Travel Backpack Pack List and Windows Phone 7 Giveaway

Travel

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

Published

456 thoughts on “Travel Backpack Pack List and Windows Phone 7 Giveaway”

  1. We don’t have a lot of storage in the bathroom, which is super helpful when it comes to keeping toiletries pared down. Everything that goes into our medicine cabinet is stuff we use on a daily basis. In the morning, everything I need is right in front of me in its own special place–no digging in drawers through twelve tubes of half-used mascara. 🙂

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  2. I could hug the person who said to start with 10 things to donate. I can do that! The people at the thrift store are going to be my new bufddies!

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  3. We’re working on using the things we already have stocked in our pantry and freezer to make meals, rather than constantly buying new things.

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  4. I’m learning to sew. I’ve made pillow covers, several gifts for friends and family, a robe for my 3 year old son, and all sorts of things that have cost way less than buying them from a retail store. I feel more self-sufficient and I’ve saved money. Thank goodness for all the crafty ladies that post their ideas and tutorials online for me to try!

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  5. I live with 2 people and 2 cats in a 600sf 1-bedroom apartment in New York City. It is also my office. Since we can’t afford a bigger place, we reorganized the space we do have to make it feel larger.

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  6. The wife and myself have started eating more meals at home, rather than going out. Being a steak lover, this hasn’t been a big deal since we learned how to make the best steaks ever using a cast iron pan. Best ever.

    Maybe this isn’t the most frugal tip, but Top Ramen only goes so far.

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  8. I’ve been trying to cut down on the amount of cleaning supplies I buy by using vinegar! It has many cleaning uses, and I even use it in place of fabric softner. It works great

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  9. We cook more at home, and save the leftovers for future meals. The kind of fun thing is that this has made us get really creative with the leftovers.

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  10. Having two kids in day care is expensive, ya’ll! So, I found a consignment sale where I can make some money on the clothes my kids have outgrown every season, get some good deals at the sale itself, AND donate to charity at the same time (the sale is run by a church which gives its share of the proceeds to local charities).

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  11. I’m learning to make my own stuff – crocheting tote bags, making stock. I guess it’s doing more with the same stuff amount since the materials don’t decrease in amounts, but it definitely feels like simplifying.

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  12. I find that if I can force myself to carry around less stuff, I’ll be happier all day long. I rarely used all the stuff I used to carry, anyway. I’ve pared down to one lipgloss, a couple of pens, my Moleskine, Blackberry, wallet, pressed powder, sunglasses, keys, and mini sunscreen for everyday carry, and it works great!

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  13. my do more with less strategies are:

    Don’t buy a new car, the old one works just fine and the mechanic seems to lust after it – so it’s probably ok for a few more years.

    Buy things I love on eBay, bright, shiny, happy things – so that I don’t look in my wardrobe in darkest January and gloom that everything is dark and grey and feel the need to buy more.

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  14. it isn’t quite a rule for traveling light, but my key thought when packing (too avoid panic) is that i have medicine, contacts/glasses, ID, and my credit/debit cards…those are essential, anything else i can get if i forget it

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  15. I’m giving most of my books away, either as gifts (if they are nice hardbacks without any evidence of being read–I’m really good at reading w/o cracking the spine), or freecycle, or the library in my building’s laundry room. If I do buy a new book, it’s only on Kindle or I buy used or swap with someone.

    Reasoning? I cut down on personal clutter, save energy/paper/resources, and give back what I don’t need.

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  16. While I LOVE books — the feel and smell of them — I ADORE my Kindle for commuting and travelling. I no longer carry a paperback and a magazine everywhere. As long as I have my kindle, I have unlimited access to books.

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  18. I just had a wedding and I tried to do lots of DIY projects to accommodate my “more for less” motto. I think the personal touches received the most compliments!

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  20. You inspired me to pack light for a 10 day trip to England last year in winter – I managed to pack everything into a carry-on suitcase (with extra room) and a large handbag! I was tickled pink with myself for doing it – and now play a game every time I pack to see how little I can bring with me. I wish I’d been this way back in college when I studied abroad – I literally brought my entire closet with me!

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  21. On mornings that I’m in a rush, I cut my makeup routine down to 4 products–concealer, foundation, eyeliner, and mascara. Lets just say that most of my mornings turn into a less-is-more morning.

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  22. I love books but have nine month old triplets and very little time or money left over after we pay for childcare. Recently, I rediscovered the public library and have been reserving and checking out books like a madwoman. Somehow I manage to eek out a few minutes here and there for my library books and am actually reading more than before they were born.

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  23. For travel: baby wipes are absolutely key. I’ll skip hand sanitizer, face cream, Cetaphil, etc, as long as I have baby wipes. It’s shocking how much cleaner and more refreshed you feel!

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  25. I always, always pack a spare pair of underwear in my carryon. Also if I’m going someplace warm I bring my bathing suit in my carryon. That way if my luggage gets lost I’ve got a backup pair of underpants and i can still go swimming!

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  26. I really need to take some tips from you on packing light. When I travel I usually have in my carry on: at least one book, travel cribbage, at least one small crochet project (usually a doilie or a scarf depending on where we’re traveling), all the do dads that go with crocheting (hooks, scissors, stitch markers, etc.), MP3 player, eye glasses, spare contacts, contact cleaner, some kind of snack, and my purse with all my regular day to day junk. Let me tell you, this bag can weigh a ton sometimes.

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  27. I finally found myself a good list of basic wardrobe staples that will – hopefully – keep me from throwing away money at big box stores in the future.

    Less money has, for the past few years, meant less stuff. I’m trying to use my money, time and energy more effectively, not just so I’ll have better STUFF, but so I’ll have a better LIFE.

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  28. Doing more with less? I just bought a smaller car and I’m hoping that it does lots more with much less gas!

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  29. I’m currently digging through my closet getting rid of clothes, and scheming ways to get creative with what I keep. If it works out the way I hope it will, I’ll end up with more outfits because less choice will mean I explore different pairings, whereas now I pull out a sweater and immediately reach for the usual pants and shoes.

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  30. For the past four or five Christmases, we’ve exchanged small, simple, or handmade gifts for family and pooled our gift money to support missions, ministries, and children all over the world who can make better use of our excess. Everyone wins.

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  32. My kids go to a school that has a lot of social functions. Instead of each class or school-wide celebration using tons of paper plates, napkins, and plastic utensils, the school invested in melamine plates, sliverware, drinking glasses, and wine glasses. Every time there is a function, the organizers can reserve enough table service for their function. After the function, the dirty dishes are packed back in their tubs and volunteers take home the forks, or the spoons, or the plates to wash in their dishwashers and it is all returned to the school. The school has prevented tons of trash from going into landfills, but just as importantly, has saved tremendous resources that would otherwise go into the creation, packaging, and transporting paper and plastic products. It’s a great program.

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  33. My husband is retiring and we are downsizing. Giving away clothes and household stuff every time “we’ll have a truck in your neighborhood.”
    Need a phone, Thanks Maggie.

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  35. I’ve got my eye on this thing I saw in a recent catalog from The Container store…let’s see if I can score a link because it will be easier than explaining…this http://www.containerstore.com/shop/giftWrapWonderland/stockingStuffers?productId=10028954&N=62523
    in on my idea list for two people in my life – what a great way to keep all kinds of stuff contained and save some space in a laptop bag! All that stuff strapped down in one central location just warms my organizing heart!

    I’m kind of delighted to see that most of the suggestions here are things we’re already doing – we became a one income family almost 13 years ago and we’ve adopted most of these tips over the years.

    We’re planning a trip to Hawaii in 2012, and my goal is to have each of us only have one carry-on and maybe one personal bag.

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  36. I’ve started going crazy and minimizing…giving away most of my kitchen stuff, clothing, etc.- actually trying to cut back 50% first go-round- it’s liberating. As far as traveling? I always have to have a book and stuff for my lips that’s about it. 🙂

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  37. I recently reduced the amount of clothes in my closet by half. I find myself being more brave and creative with my outfits now.

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  38. Unlike many people we know, we have always placed experience over stuff. Our best memories and times include trips to Hawaii, Maine, and London – as a family. Sure I love my iPhone…but now that it has a crack in it and is a bit slow to power up, I’m loathe to go straight to the latest model. Instead, I enjoy a little extra time to remember the family, together, in sand, surf, on top of mountains, and staring in awe at Stonehenge.

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  40. I have similar things in my backpack. I used to also carry my water bottle. Now I purchase a bottle of water when I get through security.

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  41. Doing more with less??? I just recently finished a few volunteer projects. They took a lot of time….a little money. Now that they’re over, it takes no money at all to spend more time with my family! Re-watching favorite movies, visiting the library to share new books, homemade dinners, hiking with the dog. All of these have helped me de-stress with no money at all!!! (unless you count the food we’d buy anyway and the power bill) 🙂

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  43. I cut my own hair! It’s free (minus the cost of sharp scissors) and it means I can trim it as often as I’d like! Honestly, this works better for curly hair, but if you visit a fancy salon every couple of months, you’re spending way WAY too much money!

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  44. I make all of our bread by hand, from scratch. This was a big hairy deal at first; it took a while to learn the proper proportions of ingredients and how and how much to alter them depending on the weather and what’s on hand in the pantry. After a few months, though, I had it down to a science, and now I can even go “off-recipe” and improvise from week to week by adding different seeds, flours, and sweeteners to my loaves. I know we’re saving money this way, but also, we don’t have to worry about all of the nasty additives found in store-bought breads, and we get plenty of nutrition from the whole grains and natural ingredients I use in our homemade bread. And our house smells lovely!

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  45. When you’re traveling, try this: bring a fold away small grocery type tote (Whole foods has one that’s tiny and inexpensive although it doesn’t have a zipper. There’s a cool German brand that sells one with a zip but it’s more.) Put your snacks and any other consumables in there. Add your comfort items (fuzzy socks, ipod, book) and it’s a great little carry on that will arrive at your destination mostly empty so you can use it as a tote for the beach, shopping etc. during your trip.

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  46. When I travel, I always go with more, instead of less. But, I’m trying to pack up to go home for the Thanksgiving Holiday, and for every three things I put into my suitcase, I take out one. It might take me the next four days to finish packing, but I hope that the end result is a lighter suitcase.

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  47. We are downsizing Christmas this year…not out of financial necessity, but because I have finally come to realize we don’t need all this STUFF! Kids and parents are actually much happier with less.

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  48. I have recently ended a 12 year relationship, lost my job and given up my house. I have had to make some huge decisions about “less”. Fewer clothes, fewer pieces of furniture, fewer dollars. my head, it spins. I have found that I am stronger than I thought I was and that grieving for a Kitchen Aid mixer is OK. People understand. In general, though, I have found that I get far more joy out of the things I decided were important enough to hang onto than I ever did when I had “everything”.

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  49. to make more with less ($), i’ve been teaching myself to cook, it’s way more cost effective, healthier, and often tastes better than takeout

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  50. More with Less? I’ve made a list of must have accessories for this year. Instead of purchasing larger clothing items which can be expensive, I’ve just been getting new belts, pins, necklaces, scarfs and jewerly to repurpose my “old” clothes. I have to say it’s way more fun figuring out new ways to wear my old clothes.

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