Keep that shower cap and empty eyedropper. You would be shocked to find out what items you can reuse and repurpose to help you travel smarter and cheaper.

There is an industry that thinks you need to buy trial size products to go on a trip. Do you really need to pay an extra $1.99 for an empty flip top bottle container for your own product or get a smaller version of a shampoo or toothpaste to stick in your bag? Trust us. You don’t need often leaky containers or tiny toothpastes. You can use what you have to get where you are going. The following simple tips help budget-minded consumers easily and affordably pack their bags for their next trip.

Do You Need An Organizer? The products you already have can come in handy when it comes to packing and unpacking. Did you know that cling wrap can be used for your jewelry? Place items between two layers of cling wrap to make sure that you don’t end up with tangled chains. It’s a breeze to find your favorite necklace when you unpack. Other small items to reuse are:

• Leftover contact lens cases are perfect for studs and liquid makeup.
• A pill case groups the accessories you will wear by day.
• Straws can prevent tangling of favorite necklaces when a chain is threaded through the straw.
• Tic Tac cases are handy for storing bobby pins.
• Shower caps cover the bottom and sides of shoes and protect shoes from scuffs and surrounding clothes from dirt.
• A binder clip protects the blades of a razor.
• A clothespin keeps a toothbrush standing upright on the counter.
• Find everything where you last put them. These easy tips make traveling easier and help to securely organize and protect the items you are planning to bring on your next trip.

Plan Better for Your Next Adventure.  Are you leaving for a long weekend or a week or two? You will need to plan to bring more clothes or see whether or not you can clean needed items at your destination. Packing enough and not over packing will help you avoid unnecessary fees with airlines. If it can fit in the overhead, why pay more? Learn more about the destination, hotel, activities and weather to plan and organize what you need to enjoy your trip and stress less when settling in.

Sources: huffingtonpost.com, worldofwanderlust.com