By Kimberly Anne from Lakeland, FL
By Linda S. from Arlington, TX
By pamphyila from Los Angeles
By Patricia from Imperial, NE
I mark the box clearly "Kitchen Counter" and ask that it be one of the last boxes loaded on the truck and one of the first to be unloaded. I have no problems finding the box and it saves me time searching various boxes for items I may need immediately.
By Susan from San Ramon, CA
By Brenda C.
Remove the drawers before unloading the furniture and then replace them once the furniture is in the house. This saves a lot of time and the hassle of packing.
Source: I learned this from my parents when I was growing up and we moved.
By Linda S. from Arlington, TX
If you are in the habit of saving the original boxes for electronic devices like DVD players and TVs now is a great time to put them to use. Linens, clothing, pillows and cushions should be packed into bags or boxes as well.
You can also pack clothing into duffel bags, trunks and other luggage. Pack them lightly to prevent wrinkles. Use blank newsprint for packing your nicest items to prevent newspaper ink from transferring onto belongings.
By ThriftyFun
By Reen from Marietta, PA
She would line the open edges of moving boxes with clear tape so that the actual edges were wrapped cleanly around with tape. One long strip folded around would do it for each side. Then, when the box was fully packed (same items in same boxes each time for added efficiency) she would simply bring the top of the box together (taped edges would then be next to each other) and run a strip of masking tape down the middle, right on top of the tape-covered edges.
When it's time to open the box, the masking tape would peel neatly off the top, leaving the clear-taped edges of the box intact for the next use. No tape rips on cardboard. I don't know if the military has a different system now or not, but I have used this idea for every day purposes before. I hope it will be of help to someone.
By Cathy from DE
I am about to move to a new house about 200 miles away. Besides the normal amount of household furniture, etc. I have five cats. I am virtually doing this alone (except for a furniture removalist). So I need to clean up the house, pack the cats, and get to the new home before the removalists to let them in. Whew! Anyone have ideas about the logistics of the whole enterprise (and no there is no one to help and I can't afford a cleaner).
By sharstri
By grossb95404/08/2013I recently moved 300 plus miles to a different city. I started packing, cleaning and freecycling stuff several weeks before the move. I packed most of the dishes and things I wanted to move. I ate out of paper plates and even cardboard I'd accumulated. I gave away some food to a neighbor. The move itself was a nightmare; something I don't plan on ever doing again. (I'm 72). I hope you get some good advice on here about how to handle the cats because I'm at a loss on that one.
I am making a permanent move to San Diego this August. I'm saving my pennies so that I have enough for the move and at least 3 months living expenses. I'm a single woman in my 50's so I'll be making the trip alone by car with my Golden Retriever.
I will be selling/getting rid of almost everything except the few items I can't part with. I plan on driving my Honda with a small sport trailer so I'll just have the space in my trunk and the small trailer. The dog will need the entire back seat (she needs to be able to walk from window to window, depending on the view).
I'm a little overwhelmed trying to figure out what to do right now. I've started to go through some of my things thinking I would declutter. However, I don't want to Freecycle, give away, or trash something I can get even a quarter for (it will all add up). So I need some suggestions about how to organize this stuff without just putting it right back where I got it from.
I could also use some help with thrifty travel ideas. Since it will be August, I don't want to stop at restaurants to eat, because I won't be able to leave the dog in the car. My thought is that I should take my small cooler and pack it with hard boiled eggs, cheese, fruit, and power bars. Then I can stop at parks, picnic grounds, or rest areas where the dog and I can both get out, stretch and I can eat a bite. Then I was thinking I would stop at Denny's or Bob Evans and have breakfast for dinner since those meals are usually cheaper.
I plan on staying in Motel 6 all along the route. I'll plan the route and make the reservations ahead of time. I made notes of other suggestions having to do with what to have in the car (water, oil, WW fluid, Fix-A-Flat, Tylenol, etc.). I will have my cell phone and have a charger for the car.
Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Anything to make the move as stress free and thrifty as possible.
By LoriB from DC
By PrincessVal03/03/2010Hi: Just wanted to give you some food ideas. Pre-made sandwiches are great ideas. Pack an ice chest with some waters or other beverages that you can refresh every night with the ice machine from the hotel and if you have made several days worth of sandwiches, they will stay fresh in ziplock bags. Vary them from peanut butter and jelly to some sort of meat like bologna or turkey breast with veggies.
The hotels with continental breakfast will help out a lot. They have yogurts and fruits you can possibly take with you on the road as well. Lots of cut up fruits and veggies will work great on the road, as will crackers and pretzels. Nuts, trail mix, cheese and crackers, granola bars...lots of healthy foods you can eat while driving without going to the junk foods like chips and pastries which will quickly pack on the pounds while you sit behind the wheel.
Sounds like others have given you good advise as far as discarding your personal items. Don't forget to get donation receipts for things you give away, as you can use that for your taxes. May as well get a benefit out of all of this in the end, right? Best of luck to you. Post later and let us all know how it goes for you okay. God Speed!
By Poor But Proud03/03/2010I used to live in SD, so I know you will love it!
Selling on CL is tricky, as there are now spammers who ask you if you still have something and when you tell them yes. They have your address and email you with the wordage..."don't sell your precious things, click on my link for a great business opportunity blah blah blah".
I hate them but there is nothing you can do but put them in spam. Now, advertising your sale is great on CL and if you live in a complex, you can put flyers up in the laundry room, etc.
Put like things in boxes marking .25/.50 etc. Keep this in mind "is it cheaper to buy it when I get there or ship it now". I did that when I moved from Salem OR to Va, so you can figure that one out.
Do make sure your hotels accept dogs. I think your choice does.
As for food, I have traveled so much I am a culinary expert! I make baked chicken breasts dusted with lemon pepper spice from the dollar tree (before you bake it at 350 for about 20 minutes on each side). It keeps well, and you can eat and drive at the same time if you want to keep rolling. Keep napkins, plastic utensils and paper plates handy, and yes, a can opener is great, too!
I also have dips and cut up veggies. Fruits like cut up melons and berries, seedless grapes and such are also eat and drive "friendly".
I would keep a mini recorder if you have one, or at least a note book and good pen for notes along the way. I assume you will be stopping once in a while to give yourself and the pooch a rest? Good, don't forget photos!
If your car has a good sound system, take uplifting music and sing along!! Nothing better than a shower or a car to let loose!
Do take duck tape. Take some spark plugs, a fan belt and a soda can and two hose clamps and either snip it open on the top and bottom and down the side before you leave, or take the snips with you. Believe it or not, that fixed a hole in the muffler and lasted another 1200 miles!
Take a set of tools, and keep a penny, dime, nickle and quarter in with them. Make sure you have a pliers for them. They can be emergency screwdrivers for those places you can't get a long handled one in like an idler screw hose clamps, etc.
Make sure your battery has water if it is that kind, and distilled is best. Clean the terminals with some old tooth brushes and baking soda. Put coolant in your radiator according to the directions on the bottle. You might need a charge on the AC unit. The heat of August is no time to need it where the mechanic might charge you extra.
Check the tread on you tires. If you stick a dime in them, you should not see all of the pressure; anything less is not a good idea. I once had 4 used tires on my van, and traveled too long during the days heat and by the time I got home, had all four blow out on me. Give your car a 1/2 hour rest for every 4 hours you travel. Trust me on this one.
Take extra oil with you and steering, brake and transmission liquids, after you top them all before you leave. If you don't know much about car maintenance, google it or have someone you trust show you the basics and write them down. In fact, visit this site for a good downloadable bit of info.
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en& ... e&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=
It's the address for all the sites you will need.
Do not carry cash! Put your money on your banks debit card. Keep your purse out of site. A belly bag is a wonderful thing for when you have to stop of a potty break, etc.
And, keep a spare car key in it or hooked to the loop. If you lock your keys in your car, you may stress the doggie and pay 80.00 for a pop a lock!
Take a mace can with you, on a key ring or such. If you have a dog with you, you are safer, but not totally safe. No one can be, but it's a good thing to always be prepared.
Once all the logistics are taken care of you can relax and enjoy the trip. Good Luck!
Sandi/PBP
By elle197203/03/2010I'd suggest a huge moving sale and have 25 cent, 50 cent, $1 tables etc. to make it easy on yourself. Have plastic shopping bags available to use for each shopper for each table. You will blow out your extra stuff plus make money. Have a few friends lined up to help. You may even have more than one sale as people love these sales! Good luck!
By caseye03/03/2010Wow, what an adventure you have before you; thank goodness you'll have your darling dog as a traveling companion! I'm with you about trying to sell as much as possible before your move; you'll need as much $ as you can get. Try selling things individually on Craig's list, or put similar things together and sell as a group (kitchen utensils, pots and pans, craft magazines, etc.). It sounds as if you've planned ahead really well. Don't forget to have AAA or some other emergency car number in case you run into trouble on the road.
Try to stop at motels/hotels that serve Continental breakfasts; they usually have fruit, so you can take a small plate and put it in your cooler. If you dog eats canned food, don't forget to pack a can opener; otherwise, dry food can be transported pretty easily. Make sure you take water in a gallon jug and then a bowl you can pour it in for him. Lastly, take a book of encouraging messages to read at night. You have a big challenge ahead of you, but it's very do-able, and you sound very capable and motivated! Good luck!
I am moving to another state in the summer. How can I safely transport my plants?
By Joanne
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Moving Into an Apartment With a Friend - Tips and Advice