Just last week in my Having It All When Your Budget Is Limited, I mentioned that traveling is a huge priority of mine for 2015. Well, just a few days ago I booked a trip to Belize. {insert scream and Madonna’s “La Isla Bonita”}.

I previously traveled to Belize a few years ago and when Secret Flying {check them out for last minute deals} had a flight for less than $350, I jumped on it. Besides saving on flights, I also save major cash by traveling light, because who really has time to pay for checked baggage fees?!

Check out how to go on on a week long trip and pack a single carry-on. Yes, it’s absolutely possible to pack light and even have room in your bag to bring back souvenirs.

A tidbit about me, I never check bags. Well, there was this one time when I returned from Essence Music Festival and I checked my bag due to a ton of beauty products I acquired, but other than that, that’s it! I’ve become a pro at maximizing the space in my carry-on bag. Here’s how I do it and you can too.

Though I would bring my entire closet with me if I could, I realized I really only need a few foundation pieces. I like to hang my outfits on a garment rack so I can easily see everything I’m contemplating bringing and how they’ll go with other items in my closet.

Shoes: stick with a pair of neutral pumps or strappy heels for a night out, sneakers if you’ll be doing any type of activity or heavy walking and 1-2 pairs of sandals.
Clothes: keep the majority of your wardrobe pretty neutral so it’s easy for you to mix and match them with other garments. I typically go with a pair of dark jeans, denim shorts, 2 additional pairs of shorts, 2 skirts, 2-3 dresses and 5 tops. And since it might get a bit chilly, a cardigan and/or scarf is always a good idea. Since spring and summer clothes are less bulky, these are easy to roll tightly. If anything gets too wrinkled and you don’t have time to iron {or you’re like me and just hate to iron!}, try Downy Wrinkle Releaser Plus. It comes in a trial size bottle and releases wrinkles but also acts as a fabric refresher.

Just check out the graphic below to see how few garments you need to make a ton of outfits.

[bctt tweet=”When packing a single carry-on, it’s all about mixing and matching to maximize your wardrobe & save space.”]

Of course you can’t forget jewelry. I tend to go fairly light on accessories, especially with a beach destination. However, one to two statement necklaces can instantly dress up a white tank or scoop neck tee. If you’re traveling with small rings or earrings, I love this hack I spotted on Pinterest. Upcycle your old Eos lip balm containers to store smaller accessories and keep them nice and secure.

While I’m not a huge makeup person, I do have several face cleaners and moisturizers. But…that’s no excuse to bring all of them with me. And with TSA regulations, you can’t carry full size beauty products on the plane. That means I limit my stash to 1-2 facial cleansers, an exfoliant, serum, day and night moisturizer, acne spot cream and SPF. As for makeup, it’s simply a tinted moisturizer {I swear my Nars!}, mascara and lip gloss. I buy 3 ounce containers from Target or even the dollar store and just transfer my products into them. Also, I have a drawer in my bathroom that’s solely for trial size bath and beauty products. I toss these in my bag when it’s time to travel. Finally, I like products that perform double duty. For example, hair conditioner is a great substitute for shaving cream.

I can’t wait for my Belize trip in April and sharing the beauty of the country with you. Maybe I’ll find a flea market or thrift shop while I’m out there!

Photo: 1, 2