In the past 12 years, I’ve moved 11 times. It’s a lot. I wouldn’t recommend this. Ha! The good news is I have learned a lot from all these moves, and I am sharing them today with you!
When renting a moving van, use a coupon code. You can receive coupons for different companies when you change your postal address. Budget Truck Rentals has offered a coupon for 20-30% off the last three or so times we moved. This was the best deal we could find, as they are cheaper than UHaul. There are other ways to find coupons. You can save a lot by moving on a Monday if your moving dates are flexible.
Free moving boxes are available in most retail stores. Many retail stores offer a large selection of sturdy, clean moving boxes. We usually drive behind a strip mall and look for “cardboard only’ dumpsters. I’ve heard great things about the packages from fast food restaurants. If you ask, you can usually get a stack of boxes from a manager. You can find free moving cartons on Craigslist and other online sales pages. Save your parcels if you are planning to move frequently. The same boxes have been used for four moves. It was worth saving space and preparing the packages for the next move.
When you move, using old documents for packing is a good idea. Use old magazines, junk mail, and school papers to cushion fragile items. You can dispose of these items when you arrive at your new home. Be careful when using anything that contains personal information, such as bank statements or utility bills.
Purchase a lot of packing tape. Decide where to store it, and ensure you always do so. It takes twenty minutes to look for the video. How did that roll vanish so quickly? I keep a few rolls in strategic places… one for each room, including the bedrooms and downstairs. So I don’t have to search my house for a roll. The kitchen tape is always on the microwave because I put it there after taping a package.
Label boxes with the contents and the destination. I used to label boxes according to the room they originated from, but I quickly realized it needed to be more helpful. Instead, I label each box with the contents and the destination in my new home. When I ask people to help me unpack my things, they will know exactly where everything should go.
I’ve seen a few tips on how to use colored tape to label boxes. But at $3 per roll, it is way too pricey! You’ll also need to color code the rooms of your new house so that people will know where everything is. The labels are written with permanent markers. I can read, and everyone who helps me move boxes can read. I can use it and don’t need to buy colored tape.
Create an OPEN ME FIRST box. It contains all the essentials you’ll need in the first few minutes after moving into your new house. I use a clear bin with a lid to make it easy to separate the cardboard boxes from my plastic bin. What I put in my chest is:
Keep a moving package. I store all the information I need for my move in a manilla folder. It includes utility numbers, school schedules, rental contracts, realtor contact details, and moving truck rental documents. This information is essential; you want it recovered in cardboard boxes.
I pack a suitcase per family member, just as I would for a vacation. I pack enough clothes, toiletries, and medication for three days. Knowing you have the essentials makes life so much easier. You don’t have to search through boxes at night to find diapers or pajamas.
Throw pillows, blankets, and sheets in garbage bags the morning before the move. Label the bags and throw them into the moving truck. You can then make the bed at your new home. You’ll be grateful that everything is in one place when it’s time to go to bed. If you want to go the extra mile, wash your bedding several days before moving so you don’t have to worry about it at the new home for a while!
Take a picture before you leave. Have your family pose on the front porch of the old home. I love looking back to see how much our family has grown. Then I knew exactly how old my kids were when we moved. This is a picture of one of us from a few moves ago:
