Before you head out the door

Leave a copy of your itinerary with friends or relatives. Put your mail on hold, you can easily do this online at www.usps.com Contact your credit card companies and let them know you will be traveling, especially if you are leaving the country.  They can put a travel note in your file to keep your account from being flagged and frozen. And as we are thinking about credit cards, check the expiration date and make sure it is valid until your return. Also, check the expiration dates on your identification - Drivers licence and/or passport.  Some countries require that a passport be valid for six months past your scheduled departure, so check the requirements for your travel destinations.

Water your plants. I love these little water globes, Aqua Globes AG011706 Glass Plant Watering Bulbs, 2-Pack  that you can place in your plant to keep them moist in your absence. And they are so cute! Clear out the refrigerator of any items that might spoil in your absence. Run the dishwasher and the garbage disposal.  Don't forget to take out the trash or your return home may be a bit odorous.  Put a couple of lights on timers like the  Stanley 38425 TimerMax Digislim Daily Digital Indoor Lamp Timer, White, 2-Pack to give your home an occupied appearance while you are gone. Unplug your power strips and unneeded appliances.  It is safer. Make sure your doors and windows are locked. Let a trusted neighbor know when you are leaving and returning so they can watch for unusual activity. But also be sure to give them a list of individuals who are authorized to enter in your absence. Confirm your reservations: air, hotel, rental car, etc. Before you head out the door make sure you have your drivers license or passport, your wallet and credit card.  If you forget anything else your credit card will take care of the replacement :-) Disclosure: Bear in mind that some of the links in this post are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase I will earn a commission. Keep in mind that I link these companies and their products because of their quality and not because of the commission I receive from your purchases. The decision is yours, and whether or not you decide to buy something is completely up to you