Moving can be a big expense; from closing costs or deposits to the price of movers, it starts to add up.
We, ourselves, are in the middle of the moving chaos. We’ve found our perfect home and are waiting to sell our current one. Meanwhile, I have been packing up what I can, all of those things we can live without, such as summer clothes, my health and beauty stockpile, extra towels and blankets, some of the kids’ toys and most of my extensive book collection.
I never realized how much stuff we have. Even after a major de-cluttering in anticipation of selling our house, there is still a lot of stuff that will come with us in the move. We are a family of five, so I suppose it shouldn’t be too surprising that we won’t travel lightly.
The first thing I did was to go on a hunt for free boxes. This wasn’t as easy as it sounds. It seemed to consume my whole existence at one point. Sure there are plenty of boxes in the world, but most of them are not suitable for packing precious belongings. I lived to find suitable boxes. I was a box maniac and drove my husband crazy. “Hey isn’t that a box?” I would say as we drove down the street, forcing him to stop short in the middle of traffic. Of course, it never turned out to be a good usable box. I also made him drive behind shopping complexes and look into recycling bins–all for one or two boxes at the most. It just wasn’t worth it, and I don’t want you to go through all of that. So, please learn from my experience.
With a little trial and error, I found the following sources to yield the best and most amount of boxes:
Neighbors: When the for sale SOLD! sign disappeared from a neighbor’s yard and the moving truck appeared, I knew it was time I introduced myself. Not only did I meet a great family, but I got a lot of nice boxes that the family bought but never even used in their move. Not wanting to throw them away, they packed the new folded boxes up in their truck and took them along.
Freecycle: A wanted post for boxes put me in touch with a family who moved to their new home earlier in the week. They had plenty of nice boxes, including the coveted wardrobe kind.
Bookstores: Our local chain bookstores have the absolute best boxes. They are sturdy and just the right size for everything from books to kitchen towels. These are definitely my favorite boxes.
Grocery stores: Don’t just ask for any boxes or you might be disappointed. Call or go directly to the dairy manager and ask for the boxes that hold eggs. These boxes are another great size to have, and they often come with their own packing material. I plan on using these for dishes, glasses and other kitchen items.
Don’t forget to pass your boxes on when you are done with them. I’ll probably post an offer to freecycle after I move and unpack. Unless, of course, a new neighbor introduces herself to me as I’m unpacking at my new house. Maybe it will be you!
How many times have you moved? Do you have any tips to share?
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