Save time and money: Pack light and smart

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- You're going on vacation and staring at a closet full of clothes wondering where to start.

Professional organizer Brenda McElroy says keep it simple. "You're not just going to go in your closet and go 'I like this outfit and that outfit.' You want to color coordinate and pick out some real basics."

Lay out the clothes and items you're thinking of taking with you, so you can better mix and match.

"It's real important to kind of get the big picture before you start pulling away things that you don't actually need," said McElroy.

She recommends folding or rolling "like" items together, neatly into plastic bags to keep things organized and accessible.

"When you're putting it into the suitcase and pulling things out, it makes it so much easier than just having to thumb through a bunch of stuff that's loose," said McElroy.

Take advantage of the space in your shoes to pack it with small items. Put your shoes in plastic bags to protect your clothes from any dirt, and then put those in your suitcase first -- along the edges.

For a week-long vacation, McElroy packs a couple pairs of pants, shorts, a skirt and a dress -- all in neutral colors that can each go well with several tops. "And then accessorizing with a different number of colored scarves and jewelry to change it up a bit."

Use the suitcase's built-in pockets for items you use every day -- like pajamas or swimsuit.

And for your dirty clothes, try space bags.

"They don't need a vacuum, just put stuff in, zip them up, roll them up, it rolls out the air, and then you have your dirty clothes compact so you can put your souvenirs in your suitcase," said McElroy.

A carry-on bag that zips without having to sit on it, it's really all you need.