Packing for trips from short vacations to long drawn out excursions can be a stressful time. Many find themselves frantically throwing things into a suitcase a few minutes before leaving for the airport. In the past, it used to not matter just how big of suitcase it was because many airlines offered the first checked bag for free.

With airlines everywhere doing away with first-bag flies free policies, checking bags is getting more and more expensive. Hefty fees meet you at airports if you’re thinking of stowing a bag underneath or if your bag is overweight. It is becoming more and more important financially to learn to keep your belongings in check and fit everything into a carry-on size bag.

Not only does packing into a carry-on save you financially, it also saves you stress. It is easy to assume that every traveler has packed something that they didn’t end up using on their trip. Lugging around extra weight and having to unpack and repack excess items just adds unwanted stress to your supposed relaxing vacation.

For these reasons and many others, use these tips to pack your life into a carry-on and alleviate the stress and burden that comes with overpacking.

Weather

First and foremost, research the weather in your destination. Don’t bring three pairs of jeans if you’re traveling to a tropical island. Same goes for bringing shorts or short dresses on a winter excursion. If it is the dry season where you’re heading you can skip that clunky rain jacket and extra sweater.

By paying attention to the weather you can easily leave home pieces that would have gone unused anyways.

Toiletries

Toiletries add up quickly when packing for a trip. Not only is it important to keep toiletries in check for security regulations on planes, but it is also important for piece of mind. Leave your liquid shampoos and conditioners and fancy face oils at home. You can find any basic toiletry pretty much anywhere in the world, and hotels typically have most of the necessities. Not only do you save space, and hassle at the airport security lines,  you also save on stress that can arise when a liquid explodes in your suitcase ruining half your wardrobe for the week.

Layers

Layers are your best friend on vacations. Even in the hottest of climates, restaurants will probably have their air conditioning on full blast thus requiring a slightly warmer layer. Instead of bringing separate pieces for different climates, pack layering articles that can be mix and matched in a variety of ways.

Practical Items

On the same note as layering, bring pieces that are practical. Leave your 12 pairs of heels at home, or a frilly vest that is only worn on select instances. Weird and quirky pieces that you only wear once in a while at home, are probably not the best things to bring on vacation. Pack comfortable, multi-functional clothes and your vacation is sure to be stress-free.