Since we discovered we would be moving, I’ve been stockpiling boxes and paper bags. We make a lot of our purchases by the case to save money, and I’ve been able to set aside those smaller boxes.
Smaller boxes and paper bags are my two favorite moving supplies (outside of bubble wrap) because:
- It allows me to limit how much I can put into a single walk up the stairs. For example, there’s no way I can heft a box of books up the stairs, but a double-bag of books on each arm travels very easily.
- Smaller boxes are easier to stack in the back of the SUV. I think if I played more Tetris I would’ve been far better at this whole packing thing.
- The paper bags also give me a head start on garbage bags in the new place.
So where can you find cheap or free moving supplies? Try freecycle.org, the free section of craigslist.org, or your local grocery store. Remember: “Don’t ask, don’t get.” You can always ask to speak to the manager and see if they have any boxes that are just going to go in to the garbage. Sometimes you can just go dumpster diving, but different areas have different laws that may prohibit it, and some stores find it offensive to have people digging through the trash.
In the meantime, I’m very excited to announce I’m about a third of the way through my packing and I think I’m maintaining a correlating amount of sanity. I am amazed to realize how little of my possessions I actually want when I have to pack them and schlep them. Minimalist living, here we come!
