Frugal packing for Houston

We didn't get a container to ship our things from Malaysia to Houston. 

All of our belongings were in 4 large suitcases, 1 medium suitcase and 2 cabin luggage, 1 handbag and 1 carry-on camera bag. We checked-in 5 suitcases, even though there was a limit of 2 check-in luggage per person for flights to and fro USA. The fifth bag was paid for by my husband's company.

So, here's how I got all my suitcases; excluding my husband's existing large suitcase, and one of my cabin luggage, spending less than RM500 in a short span of 2 months.

My mom bought me a large lightweight suitcase during her recent trip to Shanghai; paid RM100 at one of the underground market stalls in Shanghai Science and Technology Museum.

And I ordered through Groupon a set of lightweight luggage for RM389. Fortunately, when delivered, the largest luggage had a inverted corner with a small crack, and Groupon resend me another new large luggage few days before my flight. I'm not sure how long all these light weight luggage can last...

Sadly I couldn't use any of my RM5 Daiso luggage lock for this trip; TSA approved locks cost 10 times more expensive. Fortunately, Jusco had a sale, so we bought 4 brand new TSA locks for our trip, spent around RM100 plus.

I bought 3 vacuum packs in Daiso, for RM5 each. They are really useful for saving space, especially for packing those fluffy winter clothes in 1 large luggage.

I bought a lot of medicines from the pharmacy in Malaysia, because medicine/visiting a doctor in USA is exorbitantly expensive, and ready packed herbs for boiling soup, chrysanthemum tea, Maggi instant noodles, and curry paste. All this in 1 medium suitcase.

I had more of my clothes in 1 large suitcase, and hubby's clothes in 1 large suitcase. and 1 more luggage which was half filled with whatever we needed to bring like pictures, books, laptop, ipad, converter plug, toiletries, and etc.

I think that was pretty much it. I only started packing 3 weeks before my flight, and my husband only started packing few days before the flight. Packing was super easy for him, because for the whole year of 2013, he was already living out of a suitcase between Bangkok and KL.

And most important of all, bring passport, money, visa documents, and mobile phone, plus charger! 

Whatever you forgot, you can happily buy in USA =)