Came across this interesting visual on the web, as part of the article: The Fading Glory of the Television and Telephone.

Via but props go out to Musings of an Adbstract Aucklander for leading me to Living Well on Less.

Go to my blog and take the survey at the top!

I think a lot of people get necessity and luxury confused.

Necessity, if you want to be really technical about it, is: basic shelter, clothing, food & water and warmth.

Everything else, is a necessity, even if we don’t think it is.

That being said, here are my answers:

• Green & Bold = Necessity
• Red = Unnecessary
• Blue = On the Fence

Here we go!

• Home Computer = I suppose I could do without, but I rather enjoy having my own laptop
  
• Microwave = I could use the oven instead, but that’s just an inefficient use of energy
• High-Speed Internet = Goes with the computer. Alternative would be to go to the library
  
• Car = Only for now, because I can’t get to the client site otherwise, unless I pay a cab to & fro
• Cellphone = Could always move to Skype/Google Voice and stick to email instead
  
• Landline Phone = I have a cellphone instead
• Clothes Dryer = Definitely unnecessary for me. I wash everything & then let it dry on its own
• Air Conditioning = Uncomfortable, but unnecessary for me. I don’t live in Florida
• Dishwasher = Not necessary, but BF would like one if possible, as he hates doing dishes
• Cable/Satellite TV = Again, too many channels and choices, not enough content I want to watch
• TV Set = Have a hotel TV now & I have to THINK to turn it on, and then I get frustrated trying to find a show
• Flatscreen TV = Same as above, I have it in the hotel, I just don’t use it

Well that wasn’t so bad.

I only consider my computer, high-speed internet and microwave as “necessities”, but even I am sure that I could do without them, by going to internet cafes or using the library.

I could even get rid of the car if I could find clients that had bus stops and subway stops near them!

I know I could always bike to work instead, but it’s quite a trek, and I am not comfortable with in-city biking, because I’ve seen the way cars treat bikes on the road.

If they had dedicated bike lanes, I’d bike for 50% of the year, and take public transport during wintertime (which can typically be 6 months, here).

What do you think? Could you do without?

Go to my blog and take the survey at the top!

In case you missed the previous posts:

• Packing for a long weekend getaway
• Packing for a weeklong business casual trip
• Packing for 3+ weeks or for the long-term
• What to pack for makeup & Toiletries

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HOLY #$&@* THAT IS A LOT OF STUFF!

All at once, it can seem like a lot, but it isn’t.

It all fits into one carry-on, and one purse.

I am a minimalist, but a practical person at heart.

And I also don’t bring it all at once — it depends on where I go, why I am going and what I will need there.

We travel on the cheap, so we don’t go to restaurants all the time, or stay in 5 star hotels (although I’ve heard from my brother that’s where he contracted scabies once).

I cannot tell you the number of times we bought something in a grocery store to eat quickly, only to realize we didn’t have cutlery, wet naps to wipe the BBQ sauce off our fingers from the chicken, or napkins for our faces.

So I just learned over time to keep that stuff stocked.

Everything I bring or purchased up there serves a purpose, and I’ve wished on any number of occasions I had it!

I also think that as a woman, my toiletries/makeup section is pretty low-key.

I use coconut oil for a lot of double-duty items, and am willing to go without makeup a lot.

And that concludes my series on what I pack when I travel.

Stay tuned for next week, when I show you IN PHOTOS my trip for July/August.

I will be posting the whole trip from 3 different facets on each of my three blogs.

In case you missed the previous posts:

• Packing for a long weekend getaway
• Packing for a weeklong business casual trip
• Packing for 3+ weeks or for the long-term

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3 things I keep in mind when I pack

• I keep a list of what I need and follow it each time I travel
• ….but I can always buy what I forgot to pack or bring
• And I can always borrow my sister/family/friend’s stuff

Note: These item recommendations are slightly outdated.

I am now using:

• Korres White Tea Fluid Gel as my facial cleanser
• Korres Rose SPF 6 Moisturizer as my day moisturizer
• Skyn Iceland Cream as my night time moisturizer

Next: Electronics and Other

In case you missed the previous posts:

• Packing for a long weekend getaway
• Packing for a weeklong business casual trip

——————————————————————-

I used to live out of a suitcase for months on end.

I got used to understanding what was important, what was not and what to bring.

But here is the trickiest of them all: packing for overseas travel, for something 3 weeks or longer.

There seems to be more to remember.

And since most vacations are in the summer, I chose to do it for summer here.

(Partly because I am going on a trip, myself. Stay tuned for next week’s post on what I ACTUALLY packed)

If you are going in winter or autumn, pack a winter coat, and all the other winter things accordingly.

5 Overseas-specific things to think about:

1. You will probably want to come back with souvenirs. Leave room.
2. You will probably not want to be singled out as a noticeable tourist.
3. I am assuming you will be washing items during the 3 weeks, especially underwear.
4. Consider bringing your own plastic reusable utensils or cups.
5. Do not pack items to try and have your entire wardrobe with you. It’s temporary!

Remember these are not set in stone rules

They are guidelines.

As you will see next week, I packed much more than what is listed here, due to the different climates I’ll be experiencing and unexpected family & friends events I am anticipating.

Plus two weddings.

Click on any image to make it larger.

Next: Makeup, Toiletries & Tools

In case you missed the previous posts:

• Packing for a long weekend getaway

——————————————————————-

Most business trips are about a week long.

But if they aren’t, just cut back accordingly.

For business travel, I don’t like to bring a lot of accessories.

The reason being that I don’t want to lose my favourite pieces, and I don’t want to distract colleagues with jangly earrings or flashy things.

Click on any of the images below to make them larger

If you want to know where any of the items are from and what they cost, you can check out the Polyvore set here.

Note: I do not own these items, nor do I condone the price of them.

Heck, I don’t own any one item worth over $300.

They are just good examples of what I look for.

You can find similar items for much cheaper at almost any price range (although I’d spend more on the shoes & the jacket, not the tops or the pants).

This is what I’d wear on the plane for the day of travel, instead of being a slob.

You will notice a common thread in a lot of what I pack.

It is mostly things that can do double-duty for night and day, depending on what shoes you wear, and what jacket or sweater you wear.

The boots and/or the ballet flats are optional depending on your style and your workplace dress code.

You can always bring a low-heeled pair of pumps instead of the two, and wear the slim sneakers out for when you want to be more casual.

Even sleepwear does double duty.

Not shown:

• 6 pairs of Underwear
• 6 pairs of Socks

Next: Packing for a long 3-week+ Vacation