Does everything go in a box?

[Trivium Academy]

Part of me says yes, part of me says no. We're moving into a rental house so having everything in a box is convenient, until we want something that is in a box. If you were to live in a house for 1 year, would you unpack?

I'm feeling pretty overwhelmed ...

[klmama]

I've lived in a lot of temporary homes, and I wouldn't ever have felt settled if I had left everything in boxes. That said, I would be sure to sort well before moving, so that I didn't keep anything that I didn't have a good reason to keep. Also, if I only used something once or twice a year I'd keep it boxed up, but in a box with a big label, easily accessible. If you have time, making a list of what is in each box and numbering the boxes may be a help. (Box 5 - cake decorating supplies, spring form pan, rosette irons, meatball maker)

I hope your move and temporary home work well for you!

[JFS in IL]

As each box is packed, in a notebook keep a list of what is inside it. Also - can write on the outside of the box. Try to have two boxes at a time being packed per room - one is for stuff you know you will need, the other for stuff you probably can keep boxed for a year. Obviously, the list is most important for the long-term box, as there may well be times you need to go dig something out.

[Lisawa]

Part of me says yes, part of me says no. We're moving into a rental house so having everything in a box is convenient, until we want something that is in a box. If you were to live in a house for 1 year, would you unpack?

I'm feeling pretty overwhelmed ...


Thats a good question.... if it was for a year... no I would not unpack everything. I would pack in a catagory.... Things I will use in a year, things I have not and wont use in a year.

It might be a little extra work, but if you are not using it now, and dont see using it soon, either get rid of it, or pack it till you can settle.

Decide what is most important and keep the rest packed.

Sure wish I lived close so I could help pack!:grouphug:

[Mrs Mungo]

Part of me says yes, part of me says no. We're moving into a rental house so having everything in a box is convenient, until we want something that is in a box. If you were to live in a house for 1 year, would you unpack?

I'm feeling pretty overwhelmed ...

The only time I didn't unpack was when we were in temporary housing for a month or two. All other times I unpack, even when we were only stationed in Virginia for 6 months.

[WTMindy]

Thats a good question.... if it was for a year... no I would not unpack everything. I would pack in a catagory.... Things I will use in a year, things I have not and wont use in a year.

It might be a little extra work, but if you are not using it now, and dont see using it soon, either get rid of it, or pack it till you can settle.

Decide what is most important and keep the rest packed.

Sure wish I lived close so I could help pack!:grouphug:

That is what I would do also. I wouldn't unpack things like fancy china (or whatever) that I could easily live without. I would label carefully all the boxes and be very organized about that. Since you have so many books, I might take the time to write what books (or what category of books) go in each box and not get all of them back out.

[Mrs Mungo]

That is what I would do also. I wouldn't unpack things like fancy china (or whatever) that I could easily live without. I would label carefully all the boxes and be very organized about that. Since you have so many books, I might take the time to write what books (or what category of books) go in each box and not get all of them back out.

This sounds like a great idea, in theory. Of course, you would have to be packing yourself and be very organized in doing so. On our most recent move? One of the boxes labelled "boy toys" contained ONE Tonka truck and the rest was tools, including AN AXE! Good thing I didn't just send that one up to my son's room, he might have had some fun with that.
I'm not downing this idea at all, it would just take more organization powers than I have. :tongue_smilie::D

[Mary in NJ]

We have lived in our current place for 9 months. Everything was unpacked. We needed most things. I suppose I could have left the boxes packed that held the photos and photo albums.

We move again next month and we will have everything packed up once more. Our packers are leary of moving boxes that are already sealed up from the last move. They are liable for the contents, so they like to pack everything themselves. Just makes matters easier if I unpack every last box.

Our next assignment is three years!! We have never been anywhere for three years. Yeah.

Best of luck on your upcoming move.

Joyfully,
Mary

[Karen in Eastern WA]

We lived in a very small rental for 6 months and I wish that I would have left more packed in boxes, and also left extra furniture in the garage.

It was very stressful because I never felt organized because there was too much in the house. I left a fair amount in storage and we did fine without it. Looking back, I can see other things that we could have left packed and we would have been fine. Amazing what you can get by with and it also means less cleaning and organizing. I always think of what the Ingalls managed with in the Little House series.

[Trivium Academy]

Urgh, that sounds like MORE work but I think it would be best. I'm also going to purge as much as possible.

[nukeswife]

Well being a military family we move a lot. DH and I have been married almost 11 years he's been in for 13 and we've moved 11 times since we got married. So we always unpack, of course we have the benefit of the navy always paying for movers to come in, this is sometimes a blessing and sometimes a curse.

I think it would just be a pain to have to dig for something you thought you wouldn't need. You know how it is, you pack something away figuring you won't need it for a long time and low and behold you need it right away.

Just my 2 cents.

[keptwoman]

We have also moved a lot. Home doesn't feel like home unless we are unpacked. If we have half our contents still in boxes we just don't feel settled.

I think the purge is a very good idea, I always take moving as an opportunity for a BIG clean out, take lots to the second hand stores, have a yard sale, sell things that are surplus to requirements, lots of things in the garbage. If I don't love it or need it it's gone.

If you are packing yourself it's easy to label things well, but in our experience movers do not label or sort boxes well and you never know where things will be until the boxes are opened.

[JennifersLost]

I've only packed up stuff to get it out of the way while we "show" our house and I've already lost stuff I need. Then we're going to be moving into two houses, shuffling around between them while we renovate.

If I was smart I would start all over again as soon as this one sells and label the boxes like crazy.

You are not alone, Jessica - if that makes you feel any better!

[Trivium Academy]

Well being a military family we move a lot. DH and I have been married almost 11 years he's been in for 13 and we've moved 11 times since we got married. So we always unpack, of course we have the benefit of the navy always paying for movers to come in, this is sometimes a blessing and sometimes a curse.

I think it would just be a pain to have to dig for something you thought you wouldn't need. You know how it is, you pack something away figuring you won't need it for a long time and low and behold you need it right away.

Just my 2 cents.

Although the church we're moving to pays for our move, I don't feel comfortable spending the church's money on movers. I think we'll unpack and I'll question keeping items we don't unpack- other than stuff like the good dishes. Thanks!