Finding a new place can be exciting but it the excitement ends as soon as you start thinking of all the crap you have to pack up. It is easier to leave the packing until the last minute but that will just give you more headache on moving day. Here are a number of tips you can use to make moving easier.

Start early

If you wish to move within the next month or two, do not leave the process till the last five days. If you pack up in a hurry there is a high risk of forgetting important items or even damaging some of them. The first thing you should do is come up with a to-do-list of what should be accomplished every week without fail.

Figure out your moving strategy

Your moving strategy will depend on the distance between your current location and your new location. If the distance is short, you can gather up a few friends to help you move. Having friends help you move can help you save some cash. If the distance is short you can also move small items every day, that way you will have fewer items to move on the main moving day. However, if the distance is long it becomes a complicated issue. You need to hire movers. You have to research to find a professional moving company. There are so many moving companies, but you have to find a reputable company with positive reviews. They should also have the resources to make your move easy.

Organize your items

When packing, you will be surprised at the number of items you have accumulated over time. You will have so many items in the house that you no longer use. You can take advantage of this opportunity to get rid of some items. Organize your stuff depending on what you want to keep, what to give to charity and what you can sell. For what you can sell organize a yard sale, you will get some cash from the yard sale to assist with the moving budget.

Take inventory

For a comfortable move, get some boxes to pack all your items. As you pack items in the boxes take inventory. It helps to have a spreadsheet of all the items in each box. This can come in handy if something goes missing. Also label each box on the side, this will help when you are unpacking the boxes. You will know exactly where everything is and where each box will go.

Be ready for the movers

It does not matter whether you hired professional mover or it is your family and friends helping you. Unless you have hired packers, you need to pack up everything in the house. If you have a family you need to keep them informed, it avoids disorganization on the moving day. Moving can be particularly hard for children, telling them what is expected of them will prevent them from being a disruption on the moving day.

On the moving day do not forget to treat the movers. You are not required to but it is a gesture of kindness. Have some food and drinks ready for them, moving can be quite tiresome. The other thing is have some tipping money after they have moved your items.

Making a nice gift box out of scrapbook paper is easy. The little gifts that fit in a small box are great. The idea is unique and comes from the heart. The gift is simply wrapped with something thoughtful and handmade. The final result is inexpensive, hand crafted and personalized. All that is required to begin are two pieces of thick, pretty scrapbook paper. One will be used for the base and the other for the lid. Once the scrapbook paper has been acquired get something nice to put in the box. This can be candy, small toys, a nice gift, etc.

Thick scrapbook paper works the best. This is also available with a nice velvety finish. If extra thickness is required two pieces can be glued together. The best size for the paper is a twelve inch square. Most scrapbook paper is already this size but some is a bit longer. Trim the paper to the right size. This is much easier with a paper cutter. The twelve inch square makes nice four inch square candy boxes.

Draw an X right across the backside of the scrapbook paper. Make sure it goes from corner to corner. Fold in all four sides until the paper is in a diamond shape and all four sides meet in the middle. Unfold the bottom and top folds but leave the rest folded. Now fold the right and left sides in on themselves to they meet at the center line. Take the sheet and unfold everything. Fold the bottom corner up towards the center.

Snip the corner. The fold now needs to be cut but only to the corner’s edge. Just follow the folded line but only to the edge of the snipped corner. Turn the paper and do the same thing on the other side. This side should be snipped as well. The tips on the flaps should now be turned down. The snips will leave a little flap part. The top part of this should be folded down. Do the same for both snipped sides. What is needed are these creases.

Release the small flap because this is only for creasing the corners and sides of the box. There is a small flap part that looks like a little side triangle. This will be secured with glue. A glue stick will work very well. This is the inside of the box. The little flap on the right must be glued as well. There should now be two pointy pieces pointing at the center that have been glued down. Wrap the edges so the pointy pieces are covered. Turn the box and fold over the flap. Glue down the flap.

Repeat the same steps for the bottom of the box except trim two of the sides to 1/8 inch. This will enable the bottom to fit under the top of the box. Once the same steps are completed the bottom should fit nicely under the top of the box. Place a little trinket, treat or treasure in the box. Cover this with some pretty tissue paper. The box can be filled with almost anything including baked goods, candy, small toys for the kids, jewelry, creams and soaps. If the box is lined with wax paper it is excellent to send home any leftovers.

Let’s face it–moving can be a pain whether you are moving across town or across the country. Here are 13 things to do to make your move simple, easy, and less stressful for you.

1. Get Organized ASAP
Unless you are moving immediately, you typically have one to two months to move out of your current place. Take time to itemize what needs to be done and when it needs to be done by. The more work you put in at the beginning the easier the move will be.

2. Figure Out the “How”
You know you’re moving, but how are you planning to do it? Do you need to hire a moving crew? Contact family and friends? Rent a moving van? Deciding this can help you better organize things before moving day.

3. Communicate
If you hire movers, make sure they know what day and exactly what time to be there and what they are in charge of moving and what your expectations are.

4. The Purge
Take advantage of this chance to go through all the clothes in the back of your closet and items under the bed. Toss out or donate the things you no longer need or use. Consider making some money by selling lightly used furniture online.

5. Establish a System
Create a system to keep track of what was in each room and where it was packed. This make the move and unpacking easier.

6. Consider Reusable Bins
Cardboard boxes seem to be the face of moving, but reusable bins can be a better alternative. These can be reused once you move, used to store things in, and are more sturdy to hold things during the move.

7. Use Local Sources
No need to spend money on a couple boxes to accommodate for other items–start collecting free cardboard boxes from your local grocery store. Keep in mind smaller boxes are easier to carry and can fit in doors better.

8. Take Inventory
If you are hiring a moving company, take careful inventory of what they will be moving so nothing goes unaccounted for in the move.

9. Label
Label every box on every side. Also, include what room it came from and will go to in your new house. This wills save you when you go to unpack.

10. Utilize Space
If you have trunks for decoration or suitcases, use that space to put things in.

11. Create a Moving Day Bag
This could include cleaning supplies, change of clothes, snacks, and toiletries.

12. Check the Trash
Try to avoid packing things in trash bags, but if you must, be sure to check trash bags before throwing them out. There’s no need to throw out all your towels!

13. Say Thank You
Treat those who helped you move to a treat or meal to thank them for their hard work.

These 13 simple tips can make your move less stressful and help you stay organized in the midst of all the chaos.

If you are planning a move in the near future, you may already have a long list of things that you must do. These plans should be well thought out in advance so that they can be executed seamlessly and with ease. Though each stage of packing comes with its only challenges, one of the most significant is buying all the right box types for the items that you need to pack. To make sure that you have the best boxes available for the move, here are some guidelines that you can follow.

Typically, there are only a few different types of boxes that’s needed to pack your items in the home safely. So, it is very important that you identify the best types before you make your purchase. Though you may be tempted to cut corners in this area, it is important to remember that cheap moving boxes may not be the right or best solution. Therefore, the first step that you need to consider is where to buy the moving boxes.

Where Should You Buy Your Moving Boxes

For those of you who are looking for the best quality made moving boxes, you will probably find that you have many different places that you can make your purchases from. In fact, there are many different moving companies such as Oz that will provide all of the different types of boxes that you will need in order to make the move easy. According to service terms that they offer, you can even have your boxes delivered to your home for the added convenience. Or, if you prefer to take another last minute route, you may also discover that Staples will provide boxes for you too. This is because Staples is great for getting the necessary office supplies. Hence, you can pick and choose in advance where you really want to go.

Types of Moving Boxes

After you have decided where you want to go to pick up your boxes, you will also need to know what types of moving boxes are available. The boxes that you choose are common and can be used to suit your purposes. Here are 4 of the most common provided below.

Book Boxes

Just a little smaller than the standard boxes, the book box has been designed for a wide range of purposes. So, the book box is ideal for packing heaving books, papers, photo albums, cleaning supplies, magazines, and bathroom utensils. All of which can range in size and shape so the weights can vary. Before packing, it is important to make sure the bottom does not break because of being over stuffed.

Linen Boxes
Linen boxes are a little bit larger than the standard box and it is idea for significantly larger items. For instance, if you want to pack your plastic containers, pots, pans and other kitchen utensils, this is the size that is needed. To prevent broken dishes, however, you should always pack towels to separate and protect breakable items.

China Boxes
The china box has been designed to be exceptionally sturdy since they are made with double corrugated properties. Therefore, this extra thick big box can be packed with bowls, vases, table lamps, and the like.

Wardrobe Boxes
The wardrobe box is considered to be for specialty items like clothes that you place on a hanger, odd shaped furniture pieces and other things that stand at least 4 feet.

Quick Packing Tips
It is also important to note that there are several quick packing tips that can save time. Some of the most important include labeling boxes clearly, using second hand boxes, using 911 as a label for products needed right away.

Cardboard boxes have served varied purposes throughout the years. Some are basic and some are imaginary. Some are recreational and some are business. They started out as a basic design. These days they have evolved significantly. They have multiple purposes.

Well Known Uses

They’re usually used to move items. People use them for packing and moving to different towns and homes. Sometimes they’re used for shipping products from warehouses to businesses. This keeps our local and national economy alive. They’re shaped into a rectangle or square, so they’re easy to load into a cargo truck and stack. The products are then successfully delivered to their destination. They’re even used by families for shipping gifts to one another. Christmas is one of the most common times of year for this. Without them, there’d be nothing to wrap!

Lesser Known Uses

There’s a running joke that the child likes the box more than the toy itself. It’s an accurate joke for a reason. Kids love to make playhouses and draw windows, chairs, or tables on the inside. They’ll draw flowers and grass on the outside to look like a yard. Other children imagine them as rockets or time machines. The imagination is endless in children. These containers have always been a part of that.

Types

Companies make different types of boxes for different uses. Some are shiny and colorful. Some are big, small, short, or tall. Many companies will print their logo on the box to make sure the receiver knows where it comes from. There are even some companies that put extra graphic designs on their boxes for added professionalism and flare. You can find some that are warmly decorated for Christmas or other holidays. There are also dividers in some of them. This is a great and simple way to keep glass or fragile items from touching each other and breaking.

Other Many Uses

They’re also used in mechanic shops across the country. Most of the time they’re flattened out. The mechanic can lay on them for any reason. They use them for changing oil most of the time. They’re used for any purpose that requires them to get underneath a car. Many times, they’re used for storing our unwanted objects. Sometimes people can’t afford a dresser, or maybe they just don’t have room for one. They can be used for storing clothes. Many people also use these boxes to store their sports equipment, tools, or unwanted storage in their garage. It’s a cheaper alternative to buying a ton of plastic tubs. They wear out after a while, but cardboard does last for a while.

History of the Boxes

What are cardboard boxes made of and where did they come from? Cardboard is not a material itself. It’s made of cardstock, paperboard and regular paper. They can also contain corrugated cardboard on the inside. This serves to reinforce the box to help it to carry more weight. They’ve been around for almost two hundred years! They’re convenient. More people are starting to recycle, so I don’t see them going anywhere anytime soon.