Moving? Stressed out about it? You’re not alone!

Most people consider moving an absolute nightmare. But it doesn’t have to be. Planning ahead and doing things the right way can make your life a lot easier and make sure your belongings get to their destination safely.

The following packing tips are designed to help make your move as stress-free as possible.

Pack it yourself

Many moving companies offer a packing service, and some people assume that having someone else take care of the boxes and bubble wrap will lessen their stress. Actually, however, if you have the time and you begin far enough in advance, you can make things a lot simpler by packing up your own belongings. That way you can make sure the valuables are well-wrapped… and, best of all, you’ll know where everything is.

Get free materials

You shouldn’t spend money on packing boxes and fancy wrappings from the office supply store. Go to local grocery stores and ask for empty boxes – if they don’t have any on-hand, they should be able to tell you what days of the week they do. Use newspapers to wrap fragile items, or save space and wrap them in bath towels that you’re going to be packing anyways.

Start with the special stuff

“This might seem obvious, but don’t pack the things you use every day. Start your packing job with out-of-season clothes or Christmas decorations tucked into the back of the closet,” – advises Tony, moving manager at CaliforniaMoversUSA. “These are items that can sit in boxes for months at a time, and you won’t miss them. By starting with the things you don’t use anyhow, you can begin your packing far in advance and save yourself plenty of time in the weeks leading up to the move to get to the rest of it.”

Group by room

Some people assume that packing similar items together is the best way to go. For example, flower vases and drinking glasses end up together because they’re all made of glass and must be wrapped. A better method is to pack by room. Start in the kitchen, for example, and layer the bottom of the box with pots and pans. Then put in some glasses (wrapped in dish towels, of course), and top it off with the recipe box or some placemats. When you get to your new home, you can quickly and easily unpack the entire kitchen without having to search through multiple boxes for relevant items.

Label, label, label

According to BOXBEE every box should be clearly marked with the room it belongs in. This will make the unloading process easier, so that if your friends are helping you move they can simply leave the boxes in the rooms where they belong. If you prefer, you can also make a list on the outside of the box of exactly what is inside so that you’ll be able to find things that much more quickly.

Bag it

Using boxes for everything can take up valuable space in your moving truck, and is an unnecessary hassle. Clothing, blankets and bed sheets don’t need to go into boxes. Buy some heavy-duty trash bags and bag your soft items. The bags can be labeled with duct tape; or color-code them with different twist ties for each room of the new home.

Use what you have

You already have several moving containers- you just don’t realize it. Laundry baskets, dresser drawers, and garbage cans are excellent receptacles for moving various items. You have to move these containers

anyhow, so why not fill them with something? Pack clothing in drawers and pots and pans in the kitchen trashcan. Laundry baskets are great for hauling shoes.

Plan ahead!

Most importantly, pack whatever you can before your actual move date rolls around. The night before your move, you should have a few essentials like a change of clothes, a toothbrush, and an alarm clock on hand- and the rest of your belongings should be packed and ready. Running around throwing things into random boxes on the day of your move can not only increase your stress – it also increases the likelihood of things getting lost, broken, or left behind.

Don’t panic – moving is stressful enough. Keep it simple with these sensible packing tips, and you’ll be well on your way to an easy move.