Boxes for moving house

jimmyjim_uk

Hi,

I am moving house soon and I intend to move all my belongings myself.

I have the transport sorted and friends have volunteered to help but I am lacking the boxes to move everything.

I was thinking supermarkets should have a good stash but are wondering how sturdy a cardboard box housing 24 packets of cereal will be.

Does anyone know where I can get a good supply of large strong cardboard boxes for nowt?

Cheers.

kerri_gt

Have you tried Freecycle/Freegle? Sign up to your local organisation and you will be able to post a 'WANTED' request after you have offered at least one item (I am sure if you're moving house there is something you can offer for to a new home). I see quite a lot of offers/requests for moving boxes on my local site - often after people move they don't want to hang onto a load of boxes - you could also repost them as offered once you've moved.

http://ilovefreegle.org/

Also try a local large retail park - or industrial business if you have any near you as they may have boxes going spare. However, be careful you don't get boxes that are too large as it's easy to overfill them and they become difficult/heavy to move. I have found smaller 'one person' carry size boxes are much easier when moving.

Mayflower10cat

Well, not big boxes but small and sturdy. I worked in a large office complex and my kind friends in facilities hoaded for me all the lidded boxes that reams of photocopying paper came in. Also, Systems kept all the strong cartons that new PCs etc came in. In HR we had lots of used once (lidded) archive boxes that I borrowed and then returned. When I asked around in various supermarkets & shops for boxes, they informed me that due to 'elf and safety' they didn't keep boxes anymore...?!!!

clairecymru

I would highly recommend freecycle too. I got my boxes from there and put them back on to give to the next person after I moved in. I plan on moving again at some point this year and will be back on freecycle again.

Callie22

I'd definitely recommend archive boxes for moving. I bought a couple of dozen a few years ago from a stationers and they've seen us through heaven knows how many house moves. They're strong, sturdy, and you can't really overfill them. They collapse easily too, and can be reassembled quickly. They're not free, but it's saved us so much trouble having to scratch around for boxes whenever we've had to move. Given how much use we've had from them, they really have been a good investment. They're handy for storage too, as they've got lids and they're stackable.

bigblackdog

when i was moving last year , i got quotes for storage of belongings , the big yellow type places , if you register with them for a quote online they give you 20 or 30 quids worth of packaging free , you just have to call down and collect , i ended up with some really big boxes for nothing ,

jimmyjim_uk

Thanks guys, some really good ideas.

Freecycle didn't even cross my mind. One to explore.

We are moving office by the 17th and there are a ton of archive boxes at the back ready to be thrown in the skip. I think I will have a rummage and pick out the best ones.

GEEGEE8

eBay.. I got a pack of massive used boxes, 20 boxes for £20 I think. They were good too!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/25-Large-Strong-D-W-Cardboard-Removal-Packing-Boxes-/120635988026?pt=UK_Packaging_Materials&hash=item1c1677183a

diable

You'll be lucky if you can get anything from a supermarket as its mostly recycled.

If you know anyone who works in IT or any largish companies then ask for PC/Laptop boxes as these are fantastic for storing stuff in or if that fails then those £1 bags that market traders use, you know the stripy type bags.

lindos90

Banana Boxes, cant beat them! They are sturdy, stackable and have handles too! I used the spare card inside to cover the holes top and bottom (especially if the box is for small items or the boxes are to be stored somewhere dusty).

Also a good idea to ask for bubble wrap on freecycle, someone gave me a huge roll when my mum moved, enough for all her trinklets (and she has LOTS of trinklets!)

lindos90

diable wrote: »

You'll be lucky if you can get anything from a supermarket as its mostly recycled.

Smaller boxes are flattened for recycling as they are unpacked, but as Banana boxes are thick and glued together they are a bu&&er to flatten, and they are usually put under the tills for customers to use for shopping, (they are in our Morrisons!)

Also if you ask the guys on the fruit and veg, they may even store up a load for you to collect, although very much at the descretion of whoever you ask. Recently my friend had seriously underestimated how many boxes she needed, I asked the guys nicely and they saved over 20 for me in the storeroom, took a couple of trips to get them to her house mind you!