So, how do you save money before you even buy moving supplies and boxes? Simple, before you buy moving boxes and packing supplies you should go through your items and simply just throw stuff out. Yes, I will repeat it again, Throw Stuff Away. You know what I am referring to, clothing and shoes sitting in the back of your closet that don’t fit you and haven’t worn in the past 5 years, old furniture such as tables, chairs and lamps that have been sitting in your garage collecting dust, luggage that your old uncle Buck gave you with broken zipper and squeaky wheels, stacks of old magazines, books and newspapers.
You should think of moving as starting a new chapter in your life, so don’t schlepp all that old baggage with you it will just slow you down.

You might be saying, hey I can sell those old chairs, clothing and stuff. Well then, sell them, but in most cases used items will not bring much money back to you when you will consider how much time and effort it takes to sell them. For example, I had a coffee table I purchased new for $300 and when moving I put it for sale on a classified website. It took me 2 weeks to sell and I spent almost 2 hours a day checking emails, talking to frugal people on the phone, showing the table to thrifty people and reposting the ad daily till I finally got fed up and sold it for just $40. Now most of you will be saying, hey $40 that can still pay for 12 large moving boxes and a starbucks frappachino, yes very true but the stress in dealing with bargain hunters looking to buy my item was hell, very frustrating and used up a lot of time. In the end I decided to throw away and donate other items I had instead of selling them which included lamps, magazines, outdoor chairs, night stands, clothing and other similar items.

Just remember, the less stuff you have to pack, the less boxes and moving supplies you will need to buy. Also you will get packed so much faster when you have less stuff that needs packing. So if you want to save money before you even buy moving boxes, go through items you don’t use and throw them away or donate them to a charity.

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It’s not only the packing boxes that can be a nightmare. Getting stuff out of moving boxes and into their right place can also make things difficult on everybody, unless you keep a few tips in mind.

As soon as the packers are done taking everything into the house, make sure there are no boxes missing. If you have a box inventory, make sure everything has been placed where it’s meant to be and that nothing is broken. If it is, show it to the driver right then and there, so making a claim later will be easier.

Move the moving boxes to the rooms where they’re supposed to be. Resist the temptation to start unpacking in the living room. You’ll end up with stuff all over the place and it will take longer to get organized.

For the first day in the house, unpack only the cardboard boxes that contains all the essentials, such as personal bathrooms stuff, linens and maybe a couple of cups and dishes. Leave everything else to be unpacked over the course of the next few days.

Every time you finish unpacking a box, close it flat and put it out of the way (in an empty room or against a wall) so you can get through the room without bumping into empty moving boxes.

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Whether starting to pack for your move or storing the moving supplies for a while, keeping your moving boxes in perfect condition will ensure that your valuables will make to their destination in one piece.

• Don’t put your moving boxes together until you’re ready to fill them up. Until then, store them flat and against a wall or other structure. This will prevent the moving boxes from bending or breaking.
• Always fill up moving boxes all the way to the top. Empty spaces can cause the moving boxes to crush, not only risking the items inside but also ruining the box itself. If you can’t fill out the cardboard boxes with items, fill the remaining space with moving supplies such as crumbled up packing paper, bubble wrap or house hold items such as towels or sheets, which will act as extra padding.
• When stacking up moving boxes, put the heaviest at the bottom to prevent crushing lighter cardboard boxes.
• Store your packing boxes in a dry environment. Humidity can not only ruin the items inside the box, but it can weaken the cardboard boxes and cause it to break open.
• Distribute weight evenly inside the moving boxes. This will make them easier to pick up and less likely to give out because of the weight.

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1. Place heavy items at the bottom of the moving boxes and lighter items on top, even if they’re made of resistant material. This will ensure that they’re not crushed or broken by the weight.
2. Tape the bottom of the moving boxes to ensure that they don’t open or break during transport, risking the contents. Tape the top to prevent moving boxes from opening and the contents spilling.
3. Use lots of bubble wrap or foam pellets around fragile items. The more, the better. Larger items can also be wrapped with a moving blanket to prevent scratches or chips.
4. Make sure cardboard boxes are not underfilled, as this can cause them to crush when piled. If there’s empty space at the top, use it to pack blankets, towels or other cushioning items that can play double duty and provide additional protection.
5. Clearly label the moving boxes as Fragile. Use waterproof markers or better yet, buy red stickers with the word Fragile on them, which are easier to spot even at a distance.

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One cost you may not be aware when moving is repacking. Every company has the right to check your moving boxes and larger items to ensure they are properly packed. This is a way for them to protect themselves against insurance claims that arise because an improperly-packed article broke during transport.

If the company establishes that your items are not properly packed or protected, they may ask you to repack. However, if time is tight and the inspection doesn’t happen until the moving boxes are already on the moving truck, you may be charged a repacking fee for packing boxes or items like this.

To avoid this, make sure your items are secured and properly placed inside moving boxes. Larger items should be covered with moving blankets or bubble wrap that has been taped in place to prevent movement.

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Packing and moving will always be stressful, no matter how well you prepare for it. There are ways, however, that you can make the most of the your situation and reduce the tension for everybody involved.

STEP 1: PURGE

Get rid of anything you don’t love, don’t need or can be replaced for less money than it would take to move it. Buy enough cardboard boxes to pack everything you own but look at things twice before you put them into a box. Things you haven’t worn, read or used for longer than a year are unlikely to be useful again. Donate them, give them to a friend or put them out for recycling. Less stuff means less time spent packing and unpacking and less money spent on moving boxes of stuff you don’t really need.

STEP 2: TAKE YOUR TIME

Start packing as soon as you know moving time is coming. Put away things you don’t need on your everyday life, like off-season clothing and sport equipment, and holiday items. If you have a large collection of books, CDs or ceramic items, take time to find the appropriate moving boxes to support their weight and protect against falls and crashes. For a full house or apartment, you should start packing boxes at least five weeks before the scheduled moving time.

STEP 3: BUY HIGH-QUALITY SUPPLIES
Cheap cardboard boxes may seem like a good idea –Until their bottom gives out because of the weight of your book collection. The last thing you need when packing boxes for your move is to have to worry about thin boxes that won’t protect its contents or won’t allow for more than a couple of pounds of content. The same goes for packing tape (you want to make sure it stays strong even if it gets wet), and other moving supplies such as bubble wrap and wardrobe boxes.

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Items of sentimental value should not be packed and shipped in cardboard boxes. This is especially important as a personal protection, as shipping companies cannot insure items that have no real value. Also, there are no guarantees that the items will arrive in optimal condition. To avoid potential problems, some companies prohibit the packing and shipping of personal items.

Items considered as having only sentimental or personal value include:

• Prescription Medicine
• Computer Discs
• DVDs and Tapes
• Address Books
• Cell Phones, PDAs and Personal Organizers
• Jewelry
• Wedding Dress
• Financial Documents
• Photo Albums
• School Records
• Medical & Dental Records
• Keys (to car, safe, home)

If you need to ship any of these items, you have two options: either pack them inside furniture or their own containers before placing them into the cardboard boxes, or consider taking them along with you when you move. Since these items cannot be ensured, you will not be able to claim a lost if they’re damaged in transit.

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Shipping your boxes internationally is a lot different than shipping them cross-country. If you’re moving abroad, you will need to complete a series of steps long before your packing boxes are out of the door and on their way to your new home.

1. Make sure your paperwork is in order. This means not only passport and visa, but also any pertinent immigration documents. Some countries may be wary of letting you in with tons of boxes if you’re only arriving on a tourist visa, so check regulations in advance. Depending on what you’re shipping, you may also need special permissions for your boxed goods.

2. Hire a company that specializes in international shipping. Your cardboard boxes will be better handled and packed by experts who understand what international shipping requires in terms of protection and handling of the boxes.

3. Talk to the local embassy to ensure there are no specific restrictions on the material that can be shipped in boxes. For example, Vietnam doesn’t allow certain types of books to enter the country, and some European nations have restrictions on the amount of valuables or collectibles you can bring into the country.

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Moving boxes can also be used to package water beds and their accessories. Before packing the bed, however, drain it of all water with either an electric pump, the straight siphon method, or a drain pump and faucet adapter. When you think you’re finished, press your hand on the mattress -If a hand print appears, then there is more water to drain.

Keep the mattress plug handy so as soon as you’re finished you can seal the mattress to prevent air from getting inside. If the mattress is a motion-reducing mattress, make certain you do not shift the baffles on the inside. If they do, move them to their original place before you place it into the box.

Next, start at the top of the mattress and fold the mattress into thirds. Once this is done, fold the mattress in half. Surround the mattress with blankets before stowing it. Now the mattress is ready to be put inside the packing boxes.

Afterwards, disassemble the frame and all hardware. Put all hardware in ziplock bags and mark their contents. Wrap and tape the frame pieces in thin cardboard edge protectors to protect them during transit.

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Music can help you with packing your moving boxes

Lets face it, moving and packing is something that not many people want to do. Just like going to exercise, some of us need motivation or at least some good Music to pump us up to start packing boxes for our move. The below is list of “pump you up” songs some of our customers recommended that will help you start getting “Moving” with packing boxes. Please feel free to add your favorites in the comment field.

• Thunderstruck- AC/DC

• Rocky IV: War 
• Eye of the Tiger - Survivor
• In Da Club - 50 Cent
• SexyBack - Justin Timberlake

• Bawitdaba - Kid Rock
• Kickstart My Heart - Motley Crue
• Low - Flo Rida

• Saliva: Click Click Boom
• Metallica: Enter Sandman
• Paradise City - Guns ‘n Roses
• AC-DC: TNT
• Lose Yourself - Eminem
• Pump It - Black Eyed Peas

What music are you listening to when your packing your moving boxes? Please use the comment field below and share.

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