When moving, the first piece of furniture you want to move into your new house are the beds. Place them in the designated bedrooms, put them together, and make them up. At the end of the day, all you want to think about is a shower, food, and a good night's rest. Other things can wait until the next day. This way you will not have to sleep on the floor or groan about having to make beds when you are so tired. This is very important if you are moving and have children.
By Linda S. from Arlington, TX
This page contains the following solutions.
When ever I move, I never want to take my old outside trash cans with me. So when I am moving, I buy two or three new trash cans with wheels. Then when I am packing up all of my grocery items, I place the food items such as can goods, box goods, canister items, spices, etc. in the trash cans.
When moving, be careful not to use tape on your furniture to hold dresser or night stand drawers closed. The tape can easily damage the finish, especially in hot weather. Use a self clinging cellophane wrap.
We are in the process of moving and I came up with this nifty idea. I put a strip of masking tape across each cabinet door and drawer in the kitchen (and bathrooms) as I empty and clean it to save time later.
I recently had 15 days to move from Sutherlin, OR to Stayton, OR. Trust me, it was not enough time. Being 62 and having no help, it was a comedy of errors to be sure.
I had a wonderful idea that might help you all when you have to move from down a flight of stairs. I made a ramp out of two 2X6's and slid the boxes down the steps!
I've been reading the moving advice here and have one more thought to it. When I moved, I bought 20 sheets of red, blue, green and yellow paper etc each, from at a copy center.
Remove filled drawers with clothing, sheets, or whatever. Load the empty dresser, night stand, etc. on the truck. Replace the drawers and turn the furniture to the inside of the truck, so the drawers will not come open while traveling.
If you are moving and you and/or your children use the public library, check to see all your fines are paid. The public libraries are strapped for $ and are sending people with overdue accounts to collections!
When I move, I buy two large trash cans with wheels. I store all my food stuff in the new trash cans. The trash cans hold a great deal of weight and are easy to move with the wheels.
I have moved well over 20 times in my life and the following tip has saved me a lot of frustration and money. I pack 1 box of necessities needed immediately.
I am helping a friend move. She went out and bought moving boxes, bubble wrap and tissue paper (which adds up money quite quickly!)
Having moved countless times and lived in 5-6 states, I've used this tips many times! I bought a new outdoor garbage can with lid and 2 wheels.
Load everything that you can into boxes. You can stack them on a dolly to move multiple boxes at a time and they allow you to easily pack a moving truck.
When I was getting ready to move, I did not want to get rid of all the food in my cabinets. But food items can be heavy and breakable. So I needed to come up with an idea that would keep my things together and to also contain anything that might break.
Make sure to pack some bathroom items and a few essential kitchen items in your car for use once you get to your new home.
When moving, don't forget to leave behind garage door, blind, and ceiling fan remotes. Also, leave any appliance manuals and warranties that may still be applicable.
Having just moved about 1 1/2 months ago, I can definitely testify that it is an exhausting process. One thing that helped us out a lot was to ask friends to help us with loading and unloading. We have one of the coolers with a water dispenser.
I would like to move to Asheville, North Carolina and I'm wondering if anyone has some helpful tips on how to get a job there before you move. It seems a little difficult to go on interviews from another state.
If you know that you are going to be moving again shortly, or if you expect to relocate frequently, you might appreciate this tip from my military wife former mother-in-law, Mary Jo.
This is an added tip on moving. Pack bedding in washer and dryer if you have them. Then they are handy to get to for making the bed the first night.
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
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
Wow, 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'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!
I 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.
www.google.com/
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
Hi: 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!
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
I 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 was not happy to find upon agreeing to help a friend move that not only would I be helping to move but to pack the stuff. She had no boxes and she is totally unorganized. I was not happy. I guess I should have guessed that this would happen again since the last time I helped her I put in 25 hours of packing.
By Lena
I am preparing to move a stove for my daughter. It will take 2 1/2 hours. Is it OK to lay a stove on its back? I didn't know if is was like a refrigerator and they must be carried upright at all times.
By Brenda from Baldwin, KS
I suggest you call a place that sells stoves, good luck.
You can lay the stove down. A refrigerator has to remain upright because of the freon in it, but you don't have that problem with a stove.
I am moving to another state in the summer. How can I safely transport my plants?
By Joanne
Cheapest way to ship items when moving?
By Beck from Seattle
