jillian Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 So we used our home of record move already so if we move after husband gets out of the navy we are doing it on our own. Where do you get moving boxes from? I don't even know. Our movers have always packed us Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoobie Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 I order and pick up from Uline. Home Depot and Costco also carry them. I know people who have gotten them used on Craigslist, but I don't know that I would from a stranger. Stories about roaches and bed bugs freak me out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milovany Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 You can usually get some by posting on a local Facebook swap group. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shelly in IL Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 Check craigslist Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmandaVT Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 Grocery stores will give you boxes if you ask. I've used those before. My favorite moving boxes are paper boxes - the big cartons. One move, my MIL worked at a college and she was able to get tons of paper cartons. They are awesome and if you can get some of those from an office, I'd recommend it. You can buy them from U-Haul or places like that too, but we've usually been able to find what we need for free. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ailaena Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 Home depot has the cheapest boxes in our area (by something like $.04 under Lowe's and $.20 under Uhaul). I think they even have specialty boxes now, like wardrobe boxes and such. I've never gotten them used on Craigslist, but I usually give them away there. Eta: paper cartons are AWESOME book boxes! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jillian Posted February 4, 2014 Author Share Posted February 4, 2014 Thank you everyone :) we will also probably save some of our shipping boxes from amazon (the biggest ones). Creepy crawlies freak me out too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regentrude Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 WE got banana cartons from the grocery store to ship all our books. Amazingly sturdy, and free. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 dd got used boxes on craigslist. places that have rental trucks also sell boxes. people will get rid of boxes on freecycle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmos Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 We always get them from store dumpsters. Ask first, but they're usually happy to let people take their boxes. Liquor stores have nice study ones. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lara in Colo Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 I second banana boxes-- they are sturdy, the lids slide on and off (no tape, and marking isn't imperative) and they have handles on the sides. They aren't too big or awkward. And they are free. I started converting all my "storage" stuff (decorations, costumes etc...) in them. They have a hole on the bottom and top, so I tear up an extra lid and put a piece on the bottom and the top-- so count in an extra box every so often to be used for hole coverage. Liquor store boxes are great for books (they are small and cheap and sturdy) Instead of lots of rubbermaid containers, we use trash cans for storage as well-- they have handles, wheels and are waterproof up to the top (3 ft?) so a flooded basement isn't a huge deal and you can stack them in a moving van if you have to. Good for off season clothes, precious children stuff. Use towels and blankets for packing (breakables--pictures) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Um_2_4 Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 Around here the grocery stores/big box stores recycle/get paid for returning boxes, so that did not work for me. But I found a company on craigslist that sold gently used (one time) shipping boxes. It was very clean and a company (not food related) so I wasn't worried about roaches/bed bugs. They sold them in packs of 10 for like $2. And they were SOOOO sturdy. (I think the company was in like fancy auto accessories). Anyways it was sooo nice that ALL our boxes were the same size. Made packing the van up so easy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bearcat Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 Ask around. I know a couple of teenage girls who work at a fast food restaurant and they have been bringing me boxes. I also bought a few at lowes. I would not buy from uhaul because they are overpriced. I also received a slew of bankers boxes that I've packed most of our books in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aggie96 Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 Home Depot beat Lowes, UHaul, and ULine around here (even bulk prices from ULine). However, Home Depot individual box price was cheapest. Home Depot bundle price was higher than ULine. This was pricing from last spring. Bubble wrap in 12" perforated pieces in box was much cheaper from ULine, as well as bundled packing tape and biodegradable peanuts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jillian Posted February 4, 2014 Author Share Posted February 4, 2014 Thank you everyone. I do appreciate it. Great ideas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erica in OR Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 There's a store down the hill from us that while they sell other items, a lot of their business is cigarettes. The boxes that cigarette cartons are packed in are nice for packing, although a bit large for something heavy like books. We've been able to ask them what day their orders come in and then go pick up boxes. Erica in OR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harriet Vane Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 Bookstores or craft stores have the best boxes. Sometimes a manager will hold them for you if you promise to be there at a certain day/time. Other times you have to go to the back of the store outside to scavenge them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrixieB Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 Grocery stores will give you boxes if you ask. I've used those before. My favorite moving boxes are paper boxes - the big cartons. One move, my MIL worked at a college and she was able to get tons of paper cartons. They are awesome and if you can get some of those from an office, I'd recommend it. You can buy them from U-Haul or places like that too, but we've usually been able to find what we need for free. Yes, the copy paper boxes (the kind that 10 or so reams of copy paper come in). I have done a couple of moves, mine and friends, where almost everything was packed in copy paper boxes. They stack well, label well, are easy to carry, and they are heavy only when they're packed with hardcover books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThatHomeschoolDad Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 I found luggage stores tend to have boxes that are a bit sturdier. Liquor stores have sturdy wine boxes that are tall, best sized for kitchen stuff and breakables. Copy paper boxes have great lids, and usually handle cutouts. It's hit or miss at my bookstore, but book boxes can be heavyweight. Worth going to a self storage place for some of those upright wardrobe boxes with the crossbar for hangers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slartibartfast Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 Liquor stores have the best boxes. Many are very sturdy and have handles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jillian Posted February 4, 2014 Author Share Posted February 4, 2014 We don't have much in way of clothes so we bundle those in a bag and keep the stuff on the hangars and just bring it with us. Or we do suitcases for everything we have a couple of huge ruffles. I have half a mind to just toss our dishes and buy a new set. We are almost needing new ones anyway. I'm thinking of ways we can cut down weight Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baseball mom Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 Liquor stores - sturdy boxes, dividers in them for glasses/dishes convenience stores Restaurants Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hellen Posted February 5, 2014 Share Posted February 5, 2014 Why don't you just keep an eye out for somebody who is PCSing to your area and use their boxes? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PIE! Posted February 5, 2014 Share Posted February 5, 2014 Mt favorites have come from: Craigslist and freecycle Mcdonalds (the fry boxes are a great size) Barnes and noble Boxes for paper from offices Egg boxes from the grocery store Some days more boxes are available than others. Ask a manager what day/time you will be able to get the most. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsquirrel Posted February 5, 2014 Share Posted February 5, 2014 Liquor stores are a great place to get them. They only had bottles in them so no worry about 'creepy crawlies' etc. All Liquor stores in this town put their boxes out in a dry place so movers can get them. They never last long. I also second banana boxes. They are the BEST for heavy books. I have never heard of buying boxes for moving, lol. It never would have occurred to me to buy boxes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jillian Posted February 5, 2014 Author Share Posted February 5, 2014 Why don't you just keep an eye out for somebody who is PCSing to your area and use their boxes?You can usually have them picked back up by the moving company after you unpack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FeFe Posted February 5, 2014 Share Posted February 5, 2014 Be very careful getting food/grocery boxes and used boxes. A friend of mine ended up with a german roach infestation in her new house. They were brought in with the corrugated boxes and ended up living in various places like her knife block. It was awful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Incognito Posted February 5, 2014 Share Posted February 5, 2014 Banana boxes are really the best. Liquor stores can be a great resource too. They make for funny closest until you unpack everything, though. Lots and lots of hard liquor boxes. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hellen Posted February 5, 2014 Share Posted February 5, 2014 You can usually have them picked back up by the moving company after you unpack I know but there are people that put them out on the curb or put an ad on Craigslist or Freecycle. We've posted ads in the past giving away boxes and I've seen plenty of neighbors put their boxes out for trash pickup. In a military community with so many people moving one can usually find one situation or the other. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jillian Posted February 5, 2014 Author Share Posted February 5, 2014 I love free from free cycle or craigslist but I do worry about creepy crawlies and husband is allergic to what seems like everything. Not everyone is as fastidious as we are. Also where we are it's a training comand so most people move from here not to here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jillian Posted February 5, 2014 Author Share Posted February 5, 2014 Be very careful getting food/grocery boxes and used boxes. A friend of mine ended up with a german roach infestation in her new house. They were brought in with the corrugated boxes and ended up living in various places like her knife block. It was awful.Oh. My. Freaking. Gosh. No uh-uh. Ewww now I itch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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