#But also a towel and some plushies and even a mug and actual clothes (a plaid button up shirt) which was hella overpriced

[undyinglantern]

kuroken you will always be special to me

[pen1ag0n]

moving hacks from someone who moves a lot and has a lot of things:

before you pack anything else, grab a medium bag you can carry easily (not too big, not too small) and pack essentials for a week worth of existing. meds, pjs, toothbrush, towels, change of clothes, plushie, some snacks, all that. it will help you later when you are in the new place, tired af. you won't waste time going through boxes to find this one thing you need, stressing yourself

tidy your space before you start packing. it may feel like a waste of time since you are leaving anyway etc etc. but believe me, it's much easier to pack things that are already folded and gathered in one place thematically. too many times i made the mistake of having to do a triple threat task of organizing, decluttering and packing things Along with tidying everything up as i go (maybe not in this order but you get the gist). i wasted too much time. it's annoying to find a plate, having already packed "all" kitchen stuff. also seeing things you forgot you have will distract you. go through things before you pack them. i do the light version of marie kondo method, but you can do whatever you find most helpful

label boxes with a number rather than 'clothes'. write the number on each side. assign a number to each box and write a list of roughly what's in each box. make a copy of the list and keep a backup it in safe place (laptop than just phone, or send yourself a dm). first you will know how many boxes there are exactly and what's where, what to open first when you are at your new place. it's easier to find 'box 14' than 'shoes and winter coat' scribbled somewhere. usually i write '14 shoes' anyways, but a numbering system makes things easier. dont do any confusing things like 14b 14a. trust me, moving tends to take a toll on everyone's mental state and that can affect comprehension and logical thinking, keep it simple

before you start packing and buy extra boxes, suitcases, ikea bags, vacuum seal bags etc, try to gather what you already have. preferably in one place, and check how durable everything is, how much stuff it can fit, count it all up. it's helpful to write down exactly what you have. most likely it will help you avoid spending extra money on containers. personally i get very overwhelmed when shopping for storage related items. i end up getting things i have to later find use for, rather than things i actually need. so going through things first and making notes saves me some headache

dont forget about trash bags. i also try to gather in advance scrap paper to wrap things up plates etc, like all old magazines and catalogues. the paper is less flimsy and less prone to ripping than daily newspaper paper, abeit it can be smaller in size. do two layers too, write on the outside sheet what's inside. later you wont have to partially unwrap/rip the paper to find your favorite mug (or you can put it in your one week essentials bag)

i already said it but just remember you pack things into boxes. the boxes aren't beasts you need to feed before they eat you... they exist to serve as storage. don't think 'i need to fill this box', rather 'where can i put x' (here boxes are short for whatever storage things you use)

don't start filling 5 boxes at once. do max two at the same time. finish filling one box before you start another. makes it easier to keep track what's where and it might save you from mixing things that shouldn't go together

sometimes its a good idea to first put things into trash bags and then into boxes. if a box rips, things wont fall out or get dirty - they are wrapped up. it also might prevent moisture from rain or even bugs from ruining your things. mold growth? always a speedrun, you blink and it's already blooming. i always try not to rip the trashbags so later i reuse them to actually throw away stuff

mix things. don't put just plates in a single box. line the bottom with a blanket, place more fragile or sturdy stuff on there and do some layering, with items that could cushion it - clothes, duvets, pillows etc. heavy things shouldn't all go to one box

don't overload boxes. never pack more than you can physically carry without too much effort. moving is stressful and tiring, even if your body can handle lifting 15kg normally, after few rounds of carrying things around most likely you will lose a lot of strenght. trust me, dislocating joints is not fun. don't overestimate your stamina and don't underestimate how stressful moving can be

you can use spare space in shoes as storage for things like socks. i wrap them in a bag and fill my shoes like it's day before christmas and i'm an overworked single mom trying to make my kids happy by putting a lot of nice things in their christmas stocking

if you use any of those vacuum seal bags, don't overfill them. make sure things are dry and clean. you can put a bar of soap inside (you heard it right) to prevent the stale smell you get sometimes. i hate that smell with burning passion. i never used scented vacuum seal bags, they are tad bit more expensive for all i know. i just buy nicely scented cheap soap in bulk and put it in the center of bag, inside the clothes somewhere. and get the most durable vacuum seal bags available. the type that won't rip or won't have flimsy seal parts. save money on extra features like scent but don't go for not yet tried and tested but cheap ones. pack the bags, put them in one place and fill all at once. it will save you time bc you can move things on the spot,

stuff that seems obvious but is easily overlooked: hydrate, get enough nutrients, eat, use gloves and knee/joint protection, wear comfortable clothes (stuff you wont cry over when it rips etc) and always overestimate how much time you need. it's way nicer to deal with 'huh we did it so fast! still an hour left' than 'fuck we need to leave in 20 minutes but there's still so much to doooo'. start doing everything as early as you can, prep yourself for the move days before it happens (unless it's an emergency move ofc). but don't do shit like wake up 6am to pack, all tired bc you normally go to bed 3am. make sure to sleep well and get enough rest. especially if you plan to drive later

also - if you can, get help. if you have a reliable family member / friend, ask them for help. dont feel embarassed. do that much in advance, not 2 days before. again, this applies to less emergency moves ofc. if you had plans to move for weeks, it's not wise to procrastinate (speaking from experience here, again). be prepared to bribe them to agree to help you! with things or favours. moving is hell... if you do it alone you might overthink less important things and miss things that are crucial. having another person with you is priceless. most likely they keep you grounded and notice things you might have missed. but yea, it can be hard to find anyone willing to go extra 10 miles and subject themselves to do... this

last thing - when you reach your new place, and all your stuff is there, before you unpack Always clean the space. vacuum the carpets, scrub the kitchen counters etc. you will have blank canvas, get a better idea of the space and how to use it. i used to get excited and just unpack on the spot without much planning but yea, prepare the space before you start opening boxes and all that

side note: i live a country with no storage unit culture, only recently it came an option but the prices aren't exactly affordable (yet?). so i take everything with me everywhere. also i grew up with hoarder adults around me so yea. pardon any typos too!