Starting to pack

My brother took me to get some boxes today. Instead of going from store to store and trying to amass boxes, I decided I was going to buy them from the moving company that I am using to move. Boxes are not cheap! And I know for sure that after I unpack at wherever I'm moving to, I'm going to be storing these for future use!

$101 for 24 boxes and 1 large roll of packing paper for dishes etc. I don't want to use news print because you have to wash everything afterward due to the transfer of the ink.

So today I'm going to start packing up stuff that I don't use such as my books, bookcase stuff, baking stuff, much of my dishes because I am not entertaining and don't need all of my dishes out. And clothes from my closet that I'm not using, such as out of season clothing, coats, etc.

I'll just have to keep remembering to look in the boxes before taping them up. I don't want to accidentally pack up one of the curious kittens. I nearly threw Spencer out in the trash a couple weeks ago because he snuck into a bag of shredded paper. And he's still a kitten so he's not really all that heavy yet so I didn't notice the difference in weight.

I guess I may be the oddball but I love packing/moving tho this time it will be very stressful but still a few years away.

I just call up the stores and ask them to hold the boxes that can be flattened. I worked in pathmark and really not a big issue as long as you show up that am before they get in customers way they were good about it(shoprite too)

Poor spencer He probably saw it as one big adventure tho

Be sure to not "pack" any cat around!...


... ....Just kidding!...

I absolutely hate moving. I have been in this apartment since 1996.

Prior to that I was in a place for 2 years which I had moved to while I went to school. Because it was cheap and close to school.

Prior to that I was in a place for 2 years, which I had moved to only because the owner of the house I was living in for 7 years had sold the house. The only reason I moved out of this particular particular apartment was because I couldn't afford to pay the rent I was paying, and I also wanted to be within walking distance of where I was in school. Had I not returned to school I likely would still be there.

But I've been wanting to move from where I'm currently living for some time now. I was wanting to move in 2004, but health matters got in the way. Then health combined with money issues due to long term disability got in way until 2009. I decided that I would work for 1 year and then look at moving, which would have been last year. However, once again health (surgery) got in the way of that and I resigned the lease for another year.

I was wishy-washy about resigning in October 2011, but thought that I might for one more year, but the agency made the decision for me. This is the year whether I wanted to or not!

Now that the decision is made, I'm actually excited about it! I'm looking forward to going through my stuff, getting rid of stuff (I'm not a hoarder and I hate clutter, and my apartment has become a clutter-fest despite my best intentions). I'm looking forward to built in air conditioning. A balcony that I can sit out on and get some fresh air when it's warm. In suite washer/dryer so that I can actually cook and do laundry at the same time instead of having to push and pull my portable washer to my kitchen sink and tie up the entire kitchen all day long with laundry. And I want a 2 bedroom so that I can have a sewing room. I'm tired of having to clean off my sewing machine cabinet to access my sewing machine inside. I want to get back into sewing and a sewing room (where kitties are off limits due to the hair and extra helpfulness) is something I've been wanting. Plus the extra room can be used to store extra coats and other things that I don't want taking up space in my living room/dining room, such as my mini shopping cart that I use to take out trash etc.

What I'm not looking forward to is the actual move. I do have movers lined up, but it's going to take so long to unpack at the other end because I tend to clean before I put anything away. I want to know that when I'm putting my things away that the place is clean, and it isn't clean until I clean it to my standard. I don't know if they used rags from the bathroom in my kitchen cupboards, or if they have properly sanitized the toilet etc. So being somewhat of a germaphobic, I always clean before I unpack.

But it will also be nice to have that very clean and orderly space that comes with just having moved into a new place!!!

...pics!, pics!, pics!...

Next time (or if you need more boxes this move), check the want ads. Lots of people will give their boxes and packing paper away for a nominal fee or for free; we did the same after moving here and the boxes were almost-new, having been used only once. We had 4 wardrobe boxes and I'll never move again without those.

We always play U2's moving song when we unpack, you know the one, "I still haven't found what I'm looking for."

Originally Posted by CoolCat

...pics!, pics!, pics!...

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When I find a place to move too! hehe

I plan on taking my camera when I go apartment hunting so I can take pictures.

Two boxes of books, packed! I'm working on my bookcase first. This way I have a place where I can stack boxes as they fill up. Once that's done, I'll take to my closets and the shelves in the closets/pantry. And then then kitchen. I won't be using my baking stuff. A good portion of my dishes can be packed because I am not planning on entertaining anyone. Leaving 2 of everything out will be plenty. And I have so many pots that I am not using, they can all be packed up too.

I booked my movers for August 1st, but I can cancel my lease earlier, so if I find a place to move to sooner than August 1, I will be ready.

When I pack my fine china and special things. I used paper towels. they are clean and cushiony. I hope you find a wonderful place that has everything that you want.

Originally Posted by SwampWitch

Next time (or if you need more boxes this move), check the want ads. Lots of people will give their boxes and packing paper away for a nominal fee or for free; we did the same after moving here and the boxes were almost-new, having been used only once. We had 4 wardrobe boxes and I'll never move again without those.

We always play U2's moving song when we unpack, you know the one, "I still haven't found what I'm looking for."

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That's actually my all-time favorite song! But I think Bono may have been referring to his search for Jesus, rather than his George Foreman grill...

Linda, I think, despite what a royal pain it is to pack and move, you'll love your new place. It sounds much more convenient for you and the kitties.

This reminds me of a tactic I used while packing: I color-coded the boxes (I work in a library, so I lucked out with the free boxes). I assigned a colored dot to each room, for example, red dot for the kitchen. I then made a master list (and several copies) with the dots with the room's name beside them. Make sure you also put a sign on the doors of extra bathrooms and bedrooms, so your helpers will know which is the master, 2nd bedroom, etc. You then post 1 copy of the master sheet near the entry, so all can see it. I had 6 friends helping me, and everything went smoothly with this system. Everyone knew that red was the kitchen, green was the dining room, etc., and just put those boxes in those rooms.

I wrapped my kitchen breakables in tea towels and dishtowels. You're going to put them in the kitchen anyway, and you still need to pack them.

I had started packing 3 months before we actually moved. I packed items that I anticipated not needing much, first. I also packed an emergency box for the first night in the new house--a saucepan, paper plates, cutlery, cups, knives, canned food, toilet paper, wet wipes, a change of clothing for each person, water, soda, coffee, tea, sugar, powdered creamer, first aid kit, you get the idea. You'll find that moving tires you out and takes longer than expected, so this box may be handy. Also, SET UP YOUR BEDS BEFORE YOU MOVE ANYTHING ELSE. My friends laughed at this idea, but, boy, was I glad we did. You are exhausted, your back hurts, etc. Finding a place to sleep would've have been fun at midnight, after a long, grueling day of moving.

Originally Posted by Natalie_ca

When I find a place to move too! hehe

I plan on taking my camera when I go apartment hunting so I can take pictures.

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that´s soo cool!...

I worked on a packing crew for 7 years and found out some good tips. Sometimes you can get moving boxes for free at a moving depot. Not all of them recycle and many of them will have free packing paper inside. All of them that I have ever been to will sell used boxes at a fraction of the cost of new ones, say like you buy at Uhaul and such. Professional moving boxes are good for several moves.
It sounds like you are off to a good start on your packing. Good luck on your move.

Originally Posted by MargeCat

. Also, SET UP YOUR BEDS BEFORE YOU MOVE ANYTHING ELSE. My friends laughed at this idea, but, boy, was I glad we did. You are exhausted, your back hurts, etc. Finding a place to sleep would've have been fun at midnight, after a long, grueling day of moving.

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That's what we did when we moved last summer! Our move was quick and easy with 6 guy friends moving most of the stuff, I felt like I didn't do much of anything really.. But while they were having a beer and pizza after it the truck was unloaded and everything moved in, I was putting the sheets on the bed. I knew the hour would eventually hit where we would just have to hit the hay. (Actually, BF fell asleep on the sofa, but still!)

Our move was also easier because we had 2 weeks between closing on the house and when we had to be out of the apartment, so we would take a carload of boxes over each evening, so all the small stuff was moved and just the furniture was left on the big moving day.

Anyway, it sounds like you're already pretty well organised and getting ready for your move (with your helpers, of course ). Hope it all goes smoothly for you!

I'm not doing the physical labour myself. I've hired professional movers to move me. I was going to have them do the packing and unpacking too, but I decided that I wanted to go through my stuff and get rid of stuff rather than to cart it to a new place. I'm also going to take my time unpacking too, and have another chance to get rid of stuff.

This is my first move where I'll be moving a standard boxspring and mattress instead of a waterbed. So I'll have them put the mattress on the boxspring in the bedroom against the wall of my choice. I doubt I'll have the back strength to actually make up the bed, but I'm not adverse to throwing a large towel on the bed and sleeping that way. I don't like to cover up at night so whatever top covers I have on the bed, end up at the foot of the bed, or me on top anyway.

Linda, I'm glad you are getting excited about this!

I don't know if this will apply to you, since you have movers doing the packing, but when you move your clothes from the closet, the simplest way is to:
1. Put a sheet down on he bed.
2. Pile clothes on their hangers on top of the sheet.
3. Roll up the sheet with all the clothes in it.
Repeat, depending on how many hanging clothes you have.
When you get to your new place, all you need to do is unroll the sheet(s) and rehang! It cuts down a LOT on ironing after the move.

BTW, the advice you got about setting up the beds first works well with this idea. Remember, on the truck last in is first out.

Originally Posted by Rockcat

Linda, I'm glad you are getting excited about this!

I don't know if this will apply to you, since you have movers doing the packing, but when you move your clothes from the closet, the simplest way is to:
1. Put a sheet down on he bed.
2. Pile clothes on their hangers on top of the sheet.
3. Roll up the sheet with all the clothes in it.
Repeat, depending on how many hanging clothes you have.
When you get to your new place, all you need to do is unroll the sheet(s) and rehang! It cuts down a LOT on ironing after the move.

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Excellant advice! I will be moving for the 3rd time in 3 years....8th time in ten! hopefully the last for a very long time.....

Anyway, I love that idea! will definately be doing that!

Originally Posted by fifi1puss

Excellant advice! I will be moving for the 3rd time in 3 years....8th time in ten! hopefully the last for a very long time.....

Anyway, I love that idea! will definately be doing that!

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That's a LOT of moving! Glad I could help.