We’ve all done it—tried bringing a piece of a trip back home, only to find that it doesn’t really have a place in your life.

Souvenirs have a special place in my heart—it feels wonderful to get to keep a little piece of my trip with me. But I’ve definitely bought the wrong thing, and ended up donating or discarding it within a year of bringing it home (which is something I hate doing—there’s too much trash in the world already!)

In order to stop this practice of buy > take home > don’t use > throw away, I’ve gotten a lot pickier with the things I bring home. I don’t limit myself to touristy shops, and I try to thinking critically about the things I buy when I travel.

If you’re thinking about your consumption while you travel, this is a good place to start—what are you thinking of getting while you’re travelling? Some traditional souvenirs might look like:

• Bottle openers
• Fridge magnets
• Tea towels
• Postcards
• Shot glasses
• Snowglobes
• Location-themed hoodies

• Cartoons and other small art pieces from local artists (found commonly in touristy parts of big cities)
• Scarfs or headbands that will remind you of your trip whenever you wear them
• Art supplies, such as paint or beads, to help build a one-of-a-kind supply kit
• A (closed) bottle of wine, olive oil, or other regional delight to enjoy at home

There are a lot of options in the souvenir spaces, to get something that will remind you of the trip you loved. My best tips for finding something that won’t end up unused or discarded six months after travel are:

Don’t trust your impulses. Tourist shops are set up to be brightly-lit, colour-filled, tightly-packed, and expensive. You might feel as though there’s pressure to get a reminder of your trip—especially if you’re somewhere you probably won’t visit again. But resist that pressure! Better to take your time and find something you really like, rather than buy on impulse. Sometimes, what I do if I like something right away is take a picture with my phone of the outside of the store where I found it; so if at the end of the day, it’s still the best thing I saw, I know where to find it.

Keep some ideas in mind of things that you need, or would work with your space, before you step into the shops. This means asking yourself—what does my space need? It could be decorative, like a bright piece of artwork to tie the room together. Or it could be practical; if you’re always losing bookmarks, this might be a good thing to be on the lookout for. Keep in mind luggage requirements you’ll have to work with; not everything will fit, or be allowed based on customs and/or liquid requirements if you’re just bringing a carry-on.

When you find something you like, try to imagine it in your home. Where will it live? In a drawer, on a shelf, on display? How often will you need to access it, and will it be easy to find? Or will it end up in the “junk” drawer, because you’re not sure what to do with it?

Consider your budget. It’s easy to get carried away in the tourist shops (I definitely have been!), so going in with a rough idea of what you’d like to spend is a good idea. It’s also possible to pick up some free souvenirs, if you plan ahead of time. Mementos like sand or shells from a beach you visited are free, provided you bring a jar or other container to hold them.

Ask yourself—is this a collection, or a one-off item? There are certain items you might want to buy where ever you travel; I have a friend who gets a fridge magnet every place she goes, and her kitchen fridge is a happy reminder of all the trips she’s taken. But some other items will feel useless or in the way if you have more than one of them. At one time in my life, I owned four bottle openers in my drawer. There has never been a time when I’ve thought to myself, I have one already, but I could use three more, so I ended up getting rid of them. Bit of a waste!

Decide—are your souvenirs meant to be functional or fashionable? There’s nothing wrong with either option; some people want to proudly display their snowglobe collection, or use their shot glass collection to serve guests at parties. If you’re like me—who has limited space in a London flat—function is key, because I don’t have a lot of space to play with. Souvenirs I love include location-themed stationery and dish towels; things that I’ll get a lot of use out of, which will make me happy as I remember where and how I got them.

What things do you like to bring home from your travels? I hope you’ll tell me below in the comments—and as always, happy travels!