Packing hell!

If there is one, I am in it.  From eye-balling all the stuff I had laid out to pack today, I thought I was fine.  Easy, coasting.

Wrong.

Both of my bags are STUFFED, one's overweight (Virgin's new economy limits...I guess I'll just bite the bullet and pay the $35, but it's also dangerously near the upper limit of that as well!), and I still have a few more things to go (toiletry bag and a couple shirts that are drying).     This is extremely frustrating, as every time I take something out, it's a really difficult decision, as I won't see that garment for at least a year!  My problem is I have lots of jackets (look good on my body type and perfect for London weather), which is fine but those suckers are HEAVY.

Just needed to vent.  Why do clothes have to weigh so much???

maybe....take out a few of the jackets and then have your parents ship them to you on the medium-fast boat (as opposed to the slow boat)?  I know that there's no way I'm taking my winter coat with me (way too bulky, heavy and big) but I'm probably not coming home for Christmas so my parents will probably just ship it to me as soon as I leave and I'll get it hopefully before it starts getting too too cold.

My goal was not to ship anything (other than my books, which are already in transit).

After recruiting my mom (who's an expert as these sort of things), it's all sorted, packed, and within weight restrictions.  Phew.  A few things came out, but nothing major & I can FINALLY sleep tonight .

So, here's a dumb question.  For economy purposes, I really don't want to ship anything.  And since my soon-to-be-hubby has promised to only bring over 1 suitcase, I get 3 when we go back.  So, I need to get everything in 3 suitcases.  I'm wondering what the best way to pack is?  Rolling clothes or folding them?  Mixing books, etc. with clothes or clothes in one bag other items in another?  I'm not taking much, obviously, but I'd like to get the most I can and I'm not the greatest packer!  Thanks!

I usually roll my clothes rather than fold them.  Pack things like socks inside your shoes.  (Sometimes I put jewelery inside my socks inside my shoes.)  If you're packing many books (or other heavy, dense items), spread them out and divide them between suitcases.  Books all in a pile will look suspicious when they x-ray your luggage, AND if they're all in one suitcase that case is very likely to end up over the weight limit.  Be sure to put ANYTHING that might leak in a ziploc bag and seal it securely.  Nothing like shampoo exploded all over a wool coat or suede shoes!   Also, be sure and check the TSA website for prohibited items.  Make sure that things not allowed in your carry-on are placed in your checked baggage before you get to the airport.  Don't want to have to leave your Leatherman behind because you forgot to move it to your suitcase!

I'm sure there are some good websites out there with packing tips...

Definitely roll clothes.  I only took a few books with me, shipped most of them ahead of time in an M Bag. 

Fantastic!  Thanks!  I only have about half a dozen books, mostly paperbacks, that I love to read over and over.  The big issue is the photo albums and cookbooks.  I already bought those great ziploc gallon bags with the actual zipper tab for shampoos and the like.  I'm hoping to do it in three, but I figure it'll be cheaper to pay to bring a fourth suitcase than to ship it!  But still, the goal is three!  Thanks for the tips!

Honestly, my problem wasn't with fitting everything into my suitcases (I guess I've done the transatlantic journey too many times), but getting them to be LIGHT enough.  Ie, I'm TOO good of a packer.  Cramming socks/undies into shoes, rolling clothes, utilizing every single crevace...

Here's a packing tip for you:

Several years ago, someone on my flight was shipping seafood, and the ice melted, the liquid leaked, and my bags and items were soaked with fishy-water.  Several tiems were unable to be cleaned, and the luggage (soft-side) was also ruined.

I think that now, with the liquid/carry-on restrictions, problems like those might be more frequent -- people will be shoving all sorts of things into their checked luggage.

So, when I moved over here in August, I bought those new massive Ziploc bags (30 gallon?), and using two per suitcase, I put everything in them, then sealed them and zipped up the luggage.  I did NOT want my suede jacket, good shoes, etc, ruined with someone's bottle of shampoo, mouthwash or perfume exploding and leaking into my stuff.  The worst that happens is that my luggage itself is ruined, but not my stuff.

Here's a packing tip for you:

Several years ago, someone on my flight was shipping seafood, and the ice melted, the liquid leaked, and my bags and items were soaked with fishy-water.  Several tiems were unable to be cleaned, and the luggage (soft-side) was also ruined.

I think that now, with the liquid/carry-on restrictions, problems like those might be more frequent -- people will be shoving all sorts of things into their checked luggage.

So, when I moved over here in August, I bought those new massive Ziploc bags (30 gallon?), and using two per suitcase, I put everything in them, then sealed them and zipped up the luggage.  I did NOT want my suede jacket, good shoes, etc, ruined with someone's bottle of shampoo, mouthwash or perfume exploding and leaking into my stuff.  The worst that happens is that my luggage itself is ruined, but not my stuff.

That's really good advice. I also have taken smaller ziplock baggies and put items like underwear and socks in, and then pushed all the air I possibly could out of them. I was about to pack three times as much in my bag by reducing things like bulky sweaters. You may only be able to get one sweater in a freezer-sized bag, but it definitely makes everything smaller so you can pack more.

Although, this may make the bag heavier, too!