Packing Supplies and Solutions

Moving to a different house is quite an undertaking.  Moving to another state is that much more complicated.  Moving to a different country…that’s in a league of its own.  If the best advice for domestic move is to be prepared and well-organized, that is going to a hundred times more important when it comes to an international move.  It’s not as simple as packing your belongings into cardboard boxes.

You need to choose what is going to be necessary for your new home, and the different factors that go into that.  Only then can you begin to figure out how to handle shipping and storage.  Thankfully, lots of people have gone before you, and they offer their experiences and advice all over the internet.  Here are a couple tips to get you started:

What to Pack

It’s a good idea to purge whenever you move, but it gets more important the bigger the move you are making.  Not only does it make the whole process easier, it really helps reduce the overall cost (less of those cardboard boxes, for one).  There are a couple things to think about when packing for an international move:

• The reason for relocation. If you are moving for school, focus on bringing the items pertaining to school.  If you are moving to a rural area, focus more on things that will keep you entertained and plugged into your community.
• The type of home you are moving into. If you are moving into a smaller home, which is highly probably, you will need to think and rethink what you need and don’t need.
• The weather of where you will be living. If you are moving somewhere that doesn’t have seasons, but stays warm, that will really impact what you are going to use and wear.
• What the new country does or doesn’t allow. A lot of countries have their own restrictions on what can be brought across their borders, to include animals, plants, weapons… Make sure you know your new country’s restrictions before you start packing.

How to Ship

Okay, so you’ve got a giant stack of cardboard boxes, full of your stuff and ready to go.  Now what?  There are two options when it comes to how you can ship your stuff, and they each have their pros and cons.

• Shipping by air is incredibly expensive, but it is also quite fast. If you have an employer helping front the cost of the move, this is probably a realistic option for you.  You are going to need to make sure that everything you have packed follows regulations, though.
• Shipping by sea is the cheapest option, and also the slowest. You could consider sending more important things by plane, and the rest of your belongs (like furniture and clothes) by sea.

You might not think that people are searching the internet for tips on how to pack for vacation these days, but they are!  As a matter of fact, people are turning to tips from the internet for just about everything, and they wind up having a much better experience because of it.  Why not use technology to help you have the best experience possible?  Not maximizing your resources is like using cheap moving boxes as your luggage just because you didn’t know any better.

No way!  Good luggage is the start of an awesome journey, and the tips don’t stop there:

1. Make a list and check it twice.  Write down everything that comes to mind that you think you might need on your trip, and then cross it off as you pack it.  Going back over the list will help you determine if you really do need that item, or it may spark a reminder for something else.  Include important steps like “take out of the trash”, “set out the hide-a-key”, “turn up the AC”.

2. A lot of blogs will suggest you take things like a first aid kit on your trip. You should absolutely make sure that you take any and all prescriptions, and maybe even some ibuprofen if you are prone to needing it.  That being said, you can find just about any other kind of medication or bandaids at any number of the Wal-Marts or apothecaries around the world.  Once again, this would be like using cheap moving boxes as your luggage simply because you don’t know where to find luggage.

3. Make sure you observe airline restrictions and regulations. In case you haven’t flown in a while, YES, the FAA is still enforcing rules about liquids and toiletries.  No liquids can go through the security checkpoint, even if you just bought it at the Starbucks inside of the actual airport and even if it’s a completely sealed can of soda.  They won’t allow it.  Also, all of your toiletries need to be travel-sized and able to fit in a clear, pint-sized plastic bag.  However, they DO allow snacks that you may have packed at home, like a baggie of pretzels or granola bar.  Also, be sure to check the sizes and weights of appropriate carry-ons.  The overheard bins in airplanes get filled very quickly, and if your bag is too big you are going to wind up needing to check it, which you were probably trying to avoid in the first place.

4. Last, but not certainly not least, if you are going to roll your clothes you might as well be using cheap moving boxes as your luggage! Okay, I know I’ve said that one too many times by now, but it’s true.  You wind up needing way more space when you roll your clothes, although you can probably avoid some wrinkles if you roll your pants.

You might think I’m cracked if I try to tell you that it’s possible to turn cardboard boxes into treasure.  You might instantly call to mind that saying “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure” and get this vision of clutter and mess.  However, you would probably track with me if I say that you can upcycle cardboard, or transform it into something fun.  Have I got your attention now?  Let’s talk about some really great ways you can recycle that old garbage into something clever and creative:

For the first idea you need multiple cardboard boxes of the same size (or a tall one, if you have access).  Cut the seams on the tops and bottoms and open them up so that you have created, essentially, a tunnel.  Do this to however many you need to make something tall enough to become a puppet theater.  Cut appropriate holes and windows and spray paint or cover with wrapping paper.  Use some pillow cases or old t-shirts to make curtains.  Don’t have any puppets?  There are plenty of options for homemade sock puppets!

If you are feeling super capable, you can take all manner of cardboard and transform it into a Barbie townhouse or any kind of dollhouse.  Making accessories and embellishments is so easy with crafting paper and an Xacto knife.  It will be so cute you almost won’t want your kids to play with it.

Not feeling up to the task of a lot of fine details?  Simply take some decent sized cardboard boxes and cover them with brightly colored duct tape, which will simultaneously decorate and fortify them.  Spray paint some paper plates black and attach them to the bottom of the boxes on both sides and you’ve got yourself some box cars!

Perhaps my personal favorite is taking a couple of the same sized cardboard boxes, or cutting a decent one in half, and turning it into a doll bunk bed.  So cute I could scream.  Use some paper towel rolls, or dowell rods if you have some on hand, and some strong tape as the bed posts and then use some popsicle sticks to make the ladder.  This is basically any little girl’s dream.  Spray paint it and make some custom bedding out of adorable cloth scraps and you’ve got yourself a BFF for life.

Finally, this post would simply not be worthy of posting if I didn’t mention the classic tissue-box-paper-towel-roll guitar.  Remember those?  Man, the memories just come pouring in.  You can use the supplies I’ve already mentioned and simply stretch some rubber bands around the tissue box, or you can look online for some more sophisticated templates.  Amazon boxes are usually the perfect size for this project, and you can cut out a guitar-shaped faceplate from some other cardboard.

1. Getting Started

Moving is overwhelming and stressful.  It tends to sneak up on us and the tasks multiply as time flies.  Sometimes we tend to just put everything off, too overwhelmed by the idea of everything that needs to be done.  The easiest place to start is by collecting your supplies.  Look online for deals on cheap moving boxes and order lots of them.  Get yours hands on as much packaging material as possible!

2. Cheap Moving Boxes

Getting your box situation organized is a crucial step.  Do you invest in some really sturdy, new moving boxes, or do you save yourself a hefty chunk and get some used, cheap moving boxes?  Whatever you choose, it won’t be wrong, and probably just mainly depends on your budget.  The one thing to keep in mind, though, is to go with a lot of medium sized boxes.  Using large boxes makes them too heavy and too awkward.

3. Quick Packing

It’s best if you can give yourself a good two or three months to prepare and organize for a move, but that’s not always realistic.  Some helpful, quick packing tips are: pack small items in small boxes and then put those in larger boxes so that you don’t have a bunch of loose stuff floating around, keep your clothes in their drawers, set aside important papers, pack overnight bags for everyone in the family…

4. Packing the Truck

It helps to plan out how you want to load your moving truck.  Put the largest and heaviest items in first, like appliances and furniture.  Have a bunch of padding set aside (you can collect old blankets or rent some from a moving company).  Place long items in next, like your mattresses, bed pieces, and tables.  Tape disassembled furniture together and keep ALL of the hardware in the SAME place, with the tools that you used.  Pack lighter boxes on heavier, and stuff the holes with bags of clothes and soft items so that there is no shifting during the journey.

5. Extra Packing Tips

You might want to consider letting a moving company prepare your appliances.  If you are going to do it yourself make sure that all of them empty and have been unplugged for at least 24 hours before the move.  Don’t forget to tape all of the doors closed!  Take pictures of the front and back of your entertainment center so that you know your set-up and which cords go where when you move in.  Speciality boxes for large pieces of artwork and frames is highly recommended.  Smaller pictures can easily be packed side by side, with a layer of bubble wrap in between, and then tape them all together.

Moving is full of challenges and twist and turns, starting with how to find cheap moving boxes all the way up to unpacking them in your new home.  Thankfully, enough people have done it and there are plenty of tips and tricks for how to make the whole process go as smoothly and stress-free as it can.

The Best Practices for Packing

A lot of websites and blogs will tell you to start with new, heavy-duty, corrugated boxes.  However, I am going to tell you that using used, cheap moving boxes is just as effective and will save you a ton of money.  That being said, use only the boxes that are not bent or broken, because once the integrity of a box has been compromised it goes down hill from there pretty quickly.

Reinforce the bottom of said boxes with packaging tape.

Pack heavier items at the bottom and lighter items at the top.

Fill all empty spaces with linens, newspaper, bubble wrap etc. for additional support and protection.

Do not pack your boxes too heavy, so the first step is using medium sized boxes.  Also, be sure to use even smaller boxes when packing things like books.  Even though you started out by reinforcing the bottoms, the larger the box the heavier it will be and the more likely that the bottom will go out.

Ensure that each box can close and be properly sealed.  Don’t leave stuff sticking out the top because then you can’t stack them, and that will be the beginning of a very frustrating moving experience.  That’s why you got cheap moving boxes– so you can use as many as you need to!

Keep in mind that if you are using a moving company, they will refuse to move any boxes that appear to be incorrectly packed, not durable, or containing hazardous items.

Also, a moving company will charge you a fee if they wind up having to repack any boxes during the moving process.

Packing Small Items

Packing small items is a challenge, to be sure.  From hardware to silverware, they are small, loose objects that make moving more of a nightmare.  This is when organization becomes the most important.

As you are taking your furniture apart, make sure you put the hardware in individual baggies that are properly labeled.  Then, put all of those baggies in a larger bag, and keep that with the other essential items you are going to need for the unpacking process.

Use shoeboxes or plastic baggies for other smaller items, and then pack those in a larger box.

Most Important Tip for Moving

Once again, a lot of websites and blogs will encourage you to pack in garbage bags to save on boxes.  Once again, this is why you find cheap moving boxes, so that you don’t have to skimp on them.  Garbage bags tear easily, are awkward for stacking, and wind up being more trouble than they are worth.

1. Getting Started

Moving is overwhelming and stressful.  It tends to sneak up on us and the tasks multiply as time flies.  Sometimes we tend to just put everything off, too overwhelmed by the idea of everything that needs to be done.  The easiest place to start is by collecting your supplies.  Look online for deals on cheap moving boxes and order lots of them.  Get yours hands on as much packaging material as possible!

2. Cheap Moving Boxes

Getting your box situation organized is a crucial step.  Do you invest in some really sturdy, new moving boxes, or do you save yourself a hefty chunk and get some used, cheap moving boxes?  Whatever you choose, it won’t be wrong, and probably just mainly depends on your budget.  The one thing to keep in mind, though, is to go with a lot of medium sized boxes.  Using large boxes makes them too heavy and too awkward.

3. Quick Packing

It’s best if you can give yourself a good two or three months to prepare and organize for a move, but that’s not always realistic.  Some helpful, quick packing tips are: pack small items in small boxes and then put those in larger boxes so that you don’t have a bunch of loose stuff floating around, keep your clothes in their drawers, set aside important papers, pack overnight bags for everyone in the family…

4. Packing the Truck

It helps to plan out how you want to load your moving truck.  Put the largest and heaviest items in first, like appliances and furniture.  Have a bunch of padding set aside (you can collect old blankets or rent some from a moving company).  Place long items in next, like your mattresses, bed pieces, and tables.  Tape disassembled furniture together and keep ALL of the hardware in the SAME place, with the tools that you used.  Pack lighter boxes on heavier, and stuff the holes with bags of clothes and soft items so that there is no shifting during the journey.

5. Extra Packing Tips

You might want to consider letting a moving company prepare your appliances.  If you are going to do it yourself make sure that all of them empty and have been unplugged for at least 24 hours before the move.  Don’t forget to tape all of the doors closed!  Take pictures of the front and back of your entertainment center so that you know your set-up and which cords go where when you move in.  Speciality boxes for large pieces of artwork and frames is highly recommended.  Smaller pictures can easily be packed side by side, with a layer of bubble wrap in between, and then tape them all together.

It’s moving day.  You wake up with a smile on your face and your make-up already done.  You feel so energized and prepared you don’t even need to go and make a pot of coffee.  Your feet hit the ground and they are already in your peppy moving day sneakers.  You’ve got your moving day playlist already loaded, and so you pop in your earbuds and ride the banister down to the entryway, which is full of nicely stacked shipping boxes that are perfectly labeled.  They look like a battalion, ready for inspection.  Does this sound a realistic scenario?

Of course it is!  And that’s because you followed these few simple steps to help make the whole process go so much smoother:

Get Ahead of the Game:

• Start going through rooms weeks ahead of time, sifting through all of your belongings. Now is the time to get rid of clutter!  Ideally, you can hold a garage sale and put that money towards something fun for your new house (which should be a positive incentive to get all the hard work done).
• Figure out how many boxes you are going to need. There are some online calculators to help you determine that number.  Make sure you don’t get a bunch of large boxes, which might sound good in theory but are, in reality, a living nightmare.  The goal is to pack medium sized boxes well that can be carried and stacked easily.  Shipping boxes aren’t cheap!  Calculate the number and secure them way ahead of time.

Prepare for the Immediate Future:

• Set aside anything that you might need immediately after you move in (plastic baggies, tool kit, a small box of kitchen essentials).
• Pack an overnight bag so that you don’t have to go digging through boxes on your first night in your new home.

Pack Smart:

• Packing always takes longer than we think it will. There’s the making of piles of stuff to get rid of, throw out, and pack.  There’s the misting of eyes as we come across precious memorabilia. So start a long time in advance!  Weeks, if you have them.
• Shipping boxes may be heavy duty, but your body probably isn’t. Try to avoid stuffing an entire box with books.  Normally, you want to pack everything that goes in the same room together, but in the case of super heavy stuff like books the suggestion is to pack half books and half linen closet.