He who would travel happily must travel light.

– Antoine de Saint Exupéry

Packing for a trip can be stressful. Use these 10 simple packing tips to take control of your luggage so you will be free to enjoy the fun of your trip.

1)      Color your world – but only with two or three coordinating colors. Take two tops for every one bottom and mix and match to create “new” outfits. Pack light weight, quick-dry Use scarves and jewelry to accessorize and 5-7 pieces can last you two weeks easily, just be sure to wash as needed!

2)      Pack it in plastic bags – Pack everything in 2 gallon zip lock bags. You (or TSA) can dump your bag and repack in a flash. Put coordinates and accessories together and each bag holds a complete outfit (or three) that you can see at a glance.

3)      Leave the wrinkles at home – Lay folded shirts on top of pants or skirt then fold pants in thirds around the shirts. Leave a little air in the bag to eliminate creases. Or roll everything and press every bit of air out of the bags. I like to fold, but my master backpacker friends insist that rolling is the best way.

4)      Use space efficiently – Roll fragile items into socks and stuff into shoes, then match shoes against each other. Fill corners and crevices with socks, underwear, and swimsuits. Try to take only two pairs of shoes, one for walking and a sandal for dress. This is the hardest part for shoe lovers, but you’ll be glad to have the extra room and less weight.

5)      Wear your coat – If you need cold weather gear, just wear your coat and keep scarf and gloves in the pockets to save space in your bag. If you need to pack a blazer, fold it in half lengthwise toward the back with shoulders together; fold both arms to the left, then turn the front right side inside-out and wrap around the left side and arms. Take care the collar isn’t crimped and fold in half horizontally with the lining side out. This will eliminate wrinkles, take up less space, and prevent any spots.

6)      Size does matter – For toiletries, use travel sized shampoo and toothpaste and toss them all in one zip lock bag to prevent having sudsy socks upon arrival. You don’t need a 27-ounce bottle of conditioner for a weekend trip, no matter how frizzy your hair gets. Besides, if you carry on your bag, the TSA will confiscate anything that doesn’t meet the 3-1-1 guidelines.

7)      Plan for shopping – If you think you will bring home souvenirs of your trip, don’t pack your bag to the brim before you leave home. Leave some space to bring back those collectible shot glasses and magnets. If you are a real shopaholic, pack a collapsible bag that can be filled and checked on the way home if necessary.

8)      Security issues – Be sure to identify your bag with your name address and phone contact on the outside and especially inside. Use an external tag with a cover or put the information side down to prevent would-be burglars from identifying your empty address as a target while you are away. If you must use locks, be sure they are TSA approved or they will get cut off if your bag is chosen for inspection.

9)      Identification – Personalize your bag by tying something identifiable to the handle so you can distinguish it from the other million identical bags on the carousel. Make a colorful yarn pompom or use a unique luggage tag.

10)   The ultimate packing formula – Pack a good attitude, half the clothes you think you need, and twice the money!