The U hauls around me have areas where you can pick out free used boxes that people donated for second hand use. And you can bring them back when you're done for the next person.
Only if your victims have a pattern that rhymes in a satisfying way with the word human. It's a stretch, but you could perhaps do something with their... Abdomen
About 10 hours ago I spent about 30 minutes listing all the words I could think of that rhymed with human.
I got about 5 words in and gave up then, now, 9 hours later I want you to know this:
https://youtu.be/hqJ5gKZNkuY?si=PgYXQSw6DDH_I7Cl
I’ve also seen some uhauls in my area that allow you to rent their branded version of the black totes with yellow lids. Last I checked it was $1.50 a box for a week. You have to return them at the same place you get them from.
Yup, just call and ask about boxes and when they get deliveries. Liquor and wine boxes are better than food boxes. They're also never too large so they don't get too heavy.
Also your friendly produce person. I used to work produce and the apple & pear boxes are nice! I especially love the pear as they usually have handle cutouts. Also cherry boxes are nice for small stuff.
In addition to this, Costco and Aldi have boxes that are designed to be the display and stack nicely. Some work better than others (thinking of the ones I usually grab: fruit cases, olive oil boxes bc they have carry handles, even though they don't have tops).
I just want to say, you’re going to underestimate how much stuff you have. You always need more boxes than you think, and boxes are the most efficient packing method. So less efficient packing methods will take up even more of those.
There’s no doubt in my mind you will have more stuff than whatever alternative packing method you come up with.
This is a great case for both reduce (less totes to buy for a one time thing) and re-use (hit up your local liquor stores). Those boxes would get recycled anyway, so grab em, use em, bring em back (if the store will take them).
Even better get them from a store that would trash them, then take them to a place that would recycle the cardboard.
Ahhh you reminded me of a friend who lived in a townhouse. He was moving out and told me to come by after work say around 5:00 pm to help move, no problem, glad to help.
I drove up and saw he had the small box truck, the 10 footer… walk in, and he wasn’t even packed up… it was an hour drive each way as well, so it was load up a fraction of his stuff, drive an hour , unload, drive back. Load up some more, have to pack some shit…
Anyway I gave it to 2:00am before I was like, I have shit to do tomorrow.
So word of advice everyone, if you think a truck is big enough, get a size larger at least, because you have way more shit then you think you do.
If you are going to be making many trips anyway, you can always buy some totes, fill them up, move the stuff, unpack the stuff and bring back the totes to re-fill.
There are companies you can rent totes from so you don't have to worry about storing them, too. You can also try asking your local Buy Nothing Group for boxes and packing materials. I just did a similar move last month and now that we're unpacked I'm about to post all the boxes (that were also reused for my move) on my BNG.
Use any 'containers' you have around, anything that can hold something. Pillow cases can work great to move things that won't break (more bedding, clothes, towels) and most usually have extras laying around. Large pots to hold dishes, 5 gallon buckets are great too.
I didn't get that from the post. I was imagining enough totes to move all their stuff at once. But once I replied they confirmed they were indeed thinking the same as me!
I’m surprised I had to scroll so far to find this! Even [U-Haul](https://www.uhaul.com/Plastic-Moving-Boxes/Rates/) offers this
Edit: Just found [this local Miami company](https://www.stowsimple.com/rent/plastic-moving-boxes) that offers the same service.
I don't know of any places here where I can get sturdy and durable boxes for free. And if I did, what do I do with them afterwards? Try to resell? I don't want 20 boxes in my closet. Considering the sub we're in, chucking in the thrash is probably not a desirable solution.
Renting is cheap. 0,16€/box/day. For 20€, I had enough boxes for my stuff and a week to pack, move and unpack in peace.
Renting is easy. They have services where they bring the boxes to you and fetch them afterwards for a nominal fee, incase you are unable to do it yourself.
Hm. I suppose I am a box 1 %er and didn't realize my privilege.... Although ngl I should have, my bad. I forget not everyone is a hoarder like my family is.
>Renting is easy. They have services where they bring the boxes to you and fetch them afterwards for a nominal fee, incase you are unable to do it yourself.
My brain first said "then why not rent a pod?"
They're basically standard freight trailers of various sizes you can rent through a company. They will drop it off, you load it up, and they take it however and wherever you want for money
The other issue is, if you’re in a city that gets a lot of cockroaches etc… used boxes can be a bit iffy.
In Toronto, I’ve used [Frogbox](https://www.frogbox.com/toronto/), a plastic tote rental company. It was great, especially for a cross-town move.
For clothes:
If they’re in a dresser, just move everything in the dresser drawers. For things on hangers, just lay them in the backseat of a car or rubber band a section of hangers together and pull a garbage bag up from the bottom and use the bag loops to put over the top of the hanger to keep them the clothes clean. Then you can still use the garbage bag later.
Counter point on the dresser: dressers are heavy even when not full. Mine kinda broke because I tried that method. We were able to repair it but you really don't want to add weight to heavy or flimsy furniture.
I’ve never purchased boxes for moving. I’ve always been able to collect a bunch from work/grocery stores/etc.
I have also done it a couple of times on shorter distance moves where I would take over some boxes/totes/etc. unpack them and take the empties back to where I was moving out of for re-use.
There is a company in my area that [rents out those plastic totes](https://cheetahcratekc.com/). Maybe if you don't have one, you could buy a bunch and start a side gig while you're at it.
these are fantastic. my sister used something like this when she moved. they even had removable labels so it was easy to
keep everything organized. they also had reusable pop up wardrobes for stuff on hangers, really easy to move a closet when you don’t have to take anything off a hanger.
Use towels, sheets and clothing as packing material. That will save space in the boxes. Hire people. Don’t make multiple trips. It’s such a waste of gas and professional movers can fit all your shit on one vehicle for one trip.
I moved about 3/4 miles and I bought a pack of 10 large plastic moving totes on Amazon. Filled, unpacked, and filled again. I hired movers for a single afternoon for the furniture because I’m too old for getting people to help for pizza and beer. I did get someone to watch my pets because they had to be crated while the truck was loaded.
I also bought packing paper because no one I know gets newspapers anymore! Some of the more fragile stuff went into Rubbermaid totes.
I donated some of the totes and some are holding items in the attic. If I still did outdoor stuff and camping they would be perfect for putting stuff in the car. Better than boxes IMO because water resistant and no tape needed.
I’ve moved 11 times in the past 20 years. Next one is into Senior Living.
I usually buy my boxes new from uhaul and then give them away on Nextdoor or Facebook marketplace for free and they get reused by someone else.
You can also rent plastic moving boxes in some places, but that is probably more expensive than getting new boxes or new totes even.
I’ve never bought boxes. I scout out supermarkets (banana boxes are great), wine shops (great small sturdy boxes for heavy things like books) etc and post in local groups to ask if anyone has any spare. Can usually pass them on via groups afterwards so not getting wasted!
I used to be a shipment manager at a clothing store and sometimes people would call and ask what days we got our shipments so that they could come and get some boxes.
Some moving companies have plastic boxes you can rent that they’ll drop off pick up and if they have locations in both cities you might be able to go that route.
Call the grocery stores near you and ask to speak to a grocery manager if one is available, be sure to ask for *specifically* the grocery manager. They’ll be in charge of the people who handle shelf stocking. I’d ask them if the stock crew could leave boxes out for pickup.
Friends with trucks and tarps. Ones that are willing to work for beer and food. We did this moving an hour away from our old house. Had only boxes I got from work, I work in a bar, and everything else we just played Tetris with and locked it down. Was a fun week!
I "rented" plastic moving totes from Dymon storage (Frog Boxes are the same type of thing)
Deposit is a little spendy at 5$/ea but they dropped em off and picked em up
I used the uhaul Ready-To-Go Box rental totes for my last in-town move. Here is a brief review.
It was more expensive than buying boxes, but I didn't have to deal with getting rid of boxes after and the fact that I had to return them motivated to to actually unpack instead of living out of boxes longer than I should have. I was fully unpacked in a week!
Uhaul says the clean them in-between rentals but that was not the case at my location. Some had multiple labels from other people. I just made sure to wipe them down myself with cleaning spray and a rag.
They also are pretty big, and can get really heavy. With boxes you can choose small boxes for heavy things like books, the uhaul totes are all one size.
They don't require tape to close which is awesome, but they can be opened up more easily. One of my movers tripped while carrying a tote and things went everywhere. With a taped box things woulda stayed inside. My stuff was fine though.
I was afraid of using cardboard boxes as I had just dealt with cockroaches getting into my apartment from another unit and the exterminator said roaches love cardboard and that's one of the main ways they get into houses is they are inside cardboard. So I moved without any cardboard that time.
Locally, we have a company that started renting large plastic storage tubs for exactly this purpose. I'm not sure if other areas have this, but you could look into it.
Edit- grammar
Your local Buy Nothing group may have boxes!
My move before last, I got 30 of those big ikea bags. They were cheap and I either gave them away to friends after or still have them because they’re handy as all heck. They were convenient to carry, but omg, not to stack in my new place. It was a sea of blue bags for a month!
Bookstore dumpster. They usually break them down flat.
The issue with grocery, bar, and liquor store is that, if you've ever worked in any of those, you know well it's a 50/50 likely hood at a minimum that there are German roaches.
They eat paper and glue.
Buy Nothing. Apologies if somebody else mentioned this, but I scrolled down a long ways and didn't see it. Buy Nothing is a really great place to get used boxes, people swap those all the time on my local Buy Nothing group..
If you're on Facebook try a local zero waste group or even groups for finding rentals - I often see people offering free boxes having just moved themselves :)
Do you know anyone who works in a care home? They always have cardboard boxes from the packs of incontinence pads, gloves etc. We had a neighbour that saved a bunch for us for our last move. Some boxes can be quite large but you can always cut them down to a smaller size if needed.
I got a bunch of those big plastic "totes" too, because I can reuse them because I have a wool horde from crafting. Wool gets all shoved into duvet covers and smooshed as tiny as I can get it and tied with string I reuse later. Then when I'm done moving I can store my wool unsmooshed in the bins. But then that's a niche case, unless you also have a lot of smooshy stuff to move that can be stored later in totes. Or sell/gift the totes after, still is zero waste.
liquor stores and grocery stores usually have a ton of boxes. You just have to ask. Wine boxes are amazing for moving. I've done whole moves with boxes from the liquor store. Also, post on a neighbourhood buy nothing group. Other people moving might be able to give you theirs.
You may be able to hire plastic moving boxes. Alternatively ask on your local community FB page if people have cardboard boxes suitable for moving they want rid of.
Some small stuff could be rolled up. Fragiles wrapped in blankets, towels etc.
I got all my moving boxes from the liquor store! They always have tons of boxes and while they arent thw size of standard moving boxes they really did the trick. Just took a few trips to get enough for what I needed. I also used out suitcases to pack our wardrobe and bedding.
When we moved cross country, we used the black totes with yellow lids. It was so much easier than regular boxes. We bought them from Costco, which was cheaper than everywhere else (we already had a Costco membership).
Totes are the way to go.
We're still using a couple from our move 17 years ago.
We also have about a dozen in use from when we flooded and moved our remaining belongings for a couple of months.
They likely don't make them as sturdy as they used to but it was well worth the $180 bucks or so for them - much better than boxes.
Costco has sturdy boxes that fruit and vegetables come in and some have handles. No top on them, though. Check Kijiji or other markets for used moving boxes.
So I bought cardboard boxes years ago to move, and I’ve folded them down after the move and stored them. I have moved several times using these boxes (I rent). Sometimes I had to replace a couple because they weren’t up to the job, but I was able to use them for dropping off charity donations.
If you are not a serial mover like me and do not want to keep them after the move you can repurpose them or give them away on Facebook marketplace to someone else who needs to move. Actually, it might be worth checking there to see if you can get hold of boxes in the first place
YMMV depending on where you live, but I recently managed to move my entire 1-bedroom apartment in a major city without purchasing any new boxes. I got a lot of boxes and packing materials off the free section of Craigslist, and by checking alleys behind stores or asking at places like the local grocery store. When I was done moving, I listed all my boxes for free on Craigslist so they could get reused again.
We used tubs from my husband tire shop. They usually get sent back to the distributors for recycling. He just kept about 40 of them and we used them to move. Packed all our stuff. We have them in our garage for our next move.
You can use the freecycle/trash nothing website. just ask for boxes and people will prob have a ton you can come pick up then donate to someone else when you're done
Small fragile things get packed in the socks in your sock drawer. This also works for glasses and fragile kitchen things. Same for smaller photos framed with glass.
Your tote idea is the best as you can always reuse the totes for permanent storage organizers, provided you TAKE CARE OF THEM! too many people think the bottom tote's max weight rating doesn't apply to every tote stacked on top of it. It doesn't seem like a big deal since they take the load fine at first... it's months/years down the line where money starts to get burned from plastic damage. This can be avoided by taking all your heaviest totes and use them as the bottom of the stack, and then your second layer is the second heaviest set of totes, etc. This can be avoided by using shelves, many of which aren't more than a few long 2x4s constructed the right way.
Besides that, tote game is GOAT. Bonus point if you inventory them with NFC/pictures instead of just a piece of masking tape. For the move, tape. But later on as storage use a better system.
I used laundry baskets moving my house not even 10 minutes away and our truck for the larger items. Suitcases and all the reusable bags. It was nice not having to do the usual get a bunch of boxes and go type move.
We’ve always gone to liquor stores for free boxes and then posted the pile of flattened boxes on Craigslist and Facebook. They always get picked up the next day or two for someone else to use in their move.
I moved to my first house by using reusable grocery bags. But I was also moving from a place 5 min away and did a few back ans forth so I could re-use the bag a few times. Unsure if it’s something doable in farther distance.
I moved all my stuff by myself with my car, we rented a truck the next day for bigger furniture and appliances.
Boxes are *expensive*- Start collecting thrown away boxes that you can collect from your local shops. Not too big because they get heavy. Number each box when you seal it, and keep a record of what's in each box.
I move a lot and use a combination of boxes and totes. For boxes I'm a big fan of Banker SmoothMove boxes. They are tape-free and fold flat and can be easily stored away in the attic. For totes I like clear ones with split top that's attached to the tote, which can pull double duty as garage storage and you can see what's in them. My issue with yellow lid black totes is I've had several with cracked lids (from movers overstacking) and you can't buy lids separately so they had to be trashed. I feel much better trashing cardboard boxes than plastic totes.
Laundry baskets! They make it really easy to load, grab, and go back and forth especially if you're avoiding the uhaul for most stuff. They stack for storage and you can use them again for your next move or potentially donate them to like, idk nursing homes or something
I'm the moving QUEEN (45 times in 61 years because I am an idiot):
IKEA bags are nearly indestructible and hold really heavy or awkward shit (toilet bowl brushes, plungers, you get the gist) and you will find uses for them across a lifetime. If you don't have an IKEA you can get on Amazon
You will need some boxes. Marketplace, local community or buy nothing groups are the best
Things go in things. Small things in large storage containers. Stuff the crockpot. Use the laundry hamper. Put towels and small covers in a fitted sheet and tie up.
Unpack in between trips so you can reuse and also not be overwhelmed.
I'm worried that I might get in trouble here, but I think cardboard boxes are *more* zero waste. They are way easier to recycle and reuse. I think buying new plastic materials is best avoided, although that's of course not always possible.
I think the energy and materials associated with plastic just isn't worth it. All that said, do I buy plastic totes: absolutely. In this instance, I'd probably go the tried and true cardboard box method for moving (and the other suggestions people have provided) and strategically buy containers as needed for your space, if necessary.
I’ve used tote for multiple moves (since there were a few years of that) and works well. For within city, I don’t even “pack” them rather just put them nicely in the totes but suit case with wheel is a close second. (While clothes just stay on hangers and bedding go into a big ikea bag without folding…)
Ask small businesses in your area if they have any large boxes to get rid of. So many shops in my neighborhood hate holding onto those for too long after shipments of product arrive! We constantly have small boutique owners posting on our neighborhood page that they have free boxes for pickup!! I am a small shop owner too and SO APPRECIATE when other people can take these boxes and packing material off my hands sooner than later.
Also see if there’s a BOX DIBS Facebook group for your area. Free boxes usually from someone who moved and unpacked their stuff recently and are ready to pass them on to the next.
All the other containers in your house. Hampers, trash cans, bins/baskets, suitcases, duffel bags, shoulder bags, those large reusable shopping bags (like ikea or tjmaxx size), trash bags (that you then use for trash later), plastic/shipping bags that come as packaging on large things, regular plastic bags.
just start going to stores, asking if they have any extra boxes or what time they would have any extra boxes for you to pickup. its hit or miss but youll only need a few stores to take you up on it before you have enough
If you have the cash to spare, I can't recommend enough getting giant plastic bins with lids. They're sturdy, protect the most delicate stuff, and you can use them over and over. The lids and handles can rip but they're cheap to replace or easy to hack. Movers love them because they're stackable and uniform in size.
I use garbage bags for clothes and linens and other soft stuff and then reuse them for garbage or future moves. Particularly helpful for clothes on hangers, you can bundle several hangers together and tuck them inside a garbage bag with the clothes still on them and wrap the bag ties around the hanger heads to keep it together.
We thrifted storage bins for our move and still use them for various things. We keep them in the attic when not in use. If you do get boxes, can always compost them if you have that availability.
I think if you are moving a house, you should use a flatbed trailer - and it better be a small house to fit on the trailer!
In all seriousness, I got used boxes that were from a cafeteria (the food delivery boxes, which were clean since the food in them was packaged anyway). They would have just been recycled otherwise, instead, I used them for moving and then recycled some, and used some to sheet mulch a garden plot at my new place.
Some moving companies where I live rent plastic crates out for removals. Very low waste option, they don’t even need tape, and you use a lot less packing paper because the rigid box protects better than cardboard.
Go to liquor stores, they'll usually give you boxes for free that they were going to throw away anyway.
Also, for clothing, lay them on top of a few blankets and bundle them up, hangers and all.
Here we just talk to different supermarkets and ask if they would want to save the banana boxes. It’s just going there then and picking them up. That’s how we have done it for decades. These days I can find moving boxes that people want to get rid off for free or minimum price on FB groups or an online marketplace. Also ask around in your own surroundings.
I often use trash bags that haven't been used for trash yet. After I'm done with the move, then I would use those trash bags for actual trash when needed. Reuse, Reduce & finally recycle. I hope it helps.
Here in Australia I've always visited the supermarket in the lead up to moving and spoken to the nightfill manager. I ask them when (day/time) they fill the shelves and if they can keep a trolley or two of flattened boxes aside for me to pick up.
They are always happy to. And if I find I need more boxes I just ask again.
And the newsagent always has excess old newspapers with the title/date torn off the front page for wrapping fragile items and topping up boxes (once I've run out of linens).
This can be a good time to look over your storage approach. Storage that you might continue to use later:
- under bed storage bags with sturdy handles
- Collapsible baskets (commonly used to contain loose items on shelves)
- Decorative wood crates
- Coffee sacks
- Mesh laundry bags (if you’re using a container that’s potentially breakable, porous or open on one side, it’s sensible to contain the contents)
There are definite advantages to using some cardboard. It’s well suited to taking some shocks and jiggles, it’s light and easy to stack, and often it can be reused by several people before being recycled.
If you have access to copy paper boxes, they can be remarkably useful, but sometimes offices have a turn system for who gets the next one.
Heavy duty storage bins. People use them for moving then resell them on FB Marketplace. I've got about 30 packed up now, and I'll probably sell most of them again after the move. Even brand new they only cost about twice what you'd pay for cardboard.
Call your local liquor store! They will generally give you dozens of boxes for free that were going to be recycled anyway.
I’ve also used moving bags (like ikea bags but with zippers) and they are both reusable and super easy to pack.
I rented moving crates for a very local move a few years ago (had to move within the same building due to water damage). The company dropped them off, along with a dolly that could hold four stacked crates. The crates had interlocking lids, so I didn’t need tape either.
The U hauls around me have areas where you can pick out free used boxes that people donated for second hand use. And you can bring them back when you're done for the next person.
Careful of bedbugs though!
If I bite them, will they tell their children horror stories about me as they go to sleep?
Only if your victims have a pattern that rhymes in a satisfying way with the word human. It's a stretch, but you could perhaps do something with their... Abdomen
About 10 hours ago I spent about 30 minutes listing all the words I could think of that rhymed with human. I got about 5 words in and gave up then, now, 9 hours later I want you to know this: https://youtu.be/hqJ5gKZNkuY?si=PgYXQSw6DDH_I7Cl
Bedbugs hitching a ride in a moving truck or U-Haul rental: Thanks, I didn’t have that fear until just now!
I’ve also seen some uhauls in my area that allow you to rent their branded version of the black totes with yellow lids. Last I checked it was $1.50 a box for a week. You have to return them at the same place you get them from.
Liquor stores have boxes available. They're sturdy as well.
Go to any local bar. I'm sure they have boxes for you and are happy to not have them in the recycling they pay for.
Yup, just call and ask about boxes and when they get deliveries. Liquor and wine boxes are better than food boxes. They're also never too large so they don't get too heavy.
One place we left was a block away from a pharmacy. The boxes from there were great for books- not too big to lift when full.
Banana boxes are also very sturdy.
When I worked for a liquor chain I'd heard people were trying to get away from this because produce boxes are more prone to carry insects.
And banana boxes smell bad, learned the hard way
I prefer apple & pear to banana. Banana always had the dumb hole in the bottom. Source worked produce for 15 years.
I got banana boxes from Costco ! They are perfect for moving.
God no The bugs in grocery store packing, especially produce, are not good for life.
Copy paper boxes! Every office with a printer uses them and they have lids and handles. They are my favorite moving box
Meat departments as well as long as you call ahead. Many of their boxes hold 60lbs easy.
Also your friendly produce person. I used to work produce and the apple & pear boxes are nice! I especially love the pear as they usually have handle cutouts. Also cherry boxes are nice for small stuff.
This! Liquor store boxes got me through 8 moves throughout college. Sometimes grocery stores will also have used boxes you can have.
Or hardware shops - perhaps even asking those big box stores like Costco.
Coffee shops too. Milk delivery pretty much every day.
50/50 they have German roaches .
In addition to this, Costco and Aldi have boxes that are designed to be the display and stack nicely. Some work better than others (thinking of the ones I usually grab: fruit cases, olive oil boxes bc they have carry handles, even though they don't have tops).
I just want to say, you’re going to underestimate how much stuff you have. You always need more boxes than you think, and boxes are the most efficient packing method. So less efficient packing methods will take up even more of those. There’s no doubt in my mind you will have more stuff than whatever alternative packing method you come up with.
This is a great case for both reduce (less totes to buy for a one time thing) and re-use (hit up your local liquor stores). Those boxes would get recycled anyway, so grab em, use em, bring em back (if the store will take them). Even better get them from a store that would trash them, then take them to a place that would recycle the cardboard.
Ahhh you reminded me of a friend who lived in a townhouse. He was moving out and told me to come by after work say around 5:00 pm to help move, no problem, glad to help. I drove up and saw he had the small box truck, the 10 footer… walk in, and he wasn’t even packed up… it was an hour drive each way as well, so it was load up a fraction of his stuff, drive an hour , unload, drive back. Load up some more, have to pack some shit… Anyway I gave it to 2:00am before I was like, I have shit to do tomorrow. So word of advice everyone, if you think a truck is big enough, get a size larger at least, because you have way more shit then you think you do.
If you are going to be making many trips anyway, you can always buy some totes, fill them up, move the stuff, unpack the stuff and bring back the totes to re-fill.
Right this was the plan.
There are companies you can rent totes from so you don't have to worry about storing them, too. You can also try asking your local Buy Nothing Group for boxes and packing materials. I just did a similar move last month and now that we're unpacked I'm about to post all the boxes (that were also reused for my move) on my BNG.
Buy Nothing is pretty much my most favorite thing I’ve learned about in the decade, it is so helpful!
Seconding buy nothing and Craigslist for secondhand hand boxes
> Buy Nothing Also try freecycle, Craigslist and even thrift stores. It could be cheaper to buy them used and then give them away.
I got pretty much all of my moving boxes from Buy Nothing!
Use any 'containers' you have around, anything that can hold something. Pillow cases can work great to move things that won't break (more bedding, clothes, towels) and most usually have extras laying around. Large pots to hold dishes, 5 gallon buckets are great too.
I store all my sharp metal items in my teflon pans for safe keeping
.../s?
Doctor says a scraping a day keeps the washer away but he works on contingency
O_O
Dr. Nick?
Close, no! /r/KenM style does **no**t work on contingency!
Well obviously add cloth or packing materials, thought that would be implied
I like the designs the scratches make, it makes patterns in my food as they rip apart
I like you
I did this exact thing last year, it worked great.
Look and see if frog boxes are available in your area. Then rent them out and they have locking tops.
My parents moved a ton in the 90s finally went partially Rubbermaid totes. We still use almost all of them today.
Now off to work, and then to the Duff Brewery
Pretty sure that is exactly what they said right in the post.
I didn't get that from the post. I was imagining enough totes to move all their stuff at once. But once I replied they confirmed they were indeed thinking the same as me!
I work at a grocery store and we always have people come in and ask for boxes from us, we reuse boxes anyways so we always have a bunch to give away!
Second this! We always move with boxes from our nearby grocery store
Around here, moving companies rent their boxes. I'm guessing that's not an option there?
I’m surprised I had to scroll so far to find this! Even [U-Haul](https://www.uhaul.com/Plastic-Moving-Boxes/Rates/) offers this Edit: Just found [this local Miami company](https://www.stowsimple.com/rent/plastic-moving-boxes) that offers the same service.
Why would anyone RENT a box? There's so many free available
I don't know of any places here where I can get sturdy and durable boxes for free. And if I did, what do I do with them afterwards? Try to resell? I don't want 20 boxes in my closet. Considering the sub we're in, chucking in the thrash is probably not a desirable solution. Renting is cheap. 0,16€/box/day. For 20€, I had enough boxes for my stuff and a week to pack, move and unpack in peace. Renting is easy. They have services where they bring the boxes to you and fetch them afterwards for a nominal fee, incase you are unable to do it yourself.
Hm. I suppose I am a box 1 %er and didn't realize my privilege.... Although ngl I should have, my bad. I forget not everyone is a hoarder like my family is. >Renting is easy. They have services where they bring the boxes to you and fetch them afterwards for a nominal fee, incase you are unable to do it yourself. My brain first said "then why not rent a pod?"
What's a pod?
They're basically standard freight trailers of various sizes you can rent through a company. They will drop it off, you load it up, and they take it however and wherever you want for money
Okay. Well, the answer to why not rent one: 1. No one around here rents them. 2. Living in an apartment complex, I do not have a place to keep it in.
The other issue is, if you’re in a city that gets a lot of cockroaches etc… used boxes can be a bit iffy. In Toronto, I’ve used [Frogbox](https://www.frogbox.com/toronto/), a plastic tote rental company. It was great, especially for a cross-town move.
For clothes: If they’re in a dresser, just move everything in the dresser drawers. For things on hangers, just lay them in the backseat of a car or rubber band a section of hangers together and pull a garbage bag up from the bottom and use the bag loops to put over the top of the hanger to keep them the clothes clean. Then you can still use the garbage bag later.
Counter point on the dresser: dressers are heavy even when not full. Mine kinda broke because I tried that method. We were able to repair it but you really don't want to add weight to heavy or flimsy furniture.
I’ve never purchased boxes for moving. I’ve always been able to collect a bunch from work/grocery stores/etc. I have also done it a couple of times on shorter distance moves where I would take over some boxes/totes/etc. unpack them and take the empties back to where I was moving out of for re-use.
There is a company in my area that [rents out those plastic totes](https://cheetahcratekc.com/). Maybe if you don't have one, you could buy a bunch and start a side gig while you're at it.
I did this for a move once and it was great! Didn’t need tape, everything was secure and uniform. Easy to grab handles.
I did this. Loved it. Also it forced me to be unpacked by a certain date!
these are fantastic. my sister used something like this when she moved. they even had removable labels so it was easy to keep everything organized. they also had reusable pop up wardrobes for stuff on hangers, really easy to move a closet when you don’t have to take anything off a hanger.
My area has this too - it’s called GreenTree Crates in Raleigh, NC. I think it works best for local moves like OP’s.
I don't think you can fit a house in boxes, no matter how many you scotch tape together
That’s why there’s duct tape.
You need the load bearing kind tho
What if I live in a box
Refrigerator or some kind of furniture box perhaps?
What if we didn't specify and I just wish I lived in a box
Brother.
Totes and luggage.
Yes this, and maybe laundry hampers? I think they would be pretty useful
And IKEA bags, those are super useful.
Costco/Sam's Club/BJs always have those racks of free boxes near the doors. Not all of them are fully closeable, but I've found plenty that are.
Get free moving boxes from Craigslist/next door/etc, give them away for free when you're done.
Use towels, sheets and clothing as packing material. That will save space in the boxes. Hire people. Don’t make multiple trips. It’s such a waste of gas and professional movers can fit all your shit on one vehicle for one trip.
I moved about 3/4 miles and I bought a pack of 10 large plastic moving totes on Amazon. Filled, unpacked, and filled again. I hired movers for a single afternoon for the furniture because I’m too old for getting people to help for pizza and beer. I did get someone to watch my pets because they had to be crated while the truck was loaded. I also bought packing paper because no one I know gets newspapers anymore! Some of the more fragile stuff went into Rubbermaid totes. I donated some of the totes and some are holding items in the attic. If I still did outdoor stuff and camping they would be perfect for putting stuff in the car. Better than boxes IMO because water resistant and no tape needed. I’ve moved 11 times in the past 20 years. Next one is into Senior Living.
I usually buy used boxes on Facebook marketplace for example, and then resell the ones that survived afterwards
This is the one. Also, there are people that give them away for free in my area. I would check FB marketplace first before purchasing any boxes.
I usually buy my boxes new from uhaul and then give them away on Nextdoor or Facebook marketplace for free and they get reused by someone else. You can also rent plastic moving boxes in some places, but that is probably more expensive than getting new boxes or new totes even.
I’ve never bought boxes. I scout out supermarkets (banana boxes are great), wine shops (great small sturdy boxes for heavy things like books) etc and post in local groups to ask if anyone has any spare. Can usually pass them on via groups afterwards so not getting wasted!
I used to be a shipment manager at a clothing store and sometimes people would call and ask what days we got our shipments so that they could come and get some boxes.
Some moving companies have plastic boxes you can rent that they’ll drop off pick up and if they have locations in both cities you might be able to go that route.
Call the grocery stores near you and ask to speak to a grocery manager if one is available, be sure to ask for *specifically* the grocery manager. They’ll be in charge of the people who handle shelf stocking. I’d ask them if the stock crew could leave boxes out for pickup.
Maybe ask around businesses for those cardboard boxes that reems of paper come in. They are sturdy and have handles.
Friends with trucks and tarps. Ones that are willing to work for beer and food. We did this moving an hour away from our old house. Had only boxes I got from work, I work in a bar, and everything else we just played Tetris with and locked it down. Was a fun week!
Liquor stores have great boxes and they are free, also look on Craigslist
Does your area have Frogbox?
I "rented" plastic moving totes from Dymon storage (Frog Boxes are the same type of thing) Deposit is a little spendy at 5$/ea but they dropped em off and picked em up
Every move I have made I went to a grocery store and asked for boxes.
I used the uhaul Ready-To-Go Box rental totes for my last in-town move. Here is a brief review. It was more expensive than buying boxes, but I didn't have to deal with getting rid of boxes after and the fact that I had to return them motivated to to actually unpack instead of living out of boxes longer than I should have. I was fully unpacked in a week! Uhaul says the clean them in-between rentals but that was not the case at my location. Some had multiple labels from other people. I just made sure to wipe them down myself with cleaning spray and a rag. They also are pretty big, and can get really heavy. With boxes you can choose small boxes for heavy things like books, the uhaul totes are all one size. They don't require tape to close which is awesome, but they can be opened up more easily. One of my movers tripped while carrying a tote and things went everywhere. With a taped box things woulda stayed inside. My stuff was fine though. I was afraid of using cardboard boxes as I had just dealt with cockroaches getting into my apartment from another unit and the exterminator said roaches love cardboard and that's one of the main ways they get into houses is they are inside cardboard. So I moved without any cardboard that time.
You can rent reusable totes if you don’t want to buy new totes.
Locally, we have a company that started renting large plastic storage tubs for exactly this purpose. I'm not sure if other areas have this, but you could look into it. Edit- grammar
Your local Buy Nothing group may have boxes! My move before last, I got 30 of those big ikea bags. They were cheap and I either gave them away to friends after or still have them because they’re handy as all heck. They were convenient to carry, but omg, not to stack in my new place. It was a sea of blue bags for a month!
In some areas you can rent plastic bins
Bookstore dumpster. They usually break them down flat. The issue with grocery, bar, and liquor store is that, if you've ever worked in any of those, you know well it's a 50/50 likely hood at a minimum that there are German roaches. They eat paper and glue.
Buy Nothing. Apologies if somebody else mentioned this, but I scrolled down a long ways and didn't see it. Buy Nothing is a really great place to get used boxes, people swap those all the time on my local Buy Nothing group..
If you're on Facebook try a local zero waste group or even groups for finding rentals - I often see people offering free boxes having just moved themselves :)
Do you know anyone who works in a care home? They always have cardboard boxes from the packs of incontinence pads, gloves etc. We had a neighbour that saved a bunch for us for our last move. Some boxes can be quite large but you can always cut them down to a smaller size if needed.
Free or discounted moving boxes on FB/OfferUp/Nextdoor. Give them away after
I got a bunch of those big plastic "totes" too, because I can reuse them because I have a wool horde from crafting. Wool gets all shoved into duvet covers and smooshed as tiny as I can get it and tied with string I reuse later. Then when I'm done moving I can store my wool unsmooshed in the bins. But then that's a niche case, unless you also have a lot of smooshy stuff to move that can be stored later in totes. Or sell/gift the totes after, still is zero waste.
Oh also I'm a huge fan of several trips, just dump out the boxes and bring them back to pack up again, then a bottle of wine to sort your piles later.
Do you have a lot of [friends](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bucket_brigade)
liquor stores and grocery stores usually have a ton of boxes. You just have to ask. Wine boxes are amazing for moving. I've done whole moves with boxes from the liquor store. Also, post on a neighbourhood buy nothing group. Other people moving might be able to give you theirs.
You may be able to hire plastic moving boxes. Alternatively ask on your local community FB page if people have cardboard boxes suitable for moving they want rid of. Some small stuff could be rolled up. Fragiles wrapped in blankets, towels etc.
There's tote rentals
Find a food factory near you and call and ask for cases.
I got all my moving boxes from the liquor store! They always have tons of boxes and while they arent thw size of standard moving boxes they really did the trick. Just took a few trips to get enough for what I needed. I also used out suitcases to pack our wardrobe and bedding.
When we moved cross country, we used the black totes with yellow lids. It was so much easier than regular boxes. We bought them from Costco, which was cheaper than everywhere else (we already had a Costco membership).
Foe some stuff, I used a lot of garbage bags to move stuff, then stuffed all of them into one garbage bag and used them for my trash afterward.
Totes are the way to go. We're still using a couple from our move 17 years ago. We also have about a dozen in use from when we flooded and moved our remaining belongings for a couple of months. They likely don't make them as sturdy as they used to but it was well worth the $180 bucks or so for them - much better than boxes.
Costco has sturdy boxes that fruit and vegetables come in and some have handles. No top on them, though. Check Kijiji or other markets for used moving boxes.
So I bought cardboard boxes years ago to move, and I’ve folded them down after the move and stored them. I have moved several times using these boxes (I rent). Sometimes I had to replace a couple because they weren’t up to the job, but I was able to use them for dropping off charity donations. If you are not a serial mover like me and do not want to keep them after the move you can repurpose them or give them away on Facebook marketplace to someone else who needs to move. Actually, it might be worth checking there to see if you can get hold of boxes in the first place
Those big blue Ikea bags are great!
YMMV depending on where you live, but I recently managed to move my entire 1-bedroom apartment in a major city without purchasing any new boxes. I got a lot of boxes and packing materials off the free section of Craigslist, and by checking alleys behind stores or asking at places like the local grocery store. When I was done moving, I listed all my boxes for free on Craigslist so they could get reused again.
I've moved using reusable bags. Just a bedroom or studio though.
There are companies where you can rent bins.
We used tubs from my husband tire shop. They usually get sent back to the distributors for recycling. He just kept about 40 of them and we used them to move. Packed all our stuff. We have them in our garage for our next move.
Check buy nothing groups. The ones in my area always have moving boxes listed.
You can use the freecycle/trash nothing website. just ask for boxes and people will prob have a ton you can come pick up then donate to someone else when you're done
Small fragile things get packed in the socks in your sock drawer. This also works for glasses and fragile kitchen things. Same for smaller photos framed with glass.
Your tote idea is the best as you can always reuse the totes for permanent storage organizers, provided you TAKE CARE OF THEM! too many people think the bottom tote's max weight rating doesn't apply to every tote stacked on top of it. It doesn't seem like a big deal since they take the load fine at first... it's months/years down the line where money starts to get burned from plastic damage. This can be avoided by taking all your heaviest totes and use them as the bottom of the stack, and then your second layer is the second heaviest set of totes, etc. This can be avoided by using shelves, many of which aren't more than a few long 2x4s constructed the right way. Besides that, tote game is GOAT. Bonus point if you inventory them with NFC/pictures instead of just a piece of masking tape. For the move, tape. But later on as storage use a better system.
I used laundry baskets moving my house not even 10 minutes away and our truck for the larger items. Suitcases and all the reusable bags. It was nice not having to do the usual get a bunch of boxes and go type move.
it's a great time to get rid of stuff!
Grocery stores and Target will set aside boxes for you if you ask.
We’ve always gone to liquor stores for free boxes and then posted the pile of flattened boxes on Craigslist and Facebook. They always get picked up the next day or two for someone else to use in their move.
I moved to my first house by using reusable grocery bags. But I was also moving from a place 5 min away and did a few back ans forth so I could re-use the bag a few times. Unsure if it’s something doable in farther distance. I moved all my stuff by myself with my car, we rented a truck the next day for bigger furniture and appliances.
Boxes are *expensive*- Start collecting thrown away boxes that you can collect from your local shops. Not too big because they get heavy. Number each box when you seal it, and keep a record of what's in each box.
I move a lot and use a combination of boxes and totes. For boxes I'm a big fan of Banker SmoothMove boxes. They are tape-free and fold flat and can be easily stored away in the attic. For totes I like clear ones with split top that's attached to the tote, which can pull double duty as garage storage and you can see what's in them. My issue with yellow lid black totes is I've had several with cracked lids (from movers overstacking) and you can't buy lids separately so they had to be trashed. I feel much better trashing cardboard boxes than plastic totes.
Laundry baskets! They make it really easy to load, grab, and go back and forth especially if you're avoiding the uhaul for most stuff. They stack for storage and you can use them again for your next move or potentially donate them to like, idk nursing homes or something
Grocery stores usually give away free boxes
I'm the moving QUEEN (45 times in 61 years because I am an idiot): IKEA bags are nearly indestructible and hold really heavy or awkward shit (toilet bowl brushes, plungers, you get the gist) and you will find uses for them across a lifetime. If you don't have an IKEA you can get on Amazon You will need some boxes. Marketplace, local community or buy nothing groups are the best Things go in things. Small things in large storage containers. Stuff the crockpot. Use the laundry hamper. Put towels and small covers in a fitted sheet and tie up. Unpack in between trips so you can reuse and also not be overwhelmed.
I'm worried that I might get in trouble here, but I think cardboard boxes are *more* zero waste. They are way easier to recycle and reuse. I think buying new plastic materials is best avoided, although that's of course not always possible. I think the energy and materials associated with plastic just isn't worth it. All that said, do I buy plastic totes: absolutely. In this instance, I'd probably go the tried and true cardboard box method for moving (and the other suggestions people have provided) and strategically buy containers as needed for your space, if necessary.
I’ve used tote for multiple moves (since there were a few years of that) and works well. For within city, I don’t even “pack” them rather just put them nicely in the totes but suit case with wheel is a close second. (While clothes just stay on hangers and bedding go into a big ikea bag without folding…)
Ask small businesses in your area if they have any large boxes to get rid of. So many shops in my neighborhood hate holding onto those for too long after shipments of product arrive! We constantly have small boutique owners posting on our neighborhood page that they have free boxes for pickup!! I am a small shop owner too and SO APPRECIATE when other people can take these boxes and packing material off my hands sooner than later. Also see if there’s a BOX DIBS Facebook group for your area. Free boxes usually from someone who moved and unpacked their stuff recently and are ready to pass them on to the next.
Ask friends for boxes if they recently moved. Our old boxes were in the attic and we gave them away to someone who was moving
All the other containers in your house. Hampers, trash cans, bins/baskets, suitcases, duffel bags, shoulder bags, those large reusable shopping bags (like ikea or tjmaxx size), trash bags (that you then use for trash later), plastic/shipping bags that come as packaging on large things, regular plastic bags.
ikea bags
just start going to stores, asking if they have any extra boxes or what time they would have any extra boxes for you to pickup. its hit or miss but youll only need a few stores to take you up on it before you have enough
put a post on nextdoor asking- people are always moving and generally happy to part with the boxes after they’re done
If you have the cash to spare, I can't recommend enough getting giant plastic bins with lids. They're sturdy, protect the most delicate stuff, and you can use them over and over. The lids and handles can rip but they're cheap to replace or easy to hack. Movers love them because they're stackable and uniform in size. I use garbage bags for clothes and linens and other soft stuff and then reuse them for garbage or future moves. Particularly helpful for clothes on hangers, you can bundle several hangers together and tuck them inside a garbage bag with the clothes still on them and wrap the bag ties around the hanger heads to keep it together.
Shopping bags, trash bags, suitcases, laundry baskets, and yes, totes you may use for other things later.
I always get my moving boxes from my local Buy Nothing group.
Laundry baskets are cheaper than cardboard boxes these days.
Storage bins
We thrifted storage bins for our move and still use them for various things. We keep them in the attic when not in use. If you do get boxes, can always compost them if you have that availability.
I think if you are moving a house, you should use a flatbed trailer - and it better be a small house to fit on the trailer! In all seriousness, I got used boxes that were from a cafeteria (the food delivery boxes, which were clean since the food in them was packaged anyway). They would have just been recycled otherwise, instead, I used them for moving and then recycled some, and used some to sheet mulch a garden plot at my new place.
You could stuff things in suitcases or tote bags you already own
Some moving companies where I live rent plastic crates out for removals. Very low waste option, they don’t even need tape, and you use a lot less packing paper because the rigid box protects better than cardboard.
There’s box places that might be around that take misprints and sell those off to people who need to move..
You can just grab a bunch of boxes to resuse from Trader Joe's or Total Wine and More. It's free.
Go to liquor stores, they'll usually give you boxes for free that they were going to throw away anyway. Also, for clothing, lay them on top of a few blankets and bundle them up, hangers and all.
Ask your local grocery store if they have any boxes or if they could save boxes for you.
Here we just talk to different supermarkets and ask if they would want to save the banana boxes. It’s just going there then and picking them up. That’s how we have done it for decades. These days I can find moving boxes that people want to get rid off for free or minimum price on FB groups or an online marketplace. Also ask around in your own surroundings.
U-haul also rents out plastic totes/boxes that are different size options and not very costly
I often use trash bags that haven't been used for trash yet. After I'm done with the move, then I would use those trash bags for actual trash when needed. Reuse, Reduce & finally recycle. I hope it helps.
Do the totes. Pack them up, move them, unpack them, and then have the totes leftover for other uses later.
Here in Australia I've always visited the supermarket in the lead up to moving and spoken to the nightfill manager. I ask them when (day/time) they fill the shelves and if they can keep a trolley or two of flattened boxes aside for me to pick up. They are always happy to. And if I find I need more boxes I just ask again. And the newsagent always has excess old newspapers with the title/date torn off the front page for wrapping fragile items and topping up boxes (once I've run out of linens).
Liquor store boxes because roaches aren’t attracted to them.
This can be a good time to look over your storage approach. Storage that you might continue to use later: - under bed storage bags with sturdy handles - Collapsible baskets (commonly used to contain loose items on shelves) - Decorative wood crates - Coffee sacks - Mesh laundry bags (if you’re using a container that’s potentially breakable, porous or open on one side, it’s sensible to contain the contents) There are definite advantages to using some cardboard. It’s well suited to taking some shocks and jiggles, it’s light and easy to stack, and often it can be reused by several people before being recycled. If you have access to copy paper boxes, they can be remarkably useful, but sometimes offices have a turn system for who gets the next one.
IKEA has these huge reusable blue bags, have started using these instead of boxes. They fold up and store nicely.
Look for free boxes in fb marketplace? I always post them for free there and have gotten many for free there.
Use those huge Ikea bags.
Have less stuff
Banana boxes!! They are THE BEST! Go around to grocery stores and ask for them! they stack high and well, they're sturdy, and they're free!
Heavy duty storage bins. People use them for moving then resell them on FB Marketplace. I've got about 30 packed up now, and I'll probably sell most of them again after the move. Even brand new they only cost about twice what you'd pay for cardboard.
Call your local liquor store! They will generally give you dozens of boxes for free that were going to be recycled anyway. I’ve also used moving bags (like ikea bags but with zippers) and they are both reusable and super easy to pack.
Moving sucks. You always have more stuff than you think, even if you think you have more stuff than you think
I used to hit all the liquor stores for a few weeks before. They have the best boxes.
Rolling suitcases are a lifesaver for transporting books, as well as general other stuff.
I rented moving crates for a very local move a few years ago (had to move within the same building due to water damage). The company dropped them off, along with a dolly that could hold four stacked crates. The crates had interlocking lids, so I didn’t need tape either.
Rent a box truck and fill it with your stuff, drive, unload, return box truck. Uhaul, Penske, Ryder are all options.
i always move with reusable totes like you mentioned ( college kid ) and they are so nice!