Before You Go on Vacation…

So today I’m linking to a PopularMechanics.com post about things to do before you head out of town on vacation. It seems fitting since it’s the beginning of August, and, at least in my experience, August is vacation month. Their list of seven tips includes: turning off your water main, checking the sump pump, turning up the thermostat, using a soaker hose to keep your garden alive, unplugging appliances, lighting rooms with timers, and adding antifreeze to toilets (for winter travel). It’s a good list. You can check it out here. 

 

Now I’m going to add three tips of my own: 

1. Lock up your priceless valuables

You can never completely guarantee your house’s safety while you’re away. And while insurance will cover all the easier stuff to replace such as TVs and other electronics, you can’t put a price on heirlooms and other sentimental items with unlimited value. So lock them in a safe, then hide it in an obscure spot (if it’s small enough to steal). If you don’t have a safe, leave the possessions with a trusted friend or family member who lives nearby, or hide them in a very strange place. You should leave the cheap jewelry in a place where thieves will normally look, such as a dresser drawer. Then hide the priceless stuff in your junk drawer, between mattresses in a kid’s room, between sweaters in the top of your closet, or somewhere else a cat burglar would never think to look. 

2. Eat your perishable food

Or freeze it. This one is pretty obvious. Clearly you don’t want to come home to a fridge full of rotting fruit, sour milk, and rancid cuts of meat. Try to get creative with your meals the week before you leave. You can use a site such as My Fridge Food for ideas. They basically hand you recipes based on what you happen to have at the moment. It’s lovely.

Before you leave, either bring some of the fruit and other snacks in the car (if you’re driving) and toss the stuff that has the potential to wreak havoc on your fridge. Then make sure you take that trash out. 

3. Find a caretaker

OK, this one is a gimme. But if you have someone nearby you really don’t have to worry about any of the things on either one of these lists. The house will look lived in–but you should still hide your priceless possessions, of course. They can collect your mail, water your garden, and even keep an eye on pets. Not everyone has a friend or family member nearby, but here’s a tip: find a single friend, or a young niece or nephew. Someone you trust, but who doesn’t have nearly as many nice things as you. They’ll probably jump at the chance to eat the food in your fridge, watch your big screen TV, and play your video games. Problem solved. 

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