this video 🤣 I agreed with so much of what you said too 👍
Hi Jenn!! It always bothers me when youtubers make "decluttering/minimalism" videos and then tons of "25 things you NEED from amazon". It is always affiliated. I have no issue with that but it definitely feels odd. Also,I agree with souvenirs. If it's really things that they would use,sure,but not keychains. Unless the receiver loves to collect them. For me,keychains are a huge source of clutter. When my brother came back from Germany,he got us scarves.
@@shawna620 i agree! While I do jump in and celebrate christmas with family,I'm Malaysian,of Indian ethnicity. And we havent ever had an actual tree hehe. Would be nice though!
Hi Ms jennifer, you are such a blessing! So funny! I love your tangents! You remind me of me! We think alike. All your videos are so helpful thank you very much 💕😊👍
We plan on not depending on the internet and I see a need in having certain cookbooks in an actual book I can hold. I agree with most everything else, except we did buy an extended warranty for certain appliances bought for family members to help my husband not have to work on them. And i usually get a magnet for my fridge...I am a sucker. :)
I'll echo, I don't travel a lot but I love packing cubes to keep things together. It's also great in case you need to add something last minute, you don't have to dig through everything under the sun!
Hi Jennifer! Started following you this month when I was trying to declutter my home (so much leftover candies I had to get rid of). Loving your videos! keep up the good work!
They’re great. I travel about seven times a year and stay for 6-8 weeks. They keep your stuff organized so you don’t have to keep going thru your suitcase. They are worth they’re weigh in gold
I found packing cubes pretty useless. They do work for long trips where undies and socks and such need to be found easily. However, on the whole I found they took up too much space.
Not sure if you follow Diane in Denmark (she is fabulous!) but she gets a kitchen hand towel (with the location embroidered on it ) as a souvenir from all of her trips. What a fun and useful souvenir!!
I recommend the book Buy Me Once, A Life Less Throwaway by Tara Button. She talks about how companies purposely do planned obsolescence for their products & how we can buy intentionally.
I am a pen & paper girl. If it isn’t in front of my face, I’m not gonna see it. PLUS I have the added bonus of being “blessed” with the joy of my online/google/whatever the heck digital calendar deleting or mysteriously moving my appointments. I use pen & paper planners (homeschool, chores, Christmas planning, Easter planning, Faith Warrior planner, & of course my normal everyday planner). I would be lost without them! I’ll add that I’ve committed to not buying anymore earrings for me (unless they are SUPER CUTE gnomes I can buy 1 but no more) until the end of 2025. Because I have WAY too many & really need to pair down my dangly earrings, even though, I’ve downsized 3 times in the past 2 years… Yes, I’m a hoarder of dangly cute earrings… & fun saying shirts. & stickers. I’m working on it. NOT allowed to buy anymore planners though for the next 2 years. I have plenty I promise. 🤪 However, I use them constantly & build them to be exactly as I want them b/c hello!!! The disc ones you can! 🤣🤦♀️🤷♀️😘 The good news is that I use the heck out of all of those. But I’m not allowing myself anymore. So right now, if I love it, I can take a picture of it & move on. So now I’m a hoarder of pics 😂
Travel cubes are dumb! you can just roll your stuff up small and stuff them in things like hats, and shoes. wrap your shoes in recycled grocery store bags to keep your clothes clean. We are just a society of over consumers!
7/28/21...I use regular kitchen Ziplock baggies...various sizes. My toothpaste/toothbrush/mini sample of Listerine/floss go in a small baggie. My brush/comb/mini shampoo /mini conditioner/ small gel/small travel hair spray in plastic container so NO aerosol in another baggie. Makeup in another. Vitamins + Rxs in another baggie BUT I make sure I have some vitamins & Rxs in my purse as well. Sometimes undies in another larger baggie. AND ALWAYS EXTRA LARGE TRASH BAG FOR DIRTY CLOTHES. AND LARGE BAGGIE FOR WET 👙 SWIMSUIT. ALSO BAGGIE TO KEEP SHOES AWAY FROM CLOTHING.
Yep had to have Starz for Season 4 of Outlander...watched it in a week and didn't cancel for 6 months and didn't watch anything else. Boy did I feel dumb...$60 to watch one season of a show. I got packing cubes to backpack through Switzerland. They are awesome for a backpack...but haven't used them since. Ziplocks probably would have worked. We are living and learning. We got a golden doodle 4 years ago and when hubby and I were discussing getting him, hubby said, "I'll agree as long as you promise to never put him in a dog costume" 😂 Saved us money!
Don't travel much either but the packing cubes have proven to be a great buy. I fit 2 weeks of cloths in a carryon because of carefully chosen packing cubes. They pay for themselves if you can avoid bag fees, even if you only use then once a year.
I bought a planner for budgeting and so far I am using it. All the pages on this Erin Condred is going to be used even if takes 19 months.😜😜🙋🏻♀️🙋🏻♀️🙋🏻♀️
Our Samsung dishwasher is down for the 2nd time in 5 months. We've asked them for a new dishwasher because they'll limp it along until the 1 year warranty runs out.
I think I may have a Pinterest account. I really don't remember. Just not my thing, I guess. I write in my cookbooks. My Gma did as well, as we adapt the recipes for our family. It is a family history of sorts with her handwriting. I have hand written recipes from my mom, Gma and GG Gma. They are precious to me. The glamping version of camping is an RV. Yep, we have one. Wellll, it is our 4th one. Yes, we pay cash. Yes it is our way of relaxing. Ohhhh we have a boat too, so we can spend 12 hours a day trying to get first time skiers up, or teaching the grands how it's done. The best time of our lives. The things I hope I never have to use is a emergency kit, our smoke detectors, our airbags in the vehicles. emergency preps. We live in tornado alley. If you have ever been out of electricity for several days....books, games, candles become important.
O my goodness! Cook books😄 and souvenirs😄....so many of my family members insist on them. But for me, I just try different recipes from pinterest, if I like them, I write them down in a special notebook and refer to them as needed. It's free, and I don't have to store 15 different books for maybe 10 recipes. And souvenirs,🤦♀️ I prefer to take a picture with whomever I am traveling with instead. Now planners, I am a paper writing person so I prefer writing down to do lists by day and appointments. Therefore, I use mine all the time, but I know so many people don't anymore. And in that case, there is no point spending money on them.
Planned obsolescence is a thing. Cheap parts are built in and those parts break earlier. I even heard that computers become slower on purpose even if you maintain them regularly. I also think it's horrible. If you aren't really into biking a Peloton is a crazily expensive clothing hanger. You can get a cheaper / used bike and set it in front of the TV if you want to try. I love my cookbooks, though. But I have a limit and only buy high-quality and artful ones that are beautiful to look at as well.
Our new dishwasher and refrigerator that came with our new construction home went out after 1 1/2 years & 2 years, respectively. Of course after the 1 year manufacturer warranty expired. We hadn’t bought the extended warranty, because we never do - not worth it to us. My husband fixed both appliances himself faster and a lot cheaper than an extended warranty would have cost us.
Buy and replace periodically fire extinguishers but never use because there was, thankfully, no need to. Some OTC meds for colds/flu/allergies that many never got used before expiring, but glad to have them in the house should symptoms hit and could not drive to the store for them. Supplies of band-aids and gauze bandages that fortunately were not needed. I have bought extended warranties on major appliances and have used them all [appliances since the 80s just aren't very good in general] -- multiple times, but have had to fight through them all because getting those retailers or 3rd party insurance companies to honor what you paid $ for is a full time job itself.
Yes to the wipes warmer. I did not purchase it while i was pregnant because you know i felt i didn’t need it. Well, my son was born and screams during diaper changing time. When that cold wet wipes touches his bum bum he hates it. We finally bought one and changed our diaper changing game!
Pregnant ones ask friends co workers relatives ask them what .you really will use! My okder cousins told me what ever, nice,but you dint need it!I did listen! Save the $$ baby diesnt care if his crib is the latest ir not my younger 2 preferred to sleep with mom & Dad same in clothes! My third looked just as cute in hand me downs from the first! I always accepted any & all hand me downs! Curs the cost if clothes & toys!
I have a hard copy of their first cookbook. It's definitely worth the $20 I paid for it several years ago. Tawra and Jill use simple real ingredients to make tasty food inexpensively.
I actually did ride the exercise bike every day, sometimes morning and evening...then I broke my hip. I've tried several times and just can't do it, now. Guess it's time for FB Marketplace? Dog toys...try making them. You literally have throw-a-way stuff around your house that they love. My dog loves for me to give her the cardboard roll from paper towels. Yes, she destroys it, I sweep it up and then throw it away...but, she had fun! Don't do extended warranties and no subscriptions to anything! Good info. 🙂👍
An electrical device that put a low volt to stimulate muscle tone of the face used 2x, still works, but it is in donation box. Too much time, just not vain enough to spend the time and energy
I love my packing cubes. I bought them for a trip to France in 2019 and have used them a few times more since and they are a must if you are going on trips for anything more than a few days.
Still a 2 drawer file cabinet user! I think we place too much trust in technology. Cases in point: the internet goes down. Hard drives crash. SSD drives have a defined life span. Technology expires and cannot be used/supported.
Remember when Sears stood behind their product? Then Sears invented the "extended warranty". Other companies joined the money making bandwagon. Warranties are lost and forgotten. To get repair, your cost of sending item back costs as much as a new item. I believe it is on purpose.
I bought an extended warranty on an ipad I use to have my son dropped and broke the screen. They replaced it with no charge. Baby stuff is so overrated I had so much stuff I ended up reselling most of it all I need were diapers a pack and play and some clothes. At one of my showers my sister had bought 36 pieces of clothes for one child! I live in a small house with no room.
I got the extended warranty on headphones for my boys when they were younger. They were totally worth it. Each headset costs approximately 100 to $200 and the price of the warranty was $10 or less. Kids are never easy on electronics, even when they take care of them. Hence every headset I always got to replacement by the time the warranty finished (approx 2 yrs). So two headsets for the price of one. Now both boys are working and can buy their own headphones, I don't care how they treat them. 😉
There are always going to be exceptions....I bought a souvenir mini leather sandal key chain in 1978 & I've used it ever since. The only time we've ever bought policy (can't think of the right term for it ! Argh!) for something we bought was a used car. Within a few weeks, we were on a trip when our car ran out of oil which ruined the engine. The oil light didn't work to alert us. Thank goodness for that policy because it paid for a new engine. But ! That is the ONLY time we've ever bought one & only time we ever will. We pass 'em up .
Meanwhile, I'm want new speakers for my pc so I don't have to wear headphones, but I keep arguing with myself. You need to take a break from watching things if your headphones start hurting you.
@@THEJENNIFERCOOK I've tried the last two you've done and they never showed. I usually try to wait a day or two, and check again. Thank you! I just love your videos and they are my favorites!
