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AIBU?

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AIBU Please help!!! I don't know where to start!!!!

16 replies

Meadowflowers · 29/10/2018 13:04

I am moving house in 4 weeks. Where do I start???? I don't have the space to be tripping over boxes for 4 weeks and I can't start packing things away now and realise I need them again over the month! I really don't know where to start!!!!!

OP posts:
booellesmum · 29/10/2018 13:07

Start with stuff that won't be so easily damaged when you stack the boxes to save space.
Pack all your books, dvds etc.
Then pack spare bedding, stuff you're not using, Summer clothes?
Can you pack up the garage/shed stuff and leave those boxes in there?
Good luck with the move.

theveryhungrybookworm · 29/10/2018 13:14

We sorted all our things, so everything we used regularly was the last to pack. Everything else went to a Big Yellow Storage place, which gave us the space to sort everything else out. They're quite cheap and often have discounts if you've never used them before.

patstar · 29/10/2018 13:19

Exactly as booellesmum says.
4 weeks is plenty of time - gets books/dvds etc out of the way.
Then start in each room. Go through the kitchen and pack stuff you don't use every day - nobody uses everything in their kitchen.
Also use this time to declutter all the things that you don't use, take to tip or charity shops - this way you'll be moving into your new home with no 'rubbish'. Stack boxes in one corner or against one wall - one for upstairs and one for down stairs. Write on each box what room it is for and breath!!
Don't forget to start making a list (I used a basic spreadsheet) of company's etc that need to know your new address - things like Doctors/bank/driving licence/passports/bills etc.

good luck with your move!

Sicario · 29/10/2018 13:20

You can pay the removals company to do the packing for you.

SpoonBlender · 29/10/2018 13:34

Have you considered paying a couple of hundred quid to get your movers to do all the packing for you? It's well worth it. Call your movers up now and have them come take a look and quote. If you don't have any movers, call some up anyway and see how much it would all be.

Do a sweep for rubbish/recycles/charity stuff right away after that, today, to clear out the unnecessary stuff. Don't ever use black binbags for stuff you're keeping! Get at least two colours so you don't toss the good stuff.

The movers can provide boxes for you to pre-pack.

If you're packing into your own boxes, Amazon sell moving boxes far more cheaply than you'd expect - 12x12x18" is good for dense stuff, books and plates, 12x18x24 for everything else. Buy a big roll of bubblewrap (or papery equivalent), a pack of five markers and a roll of "fragile" stickers at the same time.

The kitchen and (one) bathroom pack last. Clothes and active bedding reserve until very late (but do the charity sweep!).

Start packing with the rest of the house shelves and cupboards. Pick a room to nearly stack your boxes (this is why it's worth having uniform sizes!). By the time you've done those you'll be over the anxiety and be able to see the size of the job.

Label every box in fat marker! Side and top. "Lounge 1" "Books A-G" "Meadow's CDs" that sort of thing. Only put Fragile on boxes that really are, tag five sides. Well packed glasses etc aren't very fragile.

It'll be fine!

CoralFish · 29/10/2018 13:39

We just lived between walls of boxes for a month. If we could have afforded it we would have just done a really good tidy/sort and then paid for packers...

If you are going to pack yourself, clear out one cupboard in the kitchen for 'essentials' and then pack the rest. Do the same with the rest of the rooms in the house. Packing always takes a lot longer than you think it will...

Blobby10 · 29/10/2018 13:46

Start with your loft and garage. Then things like books, airing cupboard, summer clothes. Wrap everything fragile properly, make a list of everyrthing in the box then stick said list to the box - this is really helpful when you're deciding what to unpack next!!

Kitchen - dont leave it til the morning you move as its always a big job.

if you have help, see if they will clean each room as the movers empty it!

anniehm · 29/10/2018 13:54

Good advice so far - start with books, DVD's,cd's, ornaments, summer clothes, specialist clothes (we have ski wear for instance), gardening stuff once the last cut is done if applicable. Then move onto the kitchen - the stuff you only use when entertaining, cake tins etc. Go through garages and outbuildings. Two weeks out get strict with yourself, keep pack clothes other than outfits you plan to wear, pack up your cupboards in the kitchen apart from essentials eg a mug per person (get in a pack of disposables for moving day), pack toys bar a box full. box up spare linen. Then in the last week you should simply be cleaning up and throwing the last few bits into already allocated boxes. Needless to say, buy lots of brown tape and marker pens today - clearly label everything so you can locate everything. I've moved a lot, it's not as bad as it seems

MereDintofPandiculation · 29/10/2018 14:10

Needless to say, buy lots of brown tape and marker pens today - clearly label everything so you can locate everything. and label which room the box needs to go into in the new house

Meadowflowers · 29/10/2018 23:08

Thank you so much. This is all such good advice. I am going to use the time for a massive clear out of stuff. My dh is a hoarder so that'll be fun!!!!

OP posts:
seventhgonickname · 29/10/2018 23:48

The kitchen always takes the longest and you have to wrap mist things.Books are easy to do in advance.
Buy lots of strong black plastic bags,easy to thrown clothes,sheets, towels in.
Make sure you at least mark the box with the tea,wine and corkscrew in.

Aquamarine1029 · 30/10/2018 00:04

Throw out EVERYTHING you don't need. Now is the perfect time to get rid of useless shit. Tell your husband to fuck off and get a grip. Don't let his hoarding tendencies ruin your life.

ZigZagIntoTheBlue · 30/10/2018 00:06

I'd pack an overnight bag with the essentials (include the box with the kettle etc in this essentials!) And pop that on the front seat of your car if you do get movers to pack for you :)

SpoonBlender · 30/10/2018 00:20

NO BLACK BAGS!

Not for anything you want to keep, anyway. Get green heavy duty garden ones or white ones or anything other than black. The risk of tossing them by accident in a fit of enthusiasm is too high. (see nearby thread about "what's the worst thing you've every accidentally binned")

PyongyangKipperbang · 30/10/2018 01:02

Moving is the perfect time to get rid of the stuff he is hoarding "just in case" because you can be 100% sure he wont notice it has gone. If he says at some point in the next 10 years that he has an item you binned then you just blame the movers.....the ultimate get out clause! It works for nasty gifts from your/his mother that they want to see when they visit, toys your kids have destroyed/outgrown but they dont want to give away/clothes you have finally accepted will never fit you again and even if they do you will be too old to reasonably wear/husbands who get on your nerves. OK, maybe not the last one, but it should be!

Meadowflowers · 30/10/2018 18:03

I like this idea of hiring a mover. I thought they'd be really expensive. Also we live in a terraced house with no garage so there's really nowhere to keep bags/boxes. I am going to have a huge clothes clear out though.

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