14 Tricks to Turn You Into a Packing Ninja

Make your toiletries spill-proof by adding plastic wrap over the opening and then screwing the cap on it.

If you don't want to run the risk of losing your valuables — tech products, jewelry, money, etc. — then put them in your carry-on bag, and don't pack them in baggage that you plan on checking.

Hide your money in a safe place where no one would think of looking for it, like in an empty tube of Chapstick.

We're all guilty of overpacking, but this trick will nip that problem in the bud. When you're done packing, go through your things again, and remove a quarter of what you've packed. This way you won't have to sit on your bursting luggage to zip it shut. Or, at least, that's what I hear people do.

Stuff clothing items you aren't afraid of wrinkling — like socks, underwear, and t-shirts — into a purse that you're packing. This helps to keep the shape of the bag and gives you more space in your luggage.

Prepare as if you're going to lose your checked luggage. This means that you should have duplicate copies of important items in both your carry-on and the baggage you're going to check in. For example, have copies of your passport in both bags and have a day's worth of clothes in your carry-on. If you have medication, then remember to place extra doses in your carry-on.