Essentials ?

Essentials for me would definitely be things to make Mexican food with--mainly chile verde sauce in a can, for easy green chile enchiladas and burritos. I have yet to find that, all I can find is Old El Paso in Morrison's, and it tastes *alright* but not quite the same 

Thankfully I haven't had problems finding tampons/pads here in the UK; I use pads generally (it's what I was raised on, and it's the most comfortable for me IMHO) and Tesco has the name brand stuff I use here in the US (without divulging too much info, I stick with the brands I know--my body doesn't really like new stuff ). And I actually don't mind English peanut butter, even though I've heard horror stories

So yeah, stuff for Mexican food if that's your deal, maybe stock up on some clothes (I find I have cheaper and more varied options here in the US). Definitely OTC stuff like Tylenol (or PM) and stuff--nothing makes me sadder than only being able to buy one tiny box of paracetamol and only tiny box of ibuprofen, like I'm gonna overdose on the stuff and need to be protected

THIS!!! I went to the store to buy stuff to make a mexican dinner for DF and his parents and wasn't able to get anything I needed so no mexican meal was had. I'm going to Costco tonight to stock up on some stuff like this and to get the mega bottle of A1 because the "steak sauce" there was disgusting.

Thanks everyone! I went to costco and got garlic salt, taco seasoning, A1, a big bottle of Makers for DF, and cornbread mix!!!

THIS!!! I went to the store to buy stuff to make a mexican dinner for DF and his parents and wasn't able to get anything I needed so no mexican meal was had. I'm going to Costco tonight to stock up on some stuff like this and to get the mega bottle of A1 because the "steak sauce" there was disgusting.

Yeah, all I was able to really find was refried beans, so I was a bit dissapointed They also had those taco/enchilada kits, but I'm not always fond of all the extras they add into those things, my mom got me into the habit of making tacos from scratch, and only cooking the meat with some garlic (not all the flavorings I find in stuff like Old El Paso). I heard a rumor of a Mexican restaurant somewhere in Rugby, but I value my digestive system too much to try it 

Yeah, all I was able to really find was refried beans, so I was a bit dissapointed They also had those taco/enchilada kits, but I'm not always fond of all the extras they add into those things, my mom got me into the habit of making tacos from scratch, and only cooking the meat with some garlic (not all the flavorings I find in stuff like Old El Paso). I heard a rumor of a Mexican restaurant somewhere in Rugby, but I value my digestive system too much to try it 

The one "mexican" place I went to was a total joke. I also went and bought a bunch of stuff at our local Mercado today to ship over ahead of time. I'm lucky that I have friends and family who are willing to send more rations after I'm out of mine lol.

The one "mexican" place I went to was a total joke. I also went and bought a bunch of stuff at our local Mercado today to ship over ahead of time. I'm lucky that I have friends and family who are willing to send more rations after I'm out of mine lol.

Hehe, my mom is offering to send me supplies while I'm in the UK, like big packs of tortillas you can get at Costco, because I go through so many of them, and proper salsa (haven't really found it yet in the UK, but I'll keep looking). My fiance *hates* Mexican food, so it's no real loss to him, but I'll be laughing when he visits in May because we don't have any decent Indian food here

After reading this thread yesterday I ordered those vaccum seal bags, to pack up blankets, jackets, etc when I move...

That led into me remembering I wanted to order the "shoes under" product (shoe storage for under your bed), since it's also an "only seen on TV product"...so I ordered 3 of those and didn't realize they were buy 1 get 1 free, so I actually ordered 6! 

At least I will have plenty of storage space for shoes when I move!

I've actually had great luck with the Ziplock XXL bags. They're gigantic and have handles, and if you set something heavy on them (I use a folded up folding table), you can squish out all the air and seal them up and it works just like the vacuum bags. And they're $6 for 3. I LOVE them!

I've actually had great luck with the Ziplock XXL bags. They're gigantic and have handles, and if you set something heavy on them (I use a folded up folding table), you can squish out all the air and seal them up and it works just like the vacuum bags. And they're $6 for 3. I LOVE them!

I wondered about those.  I will have to give them a try, as well.  They are much cheaper than the vaccum seal ones I bought.  Thanks for the idea.

I've actually had great luck with the Ziplock XXL bags. They're gigantic and have handles, and if you set something heavy on them (I use a folded up folding table), you can squish out all the air and seal them up and it works just like the vacuum bags. And they're $6 for 3. I LOVE them!

Seconded.  I used those to pack my clothes in when I moved, they are great!

My mom brought some called Space Bags that are excellent!

I want a vacuum bag because I'll be using them for moving and storage of clothes that my middle child will grow into, so need something more permanent than a Ziploc.

But there's the other essential:  Ziplocs in a variety of sizes! 

I've actually had great luck with the Ziplock XXL bags. They're gigantic and have handles, and if you set something heavy on them (I use a folded up folding table), you can squish out all the air and seal them up and it works just like the vacuum bags. And they're $6 for 3. I LOVE them!

Yeah, I've used those too.  We didn't have a vacuum with the hose attachment so it made just as much sense to use those and squish out the air yourself.

Another fan here of Ziplock bags and Spacebags too.

Both can squish and "de-volumize" your stuff really well. I got a lot of different size Ziplocks for the small stuff, and I brought my feather comforter and magic-gel pillows over in a suitcase by vacuuming them into Spacebags.

It was incredible how thin the bedding got and took up little space in the suitcase, although the weight was surprisingly impressive too...!

If you get the ziploc bags and have a vacume hose...

Just seal the bag almost all the way, sneak the hose inside the last part of open space and turn the vacume on, once it's all sucked out just sneak the hose out and seal the bag really quick. I did this and it worked like a charm.

Thanks for the tips! My sister sent me a huge package with some of those GIANT ziploc bags, I might use them to pack some of my sons clothes away in the attic!

My sister was still hanging on to 100 large Space Bags and 50 mediums from their move 2 years ago.

She said, 'Oh, I kept meaning to Ebay these.'

She's going to give them to me in exchange for some No. 7 makeup and Garnier products.

Score (and I get an excuse to go across the water to the big Boots, too)!