Need Suggestions and Tips for Moving

Ask at local stores (Walmart, grocery stores, etc.). They usually get their goods in big boxes, that they give away, recycle, reuse, or throw away. When we moved this summer, the grocery store just told me to go behind the building and take all I wanted [they had boxes that held 4 gallons of milk, which were a wonderful size for packing; plus since they were the same size, they stacked really well]; the Walmart said I had to call on certain days to get the stock guys to set boxes aside for me, and then to pick them up the next day by a certain time, or they'd get dumped.

Good luck with the move. Some other tips:
1. Pack an overnight suitcase.
That is...if you arrive when exhausted, have one bag that contains all you need to keep you clean, teeth clean, fresh clothes and food etc for 1-2 days so you do not have to immediately unpack stuff. You can just crash on the bed....
2. also i would keep a separate suitcase of diapers, toys and books for the children you can have easy access to..

Jilly

UHAUL has a recycled freebie section. Also, if you go to stores and ask you have to be there at the right time. Target and walmart go straight to the crusher. go behind stores and look for the blue trash box. It is filled with boxes, often still assembled.
Grocery stores cut the tops off making them useless. You can also post on craigslist,drive around on trash day looking for piles, and ask people where you work.

I agree with much of the flylady post.

Here are some tips that I recommend.

Purchase butcher paper (online). You can get a great price. Purchase the stand/metal slot so that you can rip the paper easier. Use the butcher paper instead of newspaper. Newspaper leaves black print on EVERYTHING! If you use white butcher paper, you can unpack MUCH easier. Bunch it up in boxes for padding. It is amazing!

Purchase the extra large permanent markers for easy visibility after packing a box. Label with room name (therefore no need for extra step of color coding). I list Room and a few key items in box. Then it jogs my memory after move as to whether it needs to be opened immediately or not.

I use the extra large black heavy duty bags (can purchase at Costco) for packing clothing, linens, stuffed animals, pillows, bedding, etc... Quick and easy to pack and easy to put on a truck with the plastic handles from the bag. Staple a paper tag, again, listing key items in bag or room name (ie. children's room, bedroom, guest room, etc...)

I also agree with the more tape the better. You never realize how much you will use and it is definitely worth it so that everything arrives in one piece.

I also agree with Craigslist for free boxes or just type in key words online, "free moving boxes, cheap moving boxes, etc..."

Pack all cleaning items in big, plastic storage bins, like the ones you buy at Target. Much easier to move and no worries about spills, etc...and purchase the clear ones so you can see what is inside.

The overnight bag is a perfect idea as well. Just as you would for a few day trip/vacation. A clean outfit and shower are always needed.

Hope this helps~!! and best of luck with your move....it will be worth it in the end~~!!!
:)

Happy New Year 2012

Yes! Go to flylady.net! http://www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/flying-lessons/m...

Someone here on mamapedia recommended this to me before our last move, and it was by far the easiest move we have ever had. Do everything she says! I promise it works out really well.

As for boxes, UHaul sells them, or check on craigslist or freecycle to see if anyone is getting rid of boxes.

I get boxes from free cycle. Google free cycle and ask for moving boxes. It can't hurt.

Go to the store and ask your favorite clerk or the manager for boxes before they break them down.

Use extra large trash bags for bedding, towels, linen etc.

Pick up some of the FREE news papers for wrapping breakables

Do ONE room at a time (this way you have a sense of completion)

If you have help, you can assign rooms.

Best of everything to you and your family....Happy New Year!

Blessings....

Lots of good suggestions on getting free boxes. Also, I used an apron or one of those work aprons from like Home Depot. They are small and have 2 or 3 large pockets like a half apron...I don't know what you call them. But that way you always have a marker and tape to label your boxes. Nothing is more frustrating than always looking for that stuff when you are in a hurry. And it's a good place to store those little items you find on the floor when you move. A lost screw from something or a piece to a toy you thought was long gone...You don't want to set that stuff somewhere because you will never find it again.

If you take stuff apart to move, put all pieces in a ziploc bag and tape it to that item. That way it will always be together and you won't have to figure out which set of screws/washers goes with which table.

Look on craigslist for free boxes, or freecycle in your area, people are always giving them away for free.
Keep thing organized- whenever I moved, I would number each box, and as I was packing, I woild write down what's in each box- box no. 1- bathroom stuff, etc., box no 2 utencils, plates etc...
That way It was easy to find the things I needed to find first, without unpackin everything right away....

U-haul has mattress bags for around $3 for a twin and maybe $6 for a king. They worked great, but one of the bags ripped in the wind on the back of the pick up truck. Otherwise just doubble wrap it with two bed sheets. Small boxes for heavy things. I've moved 5 times and I did them all in two days. I packed the same day since I use everything. Clothes went in the trunk one time. The other time I put all the toys in the trunk. Just focus on one area at a time, the kitchen is the difficult part. I used towels around my plates and stuff. Good luck and try to not stress.

To get boxes, check at grocery stores. They have tons of boxes that they throw away every day. If there is a liquor store, they will have boxes that are great for glasses or other fragiles. If you still don't have enough boxes, load up dresser drawers, take them out when loading/unloading the truck, and put them back in for the drive and when you get to your new place. If it comes down to it, put clothes, stuffed animals, bedding, towels, etc. in garbage bags.

When I moved, I packed according to what I would need as soon as we got there and what could wait. That way I could unpack a few boxes immediately and work on the other ones as I had time. I tried to box up the same items in one box, such as books, towels, kitchen pots/pans. If multiple things went in a box, I numbered it and had a list on my computer with what was in it. Boxes were only packed with stuff from one room and when we moved it went in that room until it got unpacked. There are also a bunch of apps you can download to your phone that will list it all out for you. Good luck!

I would tell you to roll everything, rolling clothes takes up lots less space. Put dishrags and hand towel between the plates and to pack up the dishes unless you buy some boxes with the dividers in them for glasses. I always use my dishrags and dishtowels for packing the breakable dishes, that way they come to the kitchen and all the stuff goes in the one room.

Use huge boxes for comforters and pillows, that way hubby and friends won't get hernias from those large boxes being packed with books. It is worth the cost to buy a couple of those wardrobe boxes from U-Haul to hang the nice clothes that you don't want wadded up or wrinkled. Like suits and formals.

we found that home depot or lowes had the cheapest boxes. check your office for boxes.... I liked the paper boxes but they are small but very sturdy.

Go to grocery stores to ask for boxes.

I like the idea of asking at a liquor store someone suggested (sm & sturdy

If you have to move quickly:

go room to room
and
throw everything in those boses that will not break :) (wrap the breakbles)

I have moved like this several times unfortunately. Ugh.
Good luck!

Go to the grocery store. They have lots of boxes. Pack one room at a time
and mark the boxes, kitchen, bedroom etc. This way you can put them in
the appropriate rooms. Unpack one room at a time.

Hi K.-

I recommend a liquor store...they generally have STURDY boxes...and are small enough for heavier items to allow you to carry a couple 'full' at a time!

Best luck!
michele/cat

You have gotten good suggestions. A couple more... 1) Bookstores are awesome places to get boxes. They are all the same size, they are small enough that you can carry them fairly full, they are sturdy. 2) You can hire just loading and unloading help. This was very helpful when we move with our small kids. We used http://www.emove.com and clicked on the move help link. Make sure you read ratings before you choose one. We had one that packed our truck so well that everything fit with room to spare and nothing broken, then 5 months later we had one that packed less stuff in the same size truck and told us we would need to leave stuff because it wouldn't fit. Read the ratings!!!!! 3) Leave clothes packed into the dresser drawers. Pull them from the dresser carry it to the truck and then put it back together.
Good luck!!

Check with friends - I always have some boxes on hand because I sell Pampered chef - check with any of your friends who are in direct sales - like Avon, Mary Kay, Tastefully simple - they might have some spare boxes lying around.

Grocery stores will usually give you boxes free. You might want to call first & see what days they get deliveries. Good Luck with the move!

Hospitals are also good places to get free boxes. You can call the hospital operator and ask for the central supply department and find out when boxes would be available for you to pick up. They get shipments daily and the boxes range in size from small to very large.

Look on Craigslist for free packing boxes.

Look under free

Post under wanted.

Look on freecycle.. they may also have some boxes listed.

I definitely agree with going to a liquor store for boxes! They let us load up as many as we wanted, and they're very sturdy and perfect for packing dishes, glasses, and other breakables (since they have their own compartments).

We went to Lowe's and bought a huge roll of packing plastic to wrap our couches, mattresses, and chairs. Much easier to move, and less of a chance for damage.

I've also found that color-coding boxes per room or family member really helps.

Looks like the boxes angle has been pretty well covered. As for packing tips:
wrap your breakables/dishes in old newspaper. When you run out, use your towels and sheets. :) Extra linens will need to be packed anyway (except what is going to go directly onto your bed in the new place).

I like the apron suggestion, here's one to go along with that: when you disassemble anything (or find spare screws or whatnot) use packing tape to tape the parts inside a drawer to the unit. Dresser with mirror? Tape the screws for the mirror inside one of the dresser drawers. Multiple parts? Put them in a ziploc bag and tape the BAG inside a drawer.

Leave two plastic bins until the end. Leave empty except for cleaning items (sponge, paper towels, bleach, windex, etc). For the 2nd one, use it to carry the random things you will come across that you didn't know were still there. There is always something. A potted plant outside. A loose tool in the garage. Yard art. Kids toy. Welcome sign on the door. Door mat. There is always something that you don't notice until you are on the last load.
Good luck. You'll get through it.

We've moved a few times over the years and always did everything except for the actual transporting of our stuff (including putting the boxes and furniture into the moving van). We made quite a few runs to Office Depot for boxes and pretty much met our needs that way. You might also check if anyone's moved into your neighborhood recently, they might have boxes they'll give you (case in point, right after our last move, I noticed a neighbor was moving out, and I offered them boxes. They turned me down, but not 5 minutes later knocked on my door. Turns out they had a dresser full of clothes that the movers wouldn't take with the clothes in them, hence an emergency need for boxes). As for packing tips, make sure you cushion breakables with newspaper and/or blankets/towels. Also, use small boxes for books, as larger boxes can get real heavy real quick.

Lots of people give away free moving boxes on craigslist. Home Depot has moving boxes that are fairly cheap.