This is the super fancy Windows Phone 7. Behold!
Ooo. Shiny.
The idea behind the phone is that you can do all kinds of stuff with it, so you don’t have to carry so many gadgets around to stay on top of your life. As you know from the Packing Light series, I’m all about doing more with less, specifically only what you can fit in a carry-on and a backpack
Lots of you have asked me what I pack in my backpack while I’m on the road. All of my electronics go in there, so here’s my list of what’s in my “personal item” bag when I’m boarding a plane.
Digital SLR with 50mm 1:1:4 lens
Camera battery charger
Phone charger
Earbuds
Laptop charger
Laptop
Magazine
Moleskine journal
Pens that won’t explode in flight
A hard case for my glasses
A small purse that contains:
-my wallet
-keys
-phone
-and a mesh zip bag with:
+Waleda hand cream
+Burt’s Bees lip balm
+Lipstick
+Eye drops
Comfort kit with
-snacks
-teabags
-a sleeping mask
-earplugs
-an inflatable neck pillow with knit cover
How about you? What’s your bare minimum of what you need to be comfortable when you’re traveling, or working, or just getting ready in the morning? What are your tricks for doing more with less in your life?
I’m giving away one Windows Phone 7, which is worth about $500, plus all this good stuff:
-A one year XBOX Live Gold membership
-A three month unlimited Zune Pass — which lets you download and stream unlimited music and keep 30 songs forever and ever.
– A T-Mobile SIM, active until November 30. (If you’re already a T-Mobile subscriber, you can also use your existing SIM.)
To enter, all you have to do is leave a tip in comments about how you’re doing more with less. You can enter once a day, but you’ll need to cough up a new and improved tip every time you comment. I assume this helps ensure that you are not a robot. Not that I have anything against robots.
Now for the fine print. The contest is open until November 29, and as usual I’ll pick a winner using random.org. I’ll email the winner, and once he or she emails me back, I’ll announce who it was on Mighty Girl. Sound good? Great. The crazy detailed details are here, as are the bazillion (or so) other sites where you can go to enter for another chance to win the phone. I encourage you to do so.
This giveaway was brought to you by the new Windows Phone 7. Less MIA. More PTA: Learn about Windows Phone online and see it in person at local T-Mobile stores today.
http://thirdparty.fmpub.net/placement/370528?fleur_de_sel=%5Btimestamp%5D
Mighty Girl 
This is something I am really trying to work on, so I will be reading each and every one of these comments. I usually travel with a gaggle of crap so I love your list. I used to fly with at least one book and a minimum of 3 magazines…so I just purchased a kindle to try and reduce that crap.
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To travel: I need a pair of warm fuzzy socks (my feet run very cold!), trashy celebrity magazine (which I only allow myself to read when on airplanes), and a book.
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My carry on always has a book, bag of nuts and dried fruit, my cell phone and phone charger, a change of clothes, and my toothbrush. That’s it baby.
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I recently tried to make all my toiletries and cosmetics as healthy for me as possible. Unfortunately, event the organic/herbal/hippy-dippy/whole-paycheck stuff has chemical products you don’t really want around you, so I am definitely doing more with less now. One face wash, sunscreen, lotion, shampoo and condition. The only hair product that had previously for my fine hair was mousse, but it’s really hard to find a propellant that is chemical free, so now when it comes to my hair routine I really am doing more with nothing. I have an extra fifteen minutes in the morning to pack a lunch and cuddle with the cat, and my hair looks petty much the same.
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I was laid off in May, so my hubby and I have cut back on our expenses. The biggest difference is we traded in our newer, fancier cars (with big car payments) for two older, cheaper cars with one smallish car payment. We don’t miss the fancier cars and we certainly don’t miss the car payments.
Also, I’ve been shopping almost exclusively at consignment shops and second hand stores and have made out like a bandit! Plus, when I get tired of the clothes after a couple of months – no guilt!
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Specifically when traveling, I’ve been a chronic overpacker. So recently I’ve been challenging myself to bring less by choosing smaller bags. I only get to bring one book with me, and have to be a lot more careful picking clothes. But I haven’t ever felt underprepared, just less weighed down!
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Moving to a 250-square-foot apartment was a fantastic lesson for me in doing more with less. It’s really, truly amazing how much crap we accumulate because we think we “need” it, when really we don’t!
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My boyfriend and I are doing without a car thanks to the a combo of bikes and Zipcar we are accomplishing it. This means when we pay for a zipcar we make the outings count. We plan ahead with a list and a route. Without instant access to a car we never go on random shopping outings which means we don’t waste time and money.
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I am getting a jump on my NY resolution and getting rid of ‘stuff’ that I don’t need or use anymore, hence truly valuing the things that mean the most to me.
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These comments are so helpful! I love simplifying! My husband and I are strict budget-ers but we seem to always be going over just a little bit in one area each month, which starts to add up! So, we switched to using cash, and let me tell you it really makes me stop and think before picking up a pack of gum or a magazine. Not that I don’t ever get treats every now and then, but not every single time like I once did. It’s been surprisingly stress relieving.
Stephanie ~ try 100percentpure cosmetics. I recently went on a chemical free cosmetic quest and this line is almost edible it seems! I use all their products: make-up and body. They are amazing!
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We are doing a toy exchange this year with our church for Christmas for the children. Clean out closets of forgotten (new) gifts of years past and trade with other families!
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Travel: Wet wipes. Usually unscented make up remover kind because they work for everything including your face.
Simplifying: Do not buy a car if you have to get a loan. With two new drivers in the family, we’ve added one more used car this past year. And, experiences over things for our random spending.
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As a retired Flight Attendant, I had to fly a lot and would stock up on awesome magazines and only read them during a flight. They are disappearing, those wonderful magazines, but many are still being published and are sanity savers!!
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I research any new purchase within an inch of its life until I am sure, sure, sure it is the best choice for me and what will give me the most bang for my buck. That way, I’m not replacing gadgets or electronics all the time. I’m looking at you PC…whoops! Did I just say that on a windows giveaway?
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I’m using my slow cooker to cook dried beans rather than buying them from a can. They taste better, are a heck of a lot cheaper, and really don’t take that much work! I don’t even soak them before hand. I freeze them in 2 cup increments and they defrost quickly in warm water.
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My organization has been having layoffs so lately I’ve been watching every penny. Cooking at home is my biggest tip for doing more with less, especially soups, which can last multiple days.
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We moved this year and suddenly had a lot more space to decorate and an abbreviated budget to do so with….one word–goodwill. I’ve got so used to finding cool stuff, I don’t think I’ll ever go back to paying retail. Plus, it’s unique–I’ve found handcrafted stuff, vintage stuff….I just bring it back, lysol it and we’re good to go.
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A longer, flowy wrap cardigan or a brightly colored pashmina is my necessary item… you can never tell how warm or cold you’ll be while traveling (especially on a plane). Either of these can be worn over your shoulders, like a blanket, or balled up like a pillow. After the commuting part of your travels is over, it’s a versatile accessory.
Plus they’re way more chic than a travel pillow.
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Before I walk out the door every morning, I make sure my bag has:
1) My computer
2) My 2 small moleskines (one for notes, one is a planner)
3) Pens
4) My makeup/mini emergency kit (which has lip gloss, makeup, advil, tummy meds, hand creme)
5) Wallet
6) Keys
7) Phone
8) Cigarettes (because I’m a bad person)
9) A folder with my notes on all my current projects.
On a good day I’ve managed to leave these all within reach of the bag they go into, and then I return them to their places right inside my front door upon arriving home. Do I feel a bit like Mr. Rogers for having a fixed routine upon entering my place? Yes. Do I lose my keys and phone as often as I used to? No.
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I’ve recently decided to learn how to make more food from scratch because I’m making do with a decreased income. Last night I made cranberry almond and maple pecan scones–before that it was homemade ravioli and before that was bread, all sorts. I’ve noticed that if I put in the time and energy into making a certain food, it not only tastes better but I’m also more motivated to eat it all rather than forgetting it’s in the back of the fridge until it begins to stink.
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My carry-on has to have my DSLR, laptop, sunglasses and hard case, lotion, phone and earbuds, something to read, wallet with ID, credit card and money, separate wallet with lipbalms and pens, and, assuming I plan ahead, a toothbrush. I do love to brush my teeth upon landing. Oh, and also snacks. I get cranky when I get hungry.
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We downsized to one car. It’s been totally worth it – we save a ton on insurance and maintenance costs and we spend more time together running errands!
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With a new baby, school and a part time job, I have less time for me than ever before. I love to read, but it’s hard to get a moment with a book these days. To compromise, I’ve been listening to stories on CD in the car, when I take my daughter to daycare or on my way to campus. She and I are both being read to and we get a lot out of our time together. Though she’s young, I like to think that she’s enjoying the story as much as I am. We recently listened to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Hopefully I’m not scaring her to death. 🙂
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My carryon includes
1 book,
1 diary,
my phone,
passport,
wallet,
ipod shuffle,
2 pens,
2-3 facewipes in a small plastic baggie,
an eyeliner,
an eyemask,
a small deodorant &
spare underpants (most of my flying is NY to Dublin, Ireland, and you feel pretty gross afterwards).
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my iphone has replaced having to carry phone, ipod, book, point and shoot camera, etc. And I always keep a couple tubes of lip balm.
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After a year of dealing with a small case of bat bugs (think ‘bed bug’s less evil twin brother’), I am all about living with less. I have pared my clothes down to the bare minimum, and am getting rid of things left and right.
My favorite is how I cleared out all the many lotions, ointments and junk that had been accumulating in my bathroom cupboard, and now have everything I use in one little plastic tub. Lotion, deodorant, eye pencil, hairspray, toothbrush, toothpaste – done. It’s bliss.
(I could go on and on about this, and I just might. One comment a day, eh?)
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I refuse to check a bag and have done 10 day cruise (including dressy clothes) in a carryon. Crossword puzzle book and pen in that bag and you are good for entertainment…except for dark sunglasses so you don’t get caught when your entertainment is people watching!
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My travel list always must include something to add to water to make it taste better. I am a freak about water taste but I like having to buy bottled water EVERYWHERE.
I have switched to cheap shampoo and face cleanser as a way to do more with less money. It all goes down the drain anyway right?
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I do more with less when I travel to Europe by bringing two or three pairs of travel undies (underwear made of lightweight, easy wash, quick dry material) and wash in the sink rather than pack a pair for every day.
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I am moving to New York in two days and in the past two months I’ve managed to downsize everything I owned a 1300+ square foot home to fit my 400 square foot apartment. Reminding myself that it’s just stuff helped. Once I got into that mindset, getting rid of the majority of my stuff was not at all difficult.
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To do more with less, I am using all the thousands of travel shampoos I have collected over the past few years. I will use them all before I buy a new bottle of shampoo!
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To do more for less I’ve been bringing a bagged lunch to work 3 – 4 times a week. This not only saves me a minimum of $30 a week — it also helps my waistline — since I tend to eat healthier when I’m not grabbing lunch at a restaurant or fast food through a drive-thru.
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due to several personal mistakes, as well as circumstances beyond my control, about 95% of my belongings have been in storage for 4 years now. In the past two years, I’ve culled about 50% of that – selling some things when I’ve needed cash, but mostly realizing that with the exception of sentimental items (to be differentiated from “junk I’ve always had”), artwork and a few household items, everything is replaceable and most likely unneeded. I’m looking forward to unpacking at my next destination, and getting rid of boxes – and more stuff! It’s really liberating to not have so much STUFF weighing me down.
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I am a total maximalist. It is horrifying. However, I am trying to do more with less by using my public library, and the public library is genius. The best thing about it is that I can renew my books online and also I can reserve books (I know! it’s awesome!). Then, the library’s robot sends me an e-mail to say my book is waiting for me. Also, that robot gives me a heads up about my almost-overdue items. So I can renew them. ONLINE!
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Nuts! Really, I always carry almonds, hazelnuts, peanuts. It cuts down on snacking on much less healthy options, even if I’m just traveling across town.
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Trying to live more simply, but it’s hard with 2 little ones. When I travel, it’s with them so there is nothing simple about my carry on!
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I lived in an apartment for a year that is smaller than most hotel rooms I stay in. That is doing more with less I’d say.
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I was laid off late last year and went into panic mode right away, thinking of all of the things I’d need to cut out of my life. Instead, it’s been sort of amazing to figure what I “need” to be content and balanced. I go to the library for my books, I, um, “borrow” my music online, I shop at thrift stores more regularly than I ever have and I’m cooking more whole foods, more often. Talk about a blessing in disguise…
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Since the TSA apparently can’t scan liquids through anything but a ziplock bag, I’ve ditched my cutesy toiletry bags altogether. Not that I’m happy about it, but it does somewhat reduce packing weight and bulk.
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I used to drag all my camera equipment with me to capture everything about my kids but then I realized that I was too laden with stuff to actually stop and enjoy time with them. Now my new rule is I go completely hands free. Well, not completely hands free: instead of camera and lens, now I’m holding dolls and baseballs and water guns and it feels a world lighter.
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For my toiletry bag, I purchased one ounce squeeze bottles from REI. I can put whatever I want in them (shampoo, conditioner, face moisturizer, hair creme, etc.) and more “getting ready things” fit inside my liquids only bag for carry on.
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I travel to San Francisco about 5 times a year, and I’ve adopted your everything in a carryon tactic. It’s been hard, because sometimes I’m there for two weeks at a time, but I’m saving tons of money on checked bags. Because I always stay with the same friends, I’ve just started storing a set of toiletries/makeup under the sink at their house so I don’t have to pack any of that stuff, and I recently purchased a Kindle, so that I can stop carrying 3 or 4 books with me.
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As a college student I have about 3 million different purses and backpacks that I use depending on where I’m going and for what purpose (i.e. going to class to sleep, going to class to actually take notes, going to the bars with my friends, etc). So I keep little make-up bag with the following:
-a card holder with my ID, CC and $10 cash
-2 pens (the kind that I really like)
-earbuds
-chapstick
-a spare house key
Whenever I pick up a bag, I just grab that little makeup bag and my phone and I’m ready to go (even if I forget my keys!) (Which happens a lot!)
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For going out: I love to use websites that offer discounts for local restaurants, shows, etc.
Rewards points: This month, I cashed in points for a $35 Target gift card & a $10 grocery store gift card. Yay!
Downsizing: I moved from a 3 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath condo to sharing a very small room with a roommate to having my own very small room in a back house. The only furniture I still own is a twin-sized bed, a television, & some shelving units from Taret & IKEA. I love the idea that if I want to pick up and go, I have very little holding me back from doing just that.
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I previously carried around a Palm Pilot, a GPS for car rental, an Archos music player for my music library and a cell phone. I’ve reduced this all down to one device, an iPhone G4 that I can charge by connecting to my laptop.
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I’m learning to sew! It’s helping me fill my desire for new shiny things without the budget. I kind of suck, but I do enjoy it.
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Dry Shampoo (make the most of my hair washing). I’d be lost without it!
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Donate, donate, donate!
I have been throwing at least 10 things into a trash bag every weekend and bringing it to Sal Army to help other people. Toys, clothes, kitchen stuff, clutter to me may be a treasure to someone else.
Once you start with 10, it’s easy to keep on going.
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I donated or gave away over half my wardrobe in the last month and haven’t noticed a thing except the wonderful roominess of my closet.
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I loved all these comments, especially Courtney’s about the hotel shampoos.
I live in a TINY apartment in Seoul which helps me to not buy new things. To decorate the apartment, I took cuttings of a plant I had and grow them hydroponically in cute jars.
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