If you packed in one of these, you didn't pack light.

Last week for Friend Fridays we posted on summer vacation and packing, and one of the questions was about tips for packing light and fitting into one suitcase.

I’d like to think I’ve finally figured this one out after years of trial and error, so that was an easy question for me to answer. Quite a few of the other posters and commenters, however, confessed to being chronic over-packers.

That got me thinking–how did I learn out how to pack less? So here’s my story of how I learned to pack light and love a carry-on suitcase. And it wasn’t overnight, my friends. Sometimes it takes me a looong time to learn my lesson.

Phase One: In Which She Buys The Largest Suitcase Possible

Senior year of high school, Arizona, my church youth group takes a trip to DC and New York–the first time we have ever been east of the Mississippi. Already a confirmed fashion lover, and reader of Elle and W, I am determined to be as stylish as possible when visiting (respectful pause) New. York. City.

This leads to complete packing paralysis and indecision. Somehow I convince my parents (OK, my dad; I think my mom rolled her eyes and sighed) to buy the largest suitcase we can find. I fill it completely. Then I drag it from van to airport to van to hotel, etc.

Phase Two: In Which She Packs in a Container Larger Than a Suitcase

Junior year of college, I embark on a year-long study abroad program to England. Again, I am unable to decide what to bring and what to leave behind. Again, my poor father is talked into supporting my bad habit. This time, large suitcases aren’t enough. We actually purchase and ship a steamer trunk full of clothes, shoes and God knows what else.

That’s right, people: I packed in a STEAMER TRUNK. (See illustration above.)

Clearly this was not going to be an easy habit to break.

Phase Three: In Which She Must Carry It All

During that year abroad, I did the obligatory month of backpacking across Europe. You will never pack as efficiently as you do when you have to fit everything into a single backpack. And then carry it.

It was my first taste of packing a core set of items and mixing and matching. (And sink washing.)

It was temporary.

Phase Four: In Which She Pays Various Baggage Fees

After college, my suitcase size reduced somewhat, but never to carry-on sizes. Checked baggage was free and I usually did curb-side check so I didn’t have to lug my suitcase around much.

Then my bag size crept upward until one winter trip of 2 cities and 10 days (no, not this one) when I brought our biggest bag and discovered, when checking it to come home, that I had exceeded the weight limit of 70 pounds (!) and it was going to cost $40 to check. Strike One.

I kept my bag size and weight smaller after that, but it was a temporary respite. Not long afterward, the airlines began adding baggage fees. At first I paid. I couldn’t really fathom not checking my bag. Until I did the math. Wait–at $25 each way for each bag, that means 2 people just spent $100 round-trip for the luggage?

And that was that. Lugging huge bags didn’t do it. Inconvenience didn’t do it. Taking spending money out of my pocket? Forget about it!

Phase Five: In Which She Is Reformed

The first thing I did was start making detailed lists. I used to pack by sort of haphazardly pulling anything and everything out of my closet that I thought I might conceivably feel like wearing at some point during the trip. Plus another outfit or two. This way suitcase creep lies.

Now I have a couple of lists: one for warm weather travel, and another for cold. I started by listing the items I typically found myself bringing and/or expected I would need to wear–the basics, really, like T-shirts and jeans and so forth.

To make sure I wasn’t forgetting anything and that my relatively short lists were actually long enough, I then planned out what I would wear each day, including travel days, based on the list. I could quickly see where I needed to adjust.

When I get ready to pack, I just pull out one of my lists. If I’m going on a longer or shorter trip, I adjust by a day here or there. I include all accessories and toiletries, too.

With this simple system in place, I know I can fit in one suitcase and won’t forget anything important. Traveling is never easy, but packing got a lot simpler!

Now it’s your turn to confess

• Have you mastered the art of one-suitcase packing?
• Or are you on the verge of dragging a steamer trunk with you on your next vacation?
• What’s the one thing you’ll never leave behind?

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[Photo source: Flickr, Captain Spaulding.]