Packing necessity-type items into the same moving boxes allows for a smoother transition for people that find themselves jumping into a new location and a new career at the same time. This way, items that may not be quite as important, such as keepsakes and decorative pieces, can remain packed for a bit longer without getting in the way of a busy transition. Of course a huge drawback to this option is for anyone who has ever been considered a procrastinator. Sometimes these boxes for moving may go unpacked for years, but if this is the case, it can always bring about the consideration to simplify. A good rule of thumb here is if an item stays packed away for more than 12 months, it might as well be tossed or given away. This of course excludes seasonal items that might be used only once every year or two.

Whichever way is decided upon for packing boxes, always make sure that fragile items are placed on top, wrapped in paper, or use moving supplies such as bubble wrap, or its original packaging to prevent damage. Placing heavier items on the bottom of a box will also prevent the boxes from tipping over during transit. And as mentioned above, always label a box as specifically as allowed.

For the average mover, a nice cross-section of the above-mentioned practices is usually what happens during the packing and moving process. Just make sure to have extra cash on hand for paper plates and napkins, toilet paper, and any other items that may get temporarily misplaced. And be sure to keep a positive attitude throughout the journey.

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Moving is a daunting task for anyone. Packing, cleaning, traveling, more cleaning, and unpacking can be overwhelming. One area in particular that oftentimes leaves people in a “moving stupor” is how to effectively pack moving boxes. In the same way that people have their own ways of organizing their sock drawers, there are different schools of thought on packing boxes.

The first line of thinking is to compartmentalize. Keeping items segregated by room or genre is the first way to consider. Many people would prefer to have a box contain only items from one specific room, with no cross-packing. It makes unpacking much simpler, but can also have its drawbacks as well. Moving boxes may become too heavy when packing the library, for instance, where most items are heavily-bound books. Labeling the boxes for moving by room is a good tip, so that people know where to place boxes in the new living quarters.

Another way to organize moving boxes is by weight distribution. While this particular method allows for ease of transporting, the unpacking process may take a bit longer, as one box could include items ranging from hammers to cotton balls. When using this method, it is always best to list as many items as possible onto the box itself, in order to be able to find necessary items, such as toilet paper.

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Another way to find free moving boxes is to ask local grocers and retailers. There are a few drawbacks to this idea, though. The first is that oftentimes boxes are stained from the foods they carried, if gleaned from a grocer. Another drawback is that many places have gone so corporate that they are not allowed to give away boxes, so it is better to try locally-owned retailers before the big corporate companies.

If these avenues have all turned up either empty or shy of the number of boxes needed, the next-best place to check would be Craigslist. People will sell anything on this site, and they are almost always willing to negotiate a better price for whatever it is they are selling; especially the dozens of moving boxes that are taking up valuable storage or living space.

If all else fails, and time permits, consider ordering boxes & moving supplies online. Shipping charges may apply, but they will usually be cheaper than going to a local shipping or supply store where paying retail could result in an astronomical bill. One advantage to supply stores is the ability purchase a conservative amount, and going back for more is easier than ordering a second shipment from an online wholesaler.

Lastly, remember to earn back that well-spent money by selling those moving boxes once the move is finished.

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Moving is expensive. And one of the ways to cut costs is to find cheap, or even free, moving supplies. It takes dozens and dozens of moving boxes to move an established home. An average home with six rooms, that has been lived in for five years with two adults–who haven’t hoarded everything they’ve ever gotten–will take around 50 boxes. Add children–especially babies–and that number increases.

How does one go about finding boxes for moving on the cheap? There are a number of ways to accomplish this, and it all depends on two things: how much time there is before the move, and how much effort is willing to be put into the search. The truth is, unless a mover is ready to pay more for his moving boxes, he will probably have to glean them from several locations.

The first, and possibly cheapest way to find those valuable necessities is to join a local Freecycle organization. Freecycle is an online group where people offers items to other members for free, that would otherwise be thrown out. Not only is it a frugal way to obtain those moving boxes, but it is also a great way to get rid of items that are no longer needed, and would cause the need for more boxes.

Network with friends, especially on social networking sites, such as Facebook, where people can spread the word easily. Keeping watch for new neighbors is also a good way to gain boxes and moving supplies. It never hurts to ask, and they would probably be more than happy to get rid of cardboard boxes so quickly after a move.

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Before the truck arrives,moving boxes should be stacked in a way that makes them easily accessible. This might mean near the front door, or perhaps lined up in the garage. Moving boxes can be organized according to room, but set the fragile cardboard boxes aside. Boxes for moving that may be particularly fragile may even be set apart to be ride in the car instead of being jolted around with the heavy boxes and furniture. Picture frames and large decorative items such as vases can be added to the fragile list for the car and wrapped with protective moving supplies such as bubble wrap and stretch wrap.

When the truck arrives, the packing boxes should be lined up along the inside wall. They can be loaded from floor to ceiling in as many rows as is needed. The tighter they are packed the better, because this can help to prevent them from falling or sliding. Once all the boxes are secure, furniture and equipment can be loaded up. It is important to have moving blankets or a type of plastic wrap to protect the furniture. Call and talk to the moving company about the specific furniture that will be moved. They can help to suggest what types of packaging or moving accessories will be helpful for protecting the furniture that is being moved. Whoever is loading the truck should also be made aware if anything is antique or heirloom. Over protecting the things that are costly or sentimentally valuable is worth the effort. Getting everything moved successfully will be a great feeling.

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Renting a moving truck is moving made simple. Even for a local move, it is much easier to take one, or at most two big trips, rather than running back and forth across town all day long for a few days in a row. It’s also great to skip out on begging friends to use their pickup trucks. Just because people own a pickup doesn’t mean they want to help everyone they know move by hauling there moving boxes!

When there is a question of what size to get, all depends on what the moving situation looks like. For starters, call the company and talk to them about what types of large furniture and equipment is being moved. The company may also ask questions about how big of a house is being moved to, and if anything is being picked up from storage. The company should be able to help with estimates of the size of truck that will be needed. If the movers are hired and will be charging by the hour, then plan on getting a truck that is the right size, but error towards it being a bit too big. This is a good plan to go with if moving across country as well, since multiple trips is probably not an option. If friends and family are stepping in as the moving help, and multiple trips are an option, get a truck that is approximately right, but error towards it being a bit small. There is no point in spending extra money on space that isn’t needed.

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If you belong to a free-cycle group online, or if you have been wanting to join one, this is a great first post. Most free-cycle groups require that the first post a person makes is an “OFFER”. Heavy duty, boxes for moving that have only been used once will get snatched up quickly. Especially for a new home owner who may be wanting to put up a few “WANTED” posts, this will get you started off on the right foot.

For those who have no interest in such groups, a status update on their social networking site of choice can quickly find someone who is happy to take the moving boxes off their hands. In fact, people who plan ahead well could even go together with someone else who will be wanting cheap moving boxes. This way the two parties can split the cost. For those who didn’t think of this early enough, simply offering the boxes as “hand-me-downs” can feel rewarding since others are being blessed by great and cheap moving boxes.

If giving the packing boxes away as hand-me-downs seems too complicated, a few calls to local department stores should determine a place where people can drop off cardboard boxes to be recycled. In towns where recycling is encouraged the boxes can be put in the recycling bin. If a town encourages recycling but doesn’t provide people with bins, the boxes can be used each week to hold all their other recyclables. Otherwise, for the person wanting to just get ride of them, they can simply be put out next to the recyclables.

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Once all the moving is done, and all the moving boxes are unpacked, what is a person to do will all those cardboard boxes? First, some of the packing boxes won’t necessarily be unpacked. Some of the moving boxes will no doubt go straight to the new basement or garage with items that aren’t used often. Those boxes will simply double as storage containers.

The rest of the moving-boxes will obviously be torn down, and can be stacked together until all of the boxes needing to be unpacked are finished. Once a person has all of the boxes unpacked and torn down, it’s time to figure out what to do with them. If the family might be moving again in the next year or two, (for instance military families or people renting,) then this isn’t really isn’t a debate of what to do. If there is any extra room at all to store boxes then it just makes sense to keep them. But for families not planning to move anytime soon, or for those who just don’t have any room to spare, something has to be done with the moving boxes. Even if people don’t plan to keep their cheap moving boxes, its not a bad idea to store two or three next to the washing machine or behind the fridge. That way if one is needed for storing or shipping something, there is no scramble to find a box.

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Not everyone who wants to be involved helping will have open schedules on the moving day. Some might be able to come over ahead of time and help packing boxes. Having a consistent labeling system makes it easy for anyone to pack moving boxes, without wasting time asking questions. The kitchen is a great room to start, because most things in the kitchen won’t raise any, “What should I do with this?” questions. Painting at the new house before the moving day is also a great way for people to be involved. And painting before the move, even without help, will save you from having to paint around furniture!

Besides the obvious things that people can do to help, there are plenty of little things that could be done. Family members who are hanging out on moving day, but are unable to do any of the heavy duty jobs can be in charge of picking up pizza for all the movers and helpers. (Although the home owner should be sure to pick up the bill, its one small way of expressing appreciation for all the help.) You might also need someone to make a run to the store for cleaning supplies, lightbulbs or paper plates. It’s a good idea to have some cash on the moving day, so that others can be sent to the store, or pizza place. The home owner needs to be available to direct traffic, furniture, and checklists at the new estate.

Before everyone leaves, take a group picture of everyone standing in front of the new house, with some moving boxes on the lawn. When life goes back to normal, this picture can be turned into a nice thank you card. Because you really will be thankful.

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Moving to a new house is a time that people can really use all the help they can get. Friends and family are usually excited when they find out about the purchase of a new home. The new home’s owner might have plenty of people volunteering to help with packing boxes, but without a plan, all the helping hands may go to waste. Here are some simple ways to make sure that many hands really do make light work.

A checklist at both the old and the new house can clearly show what needs to be done. Each checklist should be split into rooms, or into similar tasks. For instance, a checklist could have all vacuuming jobs grouped together, assuming that whoever has the vacuum will move room to room. Otherwise the list could have each task under the heading of what room it is in. Dividing tasks by room is a good approach if there is a specific order that the jobs need to be done in. An example of this would be that dusty counters should be cleaned before the floor is swept to avoid having to sweep a second time. The more specific a list is, the better chance that what needs to be done will actually happen.

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