If you were moving in 4 weeks when would you start packing?

[Rumours0fAHurricane]

Just that really. Moving from a 3 bed to a 4 bed, both owned so I've no end of tenancy clean to worry about

Trying to organise myself but no idea where to start! Any ideas?

I spent about 30 hours trying to clear our loft space, gave up and left about half of it. Movers sorted it in less than half an hour.
Look on gumtree and FB for boxes etc, it’ll save you a fortune. I got a massive tv box, £15 to buy new, and 40+ boxes from a lovely lady who needed them removing from her communal landing the day she moved in.

Dream: 4 weeks ago
Reality: in 3.5 weeks

It can be done quite quickly when it’s a necessity, but does rather rely on good access to unlimited boxes, tape, and lorry space.

Get a packing tape dispenser gun too, and good quality brown tape.

@lalafafa I was looking at tv boxes on amazon but we are just going to pop our tv - all 55 inches of it - on the back seat of the car

We are only moving a mile down the road, hence why we can also pack our cars to the gills and do a couple of runs ourselves

@lalafafa I was looking at tv boxes on amazon but we are just going to pop our tv - all 55 inches of it - on the back seat of the car

We are only moving a mile down the road, hence why we can also pack our cars to the gills and do a couple of runs ourselves

Ha, loving the dodgy freezer dinner combos!
We are a bit the same with takeaways amd sandwiches mixing it up when we can't face cooking/eating the randomness.
I'm super sad as leaving behind my massive fridge freezer as our new kitchen is teeny (we are going to extend...whole new thread for that joy!). We have a little upright ff so really need to watch what buy now.

Our packing always starts the day before the move when the men arrive to do it.

It's not worth the stress to do it yourself unless you're really minimalist.

@MyOtherProfile I considered getting people in to pack, but I am in dire need of a declutter, so I had to choose between doing it myself (with decluttering) or paying someone else to lug all my clutter to my new house! I chose the first option. But if i wasnt so hoardy I'd definitely have someone else do it.

@rodentforce right with you there. In the end though we got them to pack all our clutter then decluttered as we unpacked. Somehow it worked for us - we unpacked what we needed and in our lovely new home it was easier to say we didn't need certain things and get rid of them. Of course the clutter has built up again now as years have passed

In the end though we got them to pack all our clutter then decluttered as we unpacked

I hadn't thought of that ... don't tempt me!

Just had someone from a removal firm come round to give me a quote. I asked whether, in an emergency, they could pack up the final few things if I ended up running too far behind! But I don't think I will ... can't imagine allowing myself to go to bed the night before the move with things still left to pack.

Myother It depends what is being charged! We are doing a lot ourselves as we are too tight to pay the €7k the removers wanted for what is over our allowance. It is cheaper to hire storage, hire a van and drive it all back to Cornwall from Belgium!

A fully packed move in Belgium means I get to pack everything that isn't breakable, so I would be doing most of the packing anyway. This way, it's in storage, or in the house exactly where I want it, and I can begin to unpack once the furniture is in place and I don't have to worry about where things go. We are moving back to our house, so in my head I know where everything lives.

Don't bother packing clothes - just take the drawers out with the clothes in these and take out clothes on hangers and you can then slot these back in the chest / wardrobe when you've moved in.

How's everyone? Frantically packing?

I've had another reasonably productive day. Packed another 4 clear bags of my clothes this time and one large box of towels and linens. Got rid of several things via Facebook too.

Tomorrow it's my youngest's bedroom!

Oh don't ask ... I've just spent a couple of hours clearing out a single tiny cupboard 😔 I'm still working while all this is going on - involved in a project that won't wait. Roll on Christmas, when hopefully we'll all be settled and can finally take a breath!

@rodentforce I hear you. Everything just seems to take so long! I'm hoping it'll suddenly all come together

We are getting there, people!
Finished the last of the painting.
Did another run to the tip.
DDs new bedroom is just about there, we just need to move her mattress.
Have packed away all the linen so another cupboard empty.
Having this morning off as need to do school uniform shopping, joy!
Then I'll pack another carload and get it over. DH is on the case today so let's see what he can do .
Full speed ahead again tomorrow.

we move in Nov and this time we are doing it ourselves. I’m getting palpitations now about packing!

I've skim read so apologies if this has been suggested, but invest in some huge decent quality vacuum bags (Amazon, Lakeland etc) and vacuum pack duvets, winter clothes, bedding, towels etc. It will massively reduce the amount of packing space needed and give you room to move around. Tuck a visible label in each bag before you suck the air out though, or you won't remember what you've packed!

In similar position here - moving from a 2 to 3 bed though and own both. Ours is just up the road and having a bit of work done in new house. I've started having a declutter and starting to pack some books, photo frames and stuff we don't use often.

@myimaginarycathasfleas Vacuum bags are a great idea - thanks! Only this morning I was staring at a pile of cushions thinking what a pain they will be to pack. Usually I bung them into bin bags, which inevitably rip, and they take up so much room.

I psyched myself up this morning to clear out a cupboard in the living room only to find it ... empty! This is the second time this has happened. I have no recollection of clearing these cupboards out, but I guess I'm more organised than I thought! Better get back to it ...

@rodentforce I am so with you, I'm also finding myself looking forward to Christmas as that is when we will feel properly settled in our new place and can hopefully take a breather.
I now have 4 full days of packing plus the remainder of today before our move, I am starting to get stressed as work is coming in that I have to do plus there is still the packing to do. Argh! Deep breaths. I'm trying to be systematic and just doing one box or task at a time, which is helping keep the panic down to a dull roar. Every small task I complete I feel a little calmer and like I have my shit together.
Onwards and upwards!

@rhubarbtea Yes - baby steps! I was really disheartened at the beginning, I spent 3-4 hours sorting and packing stuff in the kitchen (those drawers where you just shove random stuff to deal with it later) and at the end it didn't look like I'd started. But today I think I crossed the line from the house looking merely chaotic to it being noticeably in the process of being packed up!

One big help today was discovering Facebook marketplace - stuff that has been languishing on eBay with no bids is getting snapped up by people from local buy/sell groups! The main thing is an old sofa that I was struggling to get rid of - it has been on eBay for 3 cycles with no bids, and I'd previously tried to shift it on gumtree and Freecycle. I was thinking that I'd have to give in and pay the council £15 to come and collect it. But I put it on FB for a fiver, someone messaged to say she wanted it, and her dad turned up 30 mins later to collect it! So not only do I no longer have to worry about that, but I've also gained a big space in the living room to stack boxes - WIN

I settled on a strategy that is helping: if any time I have even the slightest inclination to do a certain bit of sorting/packing, I go and do it, even if it's out of sequence. So, today, I was doing the living room, and I suddenly had the thought that maybe I could sort through the drawers next to my bed. So instead of ploughing on with the living room I went and did that. It's all got to get done, and the more of it I can do without having to force myself, the better!

I'm actually feeling a lot more positive about it all now that I've made real progress today ...

Hey fellow packers - 2-packs of vacuum bags are 'buy one get one half price' at Lakeland. I bought 2 packs but think I'll end up going back for more!

More 'emptying the freezer and cupboards' culinary delights. Last nights supper..

• toad in the hole for two with meat sausages (used all the sausages!)
• veggie sausages (used up all the veg sausages)
• beans (last tin of beans)
• Yorkshire puddings x 6 and crepes (all the flour gone)
• 2 sorts of rice (all rice now gone)
• leftover chickpea curry

It's like a twisted version of ready, steady, cook. Can't face the turkey mince though and there is a tonne of cous cous 😬

Good evening fellow movers!

Another super busy day here today

Tipped another 7 bin bags
Charity bagged several bags
Sold a few bits via Facebook
Cleared a wardrobe

Doesn't look or feel like I've actually done anything though

Tomorrow's plan is to call BT & Sky to set up a switch

21 days to go !