Moving Tip #6: Packing Materials
In the Packing Supplies Tip, I told you that you probably want to buy bubble wrap for you most valuable glass or china items. I stand by that decision. It is worth the money!
But you probably don't want to do that for all of your possessions because it starts to get very expensive. Skip! Here are a few cheaper ways to pack your breakables, fill in the gaps, etc. without buying expensive packing materials.
Grocery Bags. You know how your grocery store bags say "Recycle" or "Return to Store" on them? Well, you can do that... after you move. I love plastic grocery bags because I do repurpose them. Most frequently they are used as trash bags. Messy leftovers go in a grocery bag before getting dumped in the trash. Stinky vegetable cuttings get wrapped in a grocery bag. All of the small trashcans get a grocery bag liner. But I also save my grocery bags specifically for moving. Wrap all of your breakables or scratchables in grocery bags and they will do just fine in your boxes. Stuff grocery bags in any gaps if you don't want items to shift too much. This makes great packing material!
Newspapers & Magazines. If you have newspapers or magazines regularly delivered to your home, you can use these wrap or cushion as well. I start saving about a month in advance of my packing and use as needed. Then you can recycle the paper once you get to your new place. And you know that the paper got a whole extra life before you threw it away or recycled it.
Off Season Clothing. Now the great news about moving season is it tends to be somewhere between spring and fall. You don't need to wear your heavy coats, jackets, or sweatshirts during this move. So instead of packing a bunch of boxes full of off-season closing, use those items as stuffing for your boxes. I wrapped picture frames and large vases in my husband's sweatshirt collection. They are items that need packed anyway, so why not multi-purpose them?
As far as furniture is concerned, I usually wrap or drape my wooden pieces with cheap blankets. I mostly use those cheap flannel blankets that you can get for $1 on clearance after Christmas or they were collected from Goodwill. You know the ones that are great for picnics, paint drop clothes, and moving? If you want to go through the hassle, just wash them up and store them in a bin or a back corner of your closet.
A few more tips to go! Stay tuned.
Just joining us? Catch up on all of the Tips you have missed here:
Moving Tip: Intro
Moving
Tip #1: Where to Find Boxes
Moving
Tip #2: Be Ruthless
Moving
Tip #3: Strategize
Moving Tip #4: Start Big
Moving Tip #5: Packing Supplies
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