https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 29 Jul 2026 07:42:51 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/give-me-your-packing-bit-by-bit-tips#post-829721 Tue, 04 Jun 2013 11:48:57 +0000 daniellemybelle 829721@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks for all the advice everyone! I'm the most disorganized person, so I admit all this is so overwhelming! But I will try to digest all your amazing tips and I know it will be super helpful. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/give-me-your-packing-bit-by-bit-tips#post-827125 Mon, 03 Jun 2013 13:08:06 +0000 lamariniere 827125@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I say sell/donate/toss as much as you can. We did not one but TWO international moves last year. You never know how big or small your new place will be, and honestly, after our stuff was in storage for 9 months, we had forgotten about a lot of it and wished we had gotten rid of more before the initial move. Also, some of our old furniture no longer fit our new place, so it would have been better to get rid of it before moving/storing it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/give-me-your-packing-bit-by-bit-tips#post-826890 Mon, 03 Jun 2013 11:55:46 +0000 tysonja 826890@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>my only tip is to be ruthless in purging (throw out/donate) as you pack! the less stuff that needs to move the better.</p> <p>so much easier to unpack afterwards! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/give-me-your-packing-bit-by-bit-tips#post-826862 Mon, 03 Jun 2013 11:50:35 +0000 Espion 826862@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We're moving a long distance at the end of this month. I definitely second the recommendation to index everything out. When we move from Philadelphia to Georgia, I thought DH was crazy for wanting to index every box's contents and label each with a number. But it proved to be a lifesaver. If we needed to find something completely random, like say a muffin tin, all we had to do is look at our index. (Bonus that it was actually a word document so all we had to do was search for the term and not even scan through the entire document.) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/give-me-your-packing-bit-by-bit-tips#post-826760 Mon, 03 Jun 2013 11:26:58 +0000 LovelyPlum 826760@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree with packing needing to be organized!! We've moved a lot in the past few years, and while I'm not an expert, I do tend to be a little nuts about it. </p> <p>Here's what I do:<br /> 1. A very, very thorough Goodwill sorting first. It's so much easier to get rid of things before you pack.</p> <p>2. I like to pack in clear Rubbermaid containers, especially for things going in storage. When we moved two years ago, all of our belongings had to be in a PODS storage unit for a month. I felt a lot better knowing that they wouldn't get dirty from the cardboard or damaged if a box broke. Plus, you can easily see what is in it.</p> <p>3. I did all the decorations right after the holiday ended last time we moved, because I knew we would be moving again before it was time to decorate for Christmas again. I did a lot of donations from my decorations, too. It turns out we had a lot of random stuff that we collected in the decorations department that didn't hold up well/we didn't like/we didn't use.</p> <p>4. I tend to like to pack clean things. So, I washed all the sweaters before I packed them. Same with the bedding and blankets. Maybe it's just me, because I know some people like to wash things when they come out, too. But it makes me feel more organized and intentional about the whole thing.</p> <p>5. Only items from one room in a box. And be deliberate about it-my downfall comes when I start throwing random things into a box. That box usually becomes the bane of my existence on the other side.</p> <p>6. Label, label, label. A sharpie and a roll of masking tape are my best friends when moving.</p> <p>One last thing-when we moved the last two times, we got really frustrated at the end because it was hot (over 100 degrees) and we were tired. This led us to just want to donate a bunch of things at the end that we hadn't packed because we were too tired to deal with them. As a result, we somehow inexplicably got rid of our crock pot. Clearly, we weren't thinking right. So, my advice (to you, and to myself for the next time) is pack things early so the heat doesn't cloud your judgement! It's a fine line to walk, though, because I also don't want to live out of boxes. So maybe pack the non-necessities early, and that way, you know that you do absolutely still need what's left at the end!</p> <p>I hope this helps. Good luck!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/give-me-your-packing-bit-by-bit-tips#post-826604 Mon, 03 Jun 2013 10:42:07 +0000 rattles 826604@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm in the same situation as you. We've started packing the things we definitely won't need between now and then - winter coats/clothes/decorations, toys and clothes LO has either outgrown or not grown into yet, a fair number of books, etc. The earlier I pack, the more carefully I label everything. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/give-me-your-packing-bit-by-bit-tips#post-826595 Mon, 03 Jun 2013 10:39:25 +0000 IRunForFun 826595@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I obviously SUCK at packing, since we were still moving at 11 p.m. the day our lease ended.</p> <p>My two biggest recommendations would be to move stuff you don't use often/every day ASAP. Move out anything that isn't a daily necessity now, so you have less stuff to worry about later.</p> <p>Also, as you are going through all of your stuff, donate or throw away anything you haven't used/worn in the last year. That was my rule of thumb and I ended up getting rid of a TON of stuff that I'll never miss. (Of course I still have a TON of stuff left, but that's another story altogether.) </p> <p>If you're moving things into a storage unit, definitely label boxes in detail. The excel spreadsheet inventory sounds awesome, but I'm too lazy to do that...</p> <p>The tip of having a room be a clean/organized sanctuary while you move is awesome too. I wish we had done that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/give-me-your-packing-bit-by-bit-tips#post-826561 Mon, 03 Jun 2013 10:33:11 +0000 singingbee 826561@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>One of my good friends is an expert packer. She labels each box with a number and keeps an inventory list of the contents. She goes in the house and labels each room with the boxes that need to go in there, that way the movers put the correct boxes in the room. Then, she can go in and see which box she needs to unpack first. She usually is packed up in a week. It's amazing. I'm the complete opposite. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/give-me-your-packing-bit-by-bit-tips#post-826494 Mon, 03 Jun 2013 10:14:40 +0000 MsLipGloss 826494@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: That is a great tip! We did this in the living room and in our bedroom (and the nursery, save for a couple of small boxes). Seeing order and clear space is great for a mental pick-me-up! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/give-me-your-packing-bit-by-bit-tips#post-826485 Mon, 03 Jun 2013 10:13:11 +0000 looch 826485@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh, and one more thing, is to make one or two rooms your "done rooms." Get the furniture all set up, unpack the accessories, etc, so when you go in there, it's a respite from the chaos that is moving. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/give-me-your-packing-bit-by-bit-tips#post-826475 Mon, 03 Jun 2013 10:10:36 +0000 MsLipGloss 826475@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't have any mind-blowing special techniques, but we just completed a move last week with a just turned 9 month old (!) (we moved in at the end of last week and are still unpacking) . . . and here are a couple of things I did (although I didn't have enough time to devote a week to any one room/project).</p> <p>First, let me just tell you that you have a lot more *stuff* than you think! </p> <p>Pick one room at a time (maybe for a week, and work on it as you have time), and trash/donate what you haven't used in six months/one year (or know you realistically won't until after you move out of your parents' house). Then do the same for the next room, like your office, and start shredding documents/mail that has any personal information (this is also great for extra packing material). Some rooms may not require a week (say, the living room and/or your linen closets, for example). </p> <p>For your donations, write down the items/approximate age so that when you take them to be donated, you can get a *receipt* for a tax deduction.</p> <p>After you have been through the contents of a room, at the end of the time period (like the end of the week), start packing away things you won't use or need in the next few weeks (you really can make do with very little), like packing away all but 2 sets of sheets, 3 or 4 towel sets, a basic set of dishes and cookware, etc. (you get the idea). I did the same thing with my wardrobe (especially casual clothes, seasonal clothes, and bags and shoes), linen closets, and LO's closet (I didn't have time to tackle the kitchen in the same manner, although I sure wish I did!). </p> <p>You could also take a week or so to keep track of essential items that you use daily (or most days), so that you will know what items to set aside for the next few weeks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/give-me-your-packing-bit-by-bit-tips#post-826467 Mon, 03 Jun 2013 10:07:16 +0000 avivoca 826467@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I label my boxes with everything that is in them, and what room they go in. So a kitchen box would read: "Kitchen - blender, utensil caddy, baking sheets, food processor."</p> <p>I'm usually the packer, because my husband throws everything in a box and just puts his name on it. We still don't know where some of his stuff is. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/give-me-your-packing-bit-by-bit-tips#post-826460 Mon, 03 Jun 2013 10:05:13 +0000 Foodnerd81 826460@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm not a terribly good packer, but at this point, you can do yourself a big favor and go through EVERYTHING and sort out what you want to get rid of / give away / sell. That way, once you get to actually packing, you know you are keeping everything. I started doing that for my last move, I got side tracked and at the end was just tossing things in boxes. </p> <p>Also, start cleaning and packing out of season clothes. It will be tough deciding what to keep with you vs storage, but you should be able to have the winter stuff all boxed up now. Label the boxes really well-- like, 'Winter Sweaters and dresses', not 'winter clothes'. I boxed up all my non maternity clothes that way before we moved. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/give-me-your-packing-bit-by-bit-tips#post-826441 Mon, 03 Jun 2013 09:59:49 +0000 looch 826441@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have a storage unit for stuff from our recent move, it's been nothing short of a godsend. We're vacating it in 2 weeks to move into our house, but we use it to store stuff we've bought, like patio furniture in the meantime.</p> <p>I also have an excel sheet as an inventory. Each box is numbered and I know what's in there in painful detail. I thought about labelling the boxes according to room, but I didn't know what would be going where, but I have used a system where I packed the stuff we needed immediately (dishes, towels, etc) in boxes with a different label than stuff that could wait (food processor, iron). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/give-me-your-packing-bit-by-bit-tips#post-826437 Mon, 03 Jun 2013 09:58:45 +0000 JoyfulKiwi 826437@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We moved a while ago with a similar situation (moving into a place for a short while before moving again). </p> <p>I went room by room and made 3 groups: Stuff We Haven't Used, Stuff We Can Live Without for a While, Stuff We Need. Then I packed according to those piles (minus the junk we threw out/gave away). I also am a freak and color-coded the markers I labeled the boxes with (blue marker = deep storage, red marker = keep in our house, but don't unpack, etc). </p> <p>It made for a lot of variety in box sizes (and a lot of boxes!), but it definitely helped when it came to unpacking/moving again/unpacking for good.</p> <p>ETA: I packed stuff we don't use first, then later the things we can go without, and finally the essentials last. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/give-me-your-packing-bit-by-bit-tips#post-826402 Mon, 03 Jun 2013 09:48:24 +0000 daniellemybelle 826402@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DH &amp; I (and our dog, and soon-to-be LO) are moving in with my parents at the end of July. Our lease is up, and we decided to save the money we are spending on rent so we can buy a house. We'll probably live with them 6-12 months (I'm hoping on the shorter side!) We're taking a few pieces of furniture to make the three rooms my parents are generously allowing us to use feel like home, but most of our stuff is going into a storage unit.</p> <p>I'm already starting to get organized now because I hate moving and I want to pack incrementally. I also want to do it in an organized fashion so when we move AGAIN, it will be easy to unpack.</p> <p>Any tips? </p>