Travel Goodies!!!

Travel Goodies

While preparing for my travels, I’ve come across some great finds I thought I would share. Many of these handy items I have come across did come from TJ Maxx, Wish, ebay and Goodwill which saved me a lot of money when compared to the usual travel stores. (More money to go towards the trip, right?) I will try my best to remember exactly which store these items came from and the price points that I purchased them for along with the comparison price to try and give you an example of the savings.

TJ Maxx: So T J maxx and Marshalls are owned by TJX companies which also own Home Goods, Homesense, TK Maxx, Sierra Trading Post and Winners. The great thing about TJ Maxx and Marshalls is that they get many of the well known travel brands you already know at a fraction of the price! Many people think that these stores carry damaged/irregular or counterfeit (which is illegal by the way) items which simply isn't true! There are buyers that work for the company that go to these vendors or even other larger stores and negotiate for the great prices that you see! Now TJ Maxx and Marshalls doesn't dosales like other stores, because they are already at sale prices, but they do have clearance sections that you can peruse. So now that you have a rundown of the store I affectionately call ‘The Maxx’, let’s dive into the items I have purchased. -Cloudz TSA luggage lock set (They come in a variety of colors): I Paid $4.99 compared to $10-$13 -Travelon Luggage cover Lg (coral floral)- I paid $3 on clearance compared to $18 -Travelon Mixtape luggage tags (set of 2)- I paid $4.99 compared to $10 -Coop & Daisy Gym face wash kit- I paid $8 compared to $18 -Gillette Venus Waterless travel razor (2)- I paid $3.99 compared to $10 -Psssst! Dry Shampoo Tropica(travel size)- I paid $1.99 compared to $2.99 -Travelon luggage scale- I paid $7.99 compared to $10

Wish.com For those of you who aren’t familiar with this e-commerce website/phone app, Wish allows companies and manufacturers to sell items directly to customers. The site is loaded with tons of different items ranging from clothing, toys, jewelry, beauty items to even a variety of tech gear. Now I have never bought any clothing from this site, but I have bought a smattering of other items and the prices are pretty cheap. Now with all this being said, I do caution you to read the reviews of any item before you purchase. Some items on this site are fantastic and every once and a while you will find some pretty amazing gems, but some items aren't all that great quality. With the brief summary of this site out of the way, let's get to the fun stuff… what I did buy for travel. -Compact collapsible utensil set (fork, spoon, chopsticks)- $2 -Electronics organizer- $3 -3 Port USB travel wall adapter- $2

Ebay: Everyone pretty much knows what ebay is, so it needs no explanation, but I can tell you that there are great finds to be had as long as you pay attention to the sellers rating and read the listing thoroughly. With all that being said, let’s dive in! -Vortex 30 liter backpack- I paid $14 compared to $45 + shipping & handling -Tattoo goo renew 30 SPF (a must have for anyone with tattoos)- I paid $7.48 compared to $14 -Moleskine city travel journal (NYC edition)- I paid $14.24 compared to $20 *You can also find a lot of (current too) travel guides really cheap here too! A lot of times there is also free shipping! Many charities sell books via ebay to help raise funds and these accounts are marked as you view the item. I tend to gravitate towards these accounts. Not only are you getting something to help you plan your trip, but you are also helping a good cause.

Goodwill: I can already hear the groans and see the eye rolls at the mention of the name. Say what you will, Good will is a great place to shop and a great way to stay on budget! I have found many fantastic things at Goodwill stores, some even with the tags still attached! (Just make sure you sanitize/wash any item!) -Pacsafe Instasafe Crossbody Anti-theft 10 inch tablet bag- I paid $4.50 compared to $89.99 -Not For Tourists guide to New York- I paid $3.74 compared to $15.99 -Little Black Book of New York- I paid $2.49 compared to $12 -(2) Brand new Lularoe ‘Julia’ dresses with the tags still attached- I paid $5 a piece when they originally retail for $45 a piece

So it is possible to prepare for a trip on a budget without putting a huge dent in your bank account by thinking outside of the typical box! Hopefully this helped you prep for any upcoming trips or gave you a little inspiration of where to look and save a little money for some odds and ends things.