You have a million things to do before you leave for a trip, so it’s very easy to let some important to-do’s slip through the cracks. Read through the below to make sure you’re ready for your next travel adventure!

• Pay off your bills before you leave or schedule automatic payments for your bills.

• Sort through your wallet and remove items you don’t need for your trip. Think extra credit cards or reward cards that only apply in your country of residence.

• Update your calendar. Be sure to check your calendar to see what commitments you have made while you are gone. Reschedule them before you leave.

• Put mail on hold. You don’t want strangers knowing that you’re away with the pile of newspapers at your door, so be sure to request to hold your mail. You also don’t want a mailbox that is overstuffed when you’re back from your holiday.

• Unplug and switch off. Remember to turn everything off, or better yet, unplug them, to conserve energy and money.

• Create an automated email response or a personalised voicemail to let people who are trying to get in touch with you know that you’re out of town.

• Clean out your fridge and garbage. Clean out perishables from the fridge so you’re not in for a nasty surprise when you get back. Take out your rubbish as well.

Bad habits are so easy to fall into but in the end, we know they only make us miserable. Here are some bad habits to break now for a happier you (and a fuller bank account):

Taking Long, Steamy Showers: Spending 20 minutes in the steam may be good for your pores, but it’s also great for mould and mildew. Run the fan while you’re in the shower, squeegee the walls afterward and scrub that grout every few months.

Keeping Out The Sun: Shutting your shades on winter days might seem smart. More insulation from the chilly weather, right? Your energy bill disagrees. A sunny window can warm your home and lower your heating costs.

Compulsively Buying Bargains: Finding a deal feels so good, but cheaper isn’t always better. In fact, budget buys might cost you more in the long run. For instance, dollar paintbrushes will leave annoying streaks, requiring a costly re-do.

Running A Half-Full Dishwasher: Your dishwasher wastes water unless it’s completely full. Dishwashers do save more water than washing by hand but most machines use the same amount of water regardless of how many plates you’ve put inside, making a half-empty cycle significantly less efficient.

Going On A Remodelling Rampage: Don’t break out the sledgehammer for a demo three weeks after moving in unless your home needs serious, obvious work. Give yourself time to understand the home’s quirks before renovating.

Packratting: You know clutter is bad, but you just can’t help it. You had to put that unused exercise bike in the spare room instead of by the road as a freebie because what if? Plus, there’s so much in there already, and decluttering seems like such an insurmountable goal. If the task seems impossible, clean out a drawer or reorganize your counter, and then you feel the satisfaction of having done it. It becomes easier to do the next small thing.

Just remember that breaking habits takes time and a lot of slipups. It’s important to be kind to ourselves when we fail. When we create new habits, we’re building new wiring, but it’s not like the old

wiring disappears. Don’t turn goof-ups into give-ups.

To read the full article, go to the houselogic website (source).