Which items should I buy in India and which should I wait to buy after I arrive abroad?
Buy items you already rely on in India, such as prescription medicines with documents, your laptop and chargers, a travel adapter and important documents. Wait to buy bulky kitchen utensils, bedding, cleaning supplies and weather-specific clothes after you arrive, once you know your baggage limit and what your accommodation provides.
You do not have to buy everything before you leave India. Some things are cheaper or easier to get where you live, and others take up too much room in your suitcase, so make your list around your airline's baggage rules and what your accommodation offers.
Buy in India vs Buy After Arrival
| Buy in India | Buy after arrival |
|---|---|
| Prescription medicines you need, with the required documents | Extra toiletries and personal care products |
| Indian clothes you already wear | Bulky kitchen utensils |
| Small packs of permitted Indian snacks and spices | Cleaning and laundry supplies |
| Laptop, phone and chargers you already use | Extra stationery, if needed |
| A suitable travel adapter | Bedding, after checking what your accommodation provides |
| Important documents and passport-size photographs | Additional clothes suited to the local weather |
| A few familiar personal care products | Hangers, storage boxes and other household items |
| Compact items that are expensive or hard to find at your destination | Extra cooking items and daily-use products |
How to Decide
- Check your airline's baggage rules before you finalise the list.
- Ask your accommodation what it already provides before buying bedding or kitchen items.
- Carry what is hard to replace and buy what is bulky or easy to find.
My Advice
Make two lists before you shop, one for things you will carry and one for things you will buy in your first week. This keeps your suitcase light and your budget under control, and you can add to the second list once you see your room and the local weather.
How much will a month abroad cost you?
Rent, food and travel. A real monthly budget, city by city.
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