We have several things we always bring when we travel. They’re not very large, and we don’t need them every trip, but we’re very glad we have them when we do. By this point, we don’t even bother to take them out of the suitcases when we unpack, because if we did, there’s a chance we’d forget to put them back. The best thing about these items is they all cost under $10 each and you might already have some of them in your own home.
Chip Clip
Have you ever stayed in a hotel where the window curtains have a 1/2-inch space that stays open? No matter what you do or how you pull the two sides together, some light always gets through. I find it amazing how that narrow sliver always lines up exactly so the light source outside the room shines directly where you rest your head when you’re lying in bed.
(Our reader Eric P. doesn’t bother with a chip clip – he says if the pants hanger in the hotel room’s closet has alligator-style clips on it, he just uses that).
Nightlight
When you’re sharing a room, the last thing you want to do at night is wake them up by turning on the lights so you can go to the bathroom. Previously, we’d leave the bathroom light on and slightly crack the door so we could see our way. However, this caused problems of having to regulate the light levels before we went to bed and caused conversations like this one:
“Too Bright!”
(move door by 1/64 inch)
“Too Dark!”
(Yes, we really used to do that)
We bought this 2-pack nightlight set on Amazon for less than $10 (Joe has one and I have one) and it’s worked like a charm. It has just enough light so you can see where you’re going and what you’re doing without being too bright or too dark.
If you’re on a cruise and are in a cabin with a head (bathroom) without electrical plugs, you can also get a USB-powered nightlight, which works just as well.
Flashlight
This is a Sharon addition to the list. Joe never would have thought of bringing a flashlight, but it’s so easy to throw one in the bag, and you never know when you’ll need it.
A small, simple LED flashlight is cheap and lasts for years.
Nail Clippers
I don’t know what it is about going away that makes my fingernails split and my cuticles peel. It just automatically happens, and I’m horrible about remembering to bring my clippers with me. I’ve purchased four or five of them on different trips, so I’ve started keeping a pair with my luggage, and that way, I won’t end up forgetting them (wait for it) again.
Even if you splurge for the fancy Revlon ones, as I did, it’ll still only set you back less than $10 at Walgreens.
Phone Charger
There’s nothing worse than leaving your phone charger at home. You probably have an extra one lying around so go and put it in your suitcase right now, I’ll wait.
You might want to spend a few more bucks on this one, but as I said in the article, the items were under $10, and I’m sticking to that. If you have another brand of phone, well, you’re on your own ;-).
Flushable Wipes
Here’s where the post can get into the TMI (Too Much Information) area really fast. I’ll just say that if your hotel has toilet paper that was sandpaper in a previous life or if eating away from home has caused you to develop some digestive issues (either way), these can save your ………. you know.
A pack of “on-the-go” wet wipes is much, much less than $10.
Of course, DON’T flush flushable wipes in places where you shouldn’t – cruise ships, places with signs that say to only flush toilet paper, etc. That’s where one of these little doohickeys is a lifesaver (even though it costs more than $10).
Stuff to Clean Your Clothes
If you’re not going to do a full load of laundry, you may want to get some packets of detergent made specifically for hand washing in your sink.
Amazon sells these for way less than $10 for a pack of 6. Thanks to Lisa H. for the idea!
So there you have it. Some of the items we bring with us every time we travel, each of them costing under $10. Do you have any things that you think we should add to the list?
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2 comments
Good list! You can get most of the things even cheaper at a dollar store (except the phone charger – I agree that you should probably spend more for a proper one).
And you probably want to edit your notes about flushable wipes. You should NEVER flush them. They clog the pipes and/or cause problems downline. It’s even worse if you flush them where the municipal sewage system is old. Get decent wet wipes instead, since you have to put them in a trash can anyway.
Agree with the previous comment – much of this can be from a dollar store (speaking from experience). Also, I would suggest a clothes pin instead of a bag clip – much smaller and still gets the job done.