Category: Packing Material Ideas

When it comes to moving, the list of purchases to make it all possible just begins to grow and grow.  And grow.  And then you think you have enough of everything when it turns out that you don’t.  So even though you did a really great job at rustling up boxes anywhere and everywhere you can find them, you still find yourself running to Lowe’s three and four times for just a couple more…and then just a couple more.

And/or you go to WalMart for some big plastic totes, because those are useful anyway, right?  But then you need a couple more.  Buying bubble wrap, poly bags and packing paper can wind up breaking the bank, especially if you move every couple of years.  I am here to tell you that there are probably several items you already own that you can use as packaging supplies for your next move.  Not feeling convinced?  Let’s take a look…

…In your linen closet.  This is the most obvious and first on your list of “homegrown packaging supplies”.  Keep your towels, sheets, etc. on hand when you are packing up your breakables.  Picture frames.  Kitchen goods.  Wrap your extra blankets around smaller pieces of furniture, which will also save you big time if you are using a moving company because they WILL charge you for the use of their moving blankets (they call it renting), which they WILL automatically use to protect anything and everything they are moving for you (they call it liability).

…In your closet.  Wardrobe boxes are super expensive.  Super nice, but super expensive.  Use your clothes to protect other breakables and random odds and ends.  Clothes are especially helpful packaging supplies when moving oddly shaped items that need a box but then leave too much open space.  Also, move your clothes in your drawers to save on boxes.  Use the body bag method for the clothes in your closets.  Use your luggage to pack stuff in too!

…In your pantry.  Use Ziploc bags to make your own air pouches.  Said what?  It’s true!  Blow them up, seal them, and then seal them again with a line of tape.  These are perfect to use for fragile glassware.  And you can technically even use them as Ziploc bags again after you let the air out, if you feel so inclined to spend your time doing so.  I’ve even heard of people popping popcorn and using it as packaging.  Not necessarily my style, but good in a pinch I’m sure.  You could even double bag other items like bags of rice and beans and use them to fill nooks and crannies from other boxes.

Moving your kid into their college dorm or apartment can be a somewhat stressful task. To begin, it’s not always the easiest to see them go off on their own (as much as you may deny it, you like having them around the house). But when it comes down to transferring their living things, furniture, and other essentials, it seems like there’s always a shortage on containers—you don’t have enough totes, bags, or other odd containers laying around. However, you can fix that problem and make the move for you and your kid easier with cheap moving boxes.

Reliable.
A lot of lids for containers like totes seem to go missing at some point or another. Moving boxes, on the other hand, always have their trusty flaps. Whether you crisscross the top flaps to secure them or use packaging tape, you’ll never misplace its “lid.” This is especially useful for moving them into and out of college at the beginning and end of each school year. You’ll be using these boxes a lot.

Cost efficient.

Compared to other alternatives, moving boxes are quite cheap. As mentioned before, you’ll be using these moving boxes quite frequently while your child is in college. Why fork out a pretty penny just to move them to college when you’re likely already paying enough for their tuition?

Environmentally friendly.

I’m sure your kid will come home at some point mentioning how many recycling bins there are on campus or the amount of student organizations centered around the environment. Get ahead of the game and choose corrugated cardboard boxes—they’re entirely recyclable and biodegradable (unlike plastic totes or bags!).

Lightweight with cushioning.

Cardboard boxes are extremely easy to move around and carry before loading items into them thanks to their lighter weight. What’s better, though, is how sturdy they are once on the move. Their walls offer cushioning that can help protect items within them on the go because of their ability to bear impact as things shift around.

Easily stored.

Because you can break down cardboard boxes by flatpacking them, their required storage space in your home is almost nonexistent. Whereas other containers, crates, and totes take up a lot of space, cardboard boxes can slide into thin areas or lean up against walls to take up virtually zero room.

So, when you’re moving your kid to college or helping them pack to come back home, use cheap moving boxes. Their advantages far outweigh other common containers, because you’ll save a decent amount of money while also saving space in your home. As a bonus, there are all sorts of sizes to choose from when it comes to cardboard boxes. You’ll always have the size you need thanks to the many dimensions we offer.

Books are one of those things no one feels bad about purchasing. You intend to read something new in order to expand your knowledge, hone your expertise, or just open your mind to something new. While many items cause the onset of buyer’s remorse, books are almost never one of them.

However, how often do you finish that book you just bought all the way through? It seems that half the time, it just sits there unread, taking up space . . . somewhere.

There comes a time when storing your extra books makes sense. Maybe you’ll never get to a certain book but don’t want to toss it. Or maybe you’re just in need of some more shelving space but don’t want to fork out the cash for new bookshelves. Whatever the cause, using cheap moving boxes can work wonderfully for this project.

Prepare the boxes for packing.
If you buy new boxes, you’ll first need to put them together. Make sure you seal the bottom (this will end up being the “back” of your makeshift book cabinet) well by doubling the amount of packing tape.

How to pack your books.
You’ll want the books to either stand up with their spines facing outward like you see in libraries, or you can lay them on one another with their spines also facing outward. This is up to your preference on organizing them and how you’ll want the overall presentation to look.

Using bookends is a great idea in order to give your “shelves” more character while also holding books together so that they don’t tip one way or the other.

To get the look of a bookcase, you may want to stack boxes on top of one another sideways to create a shelved look. Taping the boxes together on the back and even fortifying the middle “shelf” may be smart so that the cardboard doesn’t cave in.

Picking the right environment to set up your bookshelves.

Keep the boxes in cool areas with low humidity. You don’t want your books warping because of an unusually high damp area that you could’ve avoided. You should also keep them away from sources of heat. Books stored too close to appliances or heat ducts may also warp. Just remember to keep them stored in cool temperatures—a room temperature of 60-70 degrees will do. Your living room or bedroom will most likely be just fine for storing your books.

With all that said, get to constructing these makeshift bookcases and do some painting or decorating on them to make them look less like ordinary cheap moving boxes and more personalized to your tastes. You want to show off your collection with your new bookcases.