Opposite Approach - How Not to Buy Excessive Stuff

I wish DH would do even half of that. Last year he came home with two 3 piece spinner luggage sets. Why?, i asked.
Because they have 4 wheels. So? I asked So they won't fall over. And how are those wheels on carpet? Take them downstairs and wheel them around on the carpet Oh, not so easy to push? Now take them over to the neighbour's gravel driveway. What do you mean you had to pull them behind you? By the way, how much do these weigh? What do you mean why?

Yeah, these lovely brand new bags are now relegated to car trips and cruises. The older, lighter 2 wheelers are still what go on long haul flights and international land trips. Thank heaven he hasnt found out about compression bags. Yet.

Haha, love this! I need help in this area, too. I told myself I wasn’t going to buy anything new for my upcoming trip to Paris. But of course I bought a black crossbody bag two days ago.

LOL! My criteria is that it must be lightweight, and that criteria drops out a lot of items. Also, that it needs to be a replacement for something on my current packing list since this list has served many long trips adequately.

that it needs to be a replacement for something on my current packing list since this list has served many long trips adequately.

^^^^THIS, RIGHT THERE!!

Sounds like an EVIL plot to destroy the economy

Need James Bond and Mardee to team up and defeat it

I think the point that sticks out to me, is in reading about all of the travel gadgets, clothing, whatever...I really can't thing of anything in my bag that is not something I use everyday in normal life (well not the cheap plug adapters from Target). My clothes, are what I wear daily, my shoes the ones I wear everyday, I suppose my suitcase I only use when I travel. I oddly do pack a flat top sheet for a bed (I am an avowed duvet hater), and I have a battery pack, but I use that often, not just travel. Ziplocs, but use those daily.

I have ditched so many things, I ask, "do I use this at home? How do I get by?" I also dumped things that were "in case" because those things rarely happen, and if it gets bad, buy it there, or do without. It got to the point that I would force myself to feel sick if I came home and unpacked something I never used.

Hilarious!
“Refuse, reduce, re-use, recycle…..then if all else fails : enable!”

I want to buy new travel bits and pieces, but can’t justify them when I already have perfectly good ones.

I guess another perk of not buying more is that I know how much my pack will weigh. I just packed it this afternoon for an upcoming trip, and it was 13.2 pounds for my back. Last year it was 13.5. Good to go!

Thank you very much for sharing your shopping strategy. It is indeed a smart move to control unnecessary travel goods consumption.

Food and drink are exempt - especially tiny packets of peanut M&Ms and little Debbie nutty bars.
Joe32,
I think the forum in general will rise up to conquer this strategy. I even defeat myself.
… Must Be Strong …

Sounds like an EVIL plot to destroy the economy

Need James Bond and Mardee to team up and defeat it

Hahahahahhaa excellent, Joe !!

And Sun-Baked, I could not have loved your whole post, and especially these lines, any more

Finally, I read negative reviews to dissuade me. Then, I send Rick Steves office my ideas for a bag and wait for RS folks to manufacture it. The last delay really slows down the process.

And Sun-Baked, you know I always love any reference to the peanut M&Ms thread of yore !!

Food and drink are exempt - especially tiny packets of peanut M&Ms

Oh my gosh, I'm laughing out loud at all of this thread. I'm somewhere on the continum, if mardee is a 10 and sun is a one, ima 2.5. This is precisely why I read every one of the packing posts except perhaps ones that have merino wool or pants for men in the title, tho i might skim those to see who is responding.

I have NOT purchased any new luggage since the covid era, ( I've thrifted a couple of tote bags as Daily Carry for a dollar) tho I do look at stuff.l you people recommend.

I'm currently visiting a friend in oklahoma, i drove the first day, left my car in suburban kansas city, and rode greyhound down. I brought a few items along for her, and coffee pods because she inhabits a tea only household, oh the humanity.

However, I have now shopped (clearance Christmas crafts kits that will be gifts for neices) and she gave me a desk top humidifier she was no longer using, and the plan was to buy a new laptop while I was here and have her help me sync the old one to it.....

I have now far exceeded the two medium sized bags I brought with me and I'm wondering why I did not bring a "don't tell rick" bag w me... . But I did bring along the big "electronic cords etc" bag that rick sells. So there is representation

I’m surprised Mardee hasn’t chimed in. Probably plotting her revenge on this post.

Hahahahahahaaha

Doric8, have fun in Oklahoma ! I bet you can find a bag . . .

Sun-Baked, I like your idea. I learned to pass on new luggage and travel bags that I don't need. That's probably from donating half my horse tack and still having enough saddles, bridles and blankets to outfit two very well-dressed horses that I will never own. I think I'm finally past "see it", "want it", "buy it."

Do you shop for your travel wardrobe each trip or when you need (want?) something new?
I was trying to "shop" from my closet. That worked until I needed a rain coat, waterproof shoes, new gray yak cardigan sweater, a pink pullover sweater and blue compression socks for this year's trip. I changed colors from black mix to blue mix. I don't have cool weather clothes anymore. I remember England and Ireland as between cool spring and summer day in Washington and Oregon.

Looks like I'll have to plan a cool weather trip for 2026 so I can wear my new clothes again. I'm thinking Denmark and Sweden with a stop in Iceland. I can fly up to and through Portland to see family and friends.

An easy way to avoid: go on a self-guided bicycle tour where everything you have must fit in the bags attached to the bicycle. It definitely cuts down on the excess.

If I do find something I can't live without I tend to ship it home rather than schlep it around with me.

I’m surprised Mardee hasn’t chimed in. Probably plotting her revenge on this post.

I am inclined to think she is out shopping. She is too nice to plot revenge on anyone.

Horsewoofie,
I only buy clothes as needed for trips. I am still working full-time and don’t travel as much as I would like.
I live in a semi-rural area in Florida. If I travel to NYC - I look at what I have. Then, I may buy some “city” style clothes to supplement. Plus as I age, my body is changing (not for the better). Sometimes, I buy new clothes as my style preferences and body changes. I am not fancy, but I don’t like being sloppy either. I do believe in “age appropriate” attire.
The type of trip has a big impact on what I pack. I try not to pack any “work” clothes, even if appropriate, when I travel for psychological reasons.

Sometimes, when I really want to buy a bag, I ask my daughter if she needs a bag and buy it for her. However, she usually says, “no.” She has pilfered a few of my bags over the last few years. Glad to see her using them.

Doric8, where are you in Oklahoma? If you're in the Tulsa area, PM me. And if you're going to be here this weekend, we have a travel group meeting on Saturday.....

We need some outside input; our two most-traveled folks won't be here for this month's meeting.

Jane, thank you, im in Edmond, but head north on greyhound on Friday, im scheduled back at work on Sunday.

doric8, Darn!

*How Not to Buy Excessive Stuff"

Since most of my travel stuff has come from TJ Maxx, my "reduce" strategy this winter has been to not go there.

And so tonight I went to Best Buy instead ....new wireless headphones for all those audio guides (planned purchase) and a new portable charger (whim, but oh so useful travel purchase.)

Sigh .... TJ Maxx, at least, would have been cheaper.

LOL I've been looking at personal item bags this week (and part of last). It is so tempting!

Well I bought a backpack that I have really been wanting / needing from a German discount site instead of Galeries Lafayette or the maker's own site — a 36% savings !! So that was something I didn't buy — the money I kept in my pocket !! Hahahaha

Again, jane, thanks for the invitation!!! I made it home, one lap top in each bag.... unused coffee pods got left for her next enlightened house guest.

She gave me one of those shopping bags grocery stores sell for 99 cents. The neice craft kits ( and strings of christmas lights to wear around their necks, there's 7 of them ages 10 to 29. Three families) went in the shopping bag and i carried that onto the bus. Along w my osprey fairview 40 and purse.

The drawback to the luggage "system" on grey hound is that everyone loads and unloads their own luggage and my ubiquitous 30 inch black roller bag was now somewhere in the middle under several duffle bags. Crawlling around the luggage hold of the greyhound is not for the faint of heart, im thankful that at 61, I really don't have any knee issues bissues, but I was wishing for gardener knee pads.

Now home facing a pile of laundry, especially the jeans worn during above escapade eww

Jean,
I need to add your “replacement” requirement to my criteria. I agree with lightweight as well given modern airline guidelines. If you eliminate Chinese made bags - your options will be greatly reduced.
I go with 17 - 19” backpacks. This eliminates a lot as well.
(My no Chinese bags issue has nothing to do with quality. For me, it’s political: about labor, pollution, and Wuhan lab. RS himself said travel is a political act, even though he may have meant it in another way. I also avoid travel in countries where I don’t trust the government regarding the treatment of women or the use of travelers as pawns - like Russia (Brittany Griner) or China.)

You are right, Sun-Baked. I agree with you in theory but haven't been disciplined enough to put a no-buy China pledge into action.

A public service message from a travel goods disabler. (For enabling - please refer to Mardee.)

Hey, I resemble that remark!!! Seriously, I do have criteria and the weight is a big one (okay, maybe the only one).

I’m surprised Mardee hasn’t chimed in. Probably plotting her revenge on this post.

I am inclined to think she is out shopping. She is too nice to plot revenge on anyone.

Aw, thanks (I think)! I did not chime in because when it posted, I was visiting my brother and SIL in Naples, FL and totally missed this. Lots of beach time, but also did some shopping! :-) If you're ever down there, I highly recommend shopping for travel clothes at Anthony's on Bonita Beach Blvd. in Bonita Beach Springs, and for some really lovely artistic clothes and cool jewelry, try Victoria's just up the road. Hah, call ME an enabler!!!

Hey Mardee made it to this post! Yeah!
Kim,
I do buy some Chinese-made goods, but look for alternatives or decline if it’s an item that I just don’t need. This is indeed a global economy with trade closely intertwined. Even hundreds of years ago - the economy was global. Example: Europeans in USA trading knives and guns with American Indians for beaver pelts: Italians and Spaniards boating to Asia for spices and silks, etc.. I just prefer fair trade or “better business” practices.

Sun-Baked, I agree about China. It's getting harder and harder to avoid products made there, though. That's one of the reasons I like Tom Bihn, as their bags are made at their factory in Seattle. They are higher priced but for a good reason.