June 2021 - 20 Helpful Hints For Your Upcoming Vacation
Here is a vacation checklist I discovered in Reader’s Digest that I want to share with my readers as Summer approaches. Author Lisa Marie Conklin compiled it, with quite a few helpful tips.
Now with Covid restrictions easy up, I think many of us are excited to get back to normal summer and start taking vacations once again. Here’s a couple things to keep in mind before you make your next trip:
1.
Clean out your fridge and pantry of things that might expire (especially remember your potatoes and onions.)
2.
Make sure your laundry is up-to-date and there’s nothing left in your washer or dryer.
3.
Remember to take out the garbage and recycling and then ask your neighbors to bring the cans back to the house for you.
4.
Run the dishwasher and your garbage disposal one last time, so there is no stagnant water.
5.
Make sure your bills are paid or scheduled for payment. It’s nice to have a little checklist that you could refer to where you know what bills are due on what days so you can do a quick little check to make sure that nothing will be due while you’re away. If so, you can always schedule your payments down the road and guesstimate.
6.
It is usually advisable to contact your credit card company and make them aware of your upcoming travel plans so they don’t place a hold on your credit card being used in unusual places. Another thing to keep in mind is if you use your debit card in another state, they may freeze it. This just happened to my daughter last month while she was down in Florida so call your bank or credit union and give them a heads up.
7.
A helpful idea that this article mentioned was having something in the freezer that you can quickly take out when you arrive back from your trip. That way, you don’t have to think so hard about what you will eat for dinner when you get home. (If you have great neighbors or nearby family members, take them up on their offer of restocking your fridge with milk and eggs for you, so you don’t have to worry about your first breakfast back home!)
8.
It’s advisable to put your valuables in your child’s room. I’ve heard that some people hide them in their child’s laundry basket. If thieves break in, the first room that they are going to scour is the master bedroom.
9.
To save some money on your utility bill if you are not at home, it is recommended that you adjust your temperature to 85°F in the summer and then no lower than 55° in the winter. If you’re on a trip for an extended period of time you might want to ask your neighbor to come over and flush the toilet or turn on the tap so the pipes don’t freeze. There are several great products on the market right now from “Nest” allow you to remotely turn the furnace or air conditioner on or off and adjust the temperature remotely. Some of my friends have it and love it.
10.
I have a client who goes away for 2 months every winter. She has a camera set up in her furnace room that enables her to see her furnace and water heater remotely, so she can make sure there are no leaks.
11.
Another good idea is to let a family member know your itinerary in case there’s an emergency. Then, they know how to get in touch with you if needed. If you are traveling abroad, it is suggested that you enroll in STEP - the smart traveler enrollment program. This is where the embassy in your destination country will make you aware of different items and emergencies. I also have made photocopies of my passport that I leave at home in case there is an emergency and it gets lost or stolen while on your vacation.
12.
The article also recommends you round up all your spare keys that you usually leave outside your home, in case you have a spare key under a doormat or flower pot outside. If you haven’t already, you might just want to give a spare key to a neighbor or trusted nearby friend.
13.
If you have blinds, it is suggested you leave blinds or drapes partially opened. Also, don’t display your valuables — for example, don’t leave your computer on your dining room table if it’s on full display to the public.
14.
It is also a good idea to have a couple lamps set on timers. If you have time, it’s also suggested to set the timers on your living room lamps to turn on perhaps from 6 to 9 pm, and then have the lamps in your bedroom turn on from 9 to 11:30pm, so the lights vary in your home. Police also suggest having motion sensor lights outside your home is a great deterrent to thieves.
15.
If you’re traveling longer than three days, you might have your mail held and cancel your paper delivery.
16.
It’s a good idea to maintain your lawn service or have your driveway and walkway plowed while you’re gone. Otherwise, it’s an easy sign to people who want to break into your home if they haven’t seen traffic in and out of your residence.
17.
If you’re going to be traveling for an extended period of time, you may also want to invest in a power strip extension cord so all your electronics plugged into the power strip can be turned on and off at once, saving electricity.
18.
If you have pets and will only be gone for a few days, you can purchase an automatic food timer for them. But the best idea is to have someone come in and check in on your pets. That will ensure that they haven’t locked themselves in a room or have lost access to their food or water.
19.
It’s also wise to give written instructions to your pet sitter, explaining when your pet typically eats and when their medicine should be given. You can also share whether your pet enjoys short or long walks or specifically request a long walk before bedtime. Also include your vet’s information in case there is an emergency.
20.
Lastly, these sound like a lot of work — but do what you can prior to leaving. And then you can enjoy. Happy travels and stay safe!
Your local professional organizer,
Betty Huotari
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