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By now, you've probably heard or read about the extra charges most airlines are tacking on for excess, overweight and oversized baggage. It's insanity, pure and simple, but what can you do? It's time to learn to pack smarter and lighter and that takes some pre-planning.

On that note, here are some tips to help you do just that:

To begin with, consider purchasing lightweight luggage. If you haven't bought any in awhile, you may want to purchase one or more pieces of lightweight luggage. Some pieces weigh as little as seven or eight pounds, a great start to help you pack lighter. One website I looked at,

www.luggagepros.com/supercat, carries a large assortment of luggage of all types and prices, with many on sale. There are many others you may want to check out, as well.

Where are you going and what will you be doing? If you are going on a business trip, of course you will be packing mostly suits, jackets, pants and shirts. Depending on how long your trip is, you may be able to get along with just one or two suits by changing jackets and shirts to offer up multiple outfits.

If you're headed for a vacation, plan ahead by thinking of what you will actually be doing and where you will be doing it. For example, if you're going to be hiking, you probably won't need city sight-seeing type clothing or evening dresses. If you're going to a rainy climate, be sure to pack your raingear. And remember, too, lightweight wash-and-wear clothing is best. In cool weather, you can layer for added warmth without the bulk.

Leave all the equipment at home. Travel light by not packing excess equipment, like blow-dryers, curling irons, etc. Most hotels offer blow-dryers, but if you really can't live without your curling iron or travel iron, at least get the portable type that won't take up a lot of space or add unwanted weight to your luggage.

Toiletries. You can't take them all, and you don't need them all when you can shop almost anywhere for all types of toiletries. Also, be sure to check with the airlines if you're not up on their latest restrictions for liquids, gels and other items.

Items that may leak. I would advise not to take them as I've personally been the victim of a leaky shampoo bottle that drenched most of my clothes. It was not a good experience. However, if you must take them, please put them in Ziploc bags.

Carry extra plastic bags with you. These are handy for dirty clothes, shoes (you don't want dirty shoes touching your clean clothes), and placing between

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