So you’ve made the big jump to fly across the world and study abroad in a new country! You go Glen Coco! The day is finally nearing, the excitement is at an all time high, your passport is ready for some stamps, the hugs and “I’ll see you in a couple of months” are beginning to multiply and the part we all dread has arrived: packing up those suitcases. As someone whose favorite motto is “you can never have too much clothing” this part of preparing for my big move was by far the hardest (right after saying bye to the fam of course; love you guys!) It may feel overwhelming and the “how the hell am I supposed to fit my life into one bag” thoughts have probably entered your mind multiple times. Coming from the girl whose notorious for over-packing and who sat on the floor of the airport removing excess clothing from her suitcase, yet STILL paid an overweight baggage fee, I learned from my mistakes and I promise you there is a way to get this process done and done smart!

Here are some things I learned from my packing experience, unfortunately after extra baggage fees and back pains galore:

1. Listen to the ones who know from experience

First things first: when everybody who knows from experience, including friends and all the blogs you’ve been reading, tell you that it really isn’t necessary to over pack…. LISTEN TO THEM. This was my first mistake, but don't let it be yours!

2. If you don’t wear it now, you probably won’t wear it abroad

So you know those jeans that have been sitting in your closet for the past year? The ones you keep making excuses on when you’ll finally decide to wear them? Leave them in the closet to await your return. If you haven’t been able to find the perfect outfit for them at home, chances are a foreign country won’t be the place to showcase them for the first time either. If you don’t wear something now, speaking from experience, you probably won’t wear it abroad either. Leave the space for something you know that you’ll get use out of.

3. Pack reasonably and sensibly

Those six striped tees you love, do you really need every single one of them? My answer to the striped tee dilemma is always “of course?” and you’ve probably guessed by now that I definitely made the mistake of bringing every single striped tee my closet has ever owned. But I assure you that one or two will do. Pack reasonably, pack things that you can mix and match/layer with and pack things that are weather appropriate based on where/when you’re studying abroad. I will never forget the look on my roomie’s face when I unpacked 5 pairs of bathing suits during our winter/spring session abroad in Spain. To put it into perspective: It’s almost May and I still haven't been able to leave the house in less than 2-3 layers.

4. Roll and stuff

This method SAVES LIVES people. Speaking in Rick Ross terms, this trick is seriously major key. The best way to fit those extra tees that you just couldn’t seem to leave behind! The "rolling" method consists of rolling your clothes rather than folding them, to allow for extra space in your bag. The "stuffing" part means stuffing your shoes with anything that fits really! For every pair of shoes that you pack, stuff them with all of your socks, undergarments and shirts that are small enough to slide in there. You’ll save room and you also might be able to sneak another pair of shoes in there.

5. Hold off on the heated hair tools until you arrive

Fun fact: Americans aren't the only people who curl/straighten their hair, so these things do exist wherever you're headed (unless you're off to a third world country, then disregard and stick to braids maybe). You can usually find them for pretty cheap too, my roommate and I spent a total of 20 euros on a pretty good quality blow dryer and hair curler! Plus, I wouldn’t count on the wattage and voltage being your best friend for this particular situation either. Save room and rid your suitcase of extra weight by leaving these things at home.

6. Travel size is your best friend

Another great excuse to take one last trip down the beautiful aisles of Target, travel size toiletries! These are a suitcases best friend. Only stock up on the things you need to get you through the first couple of days, then buy whatever else you need at your local market (again, unless you're moving to a third world country, you'll be able to find all the products that you need at your destination). Travel size products will save you some serious space.

7. Leave space in your bag

If you're going to be living in a new country for a semester, chances are you're going to do some shopping. Leave extra space in your suitcase for room for all those goodies you're bringing home. This way you don't have to worry about bringing home an extra bag (more fees) and you can shop stress-free.

8. Weigh your bags before leaving the house

The only true way to know if your bags will fit within the weight requirements are to weigh them before heading off to the airport. This way you can plan accordingly. You can find luggage scales for super cheap, I’ve seen some for as little as $5!

Now that we've covered the basics, time to get to packing! And once you've made it past the check in counter at the airport, pat yourself on the back, because you've just accomplished one of the hardest parts about heading off abroad.