Moving in 1 day... pregnancy... toddler... no money... no help... eek!

WestonDave

Man and van has to be the answer - that way you get someone willing to help your OH carrying stuff. To put this in context I was quoted just under £300 for a business move of some filing cabinets that took 4 hours for 3 people including paying someone to unload and reload the cabinets, plus full insurance etc. I think if you look at the small ads in the local newsagent or the back of the local paper, you'll find someone willing to shift all the big stuff for around £100. The key will be timing it right - you want to get them to come as late as you can get away with so that its a straight out your end and back in the other end rather than paying them to hang around.

krlyr

If the move is in a couple of month's time then I would take the time you have now to have a good clearout. Get brutal in terms of throwing away things you don't need. Pack up stuff you won't need for a while - do you have any friends or family locally who will store some boxes for you? When we moved, we packed up lots of clothes and things into boxes to leave in my nan's spare room, taking a car-load at a time, so come moving day we had 1/3 of the stuff to move. We could then collect from my nan at our own pace. You don't realise how much stuff you own until you're trying to fit it in boxes!
We managed to move all the furniture, and collect the sofa and armchairs gifted to us by a colleague in a day, by hiring a large van (£40 for the day) and borrowing my brother for the day. I'm only a 5'2 little shorty too, and not all that strong, but I was able to steady things or open doors etc. for the guys. Do you have a friend who'd spare a day for you, in return for some booze/dinner/cash?

BitterAndTwisted

mmummy21 wrote: »

When we move there's just no way I can help him down the flight of stairs with the TV, sofas, fridge freezer, cooker, washing machine etc. and furniture so unless we can find someone to help we're going to need an actual removal company. It's only 5 mins away so I can throw most of our stuff in the car and move it that way but I'm stuck for idea for the big stuff!

If you're thinking negatively you won't find the best and cheapest solution! Think about the numbers of people who are unemployed at the moment. Think about the numbers of people who would be willing and grateful to be paid cash for four hour's work. I'm unemployed and I'd do it for twenty quid cash, a couple of cups of tea and a sandwich. That twenty quid is more than a week's worth of grocery shopping to me.

jayss

I used man and van with http://www.anyvan.com the bidding thing for my last move, the companies all want to be cheaper than the last and its very easy, you can see their feedback as if it was ebay and you can dig around and see what someone else paid for similar moves to know when to accept the offer.

Its pretty non stressful.

elvis86

mmummy21 wrote: »

Hello!

We have agreed a swap from our flat to a house on the other side of town. It's an opportunity we can't say no to.

Now we have a few "issues"

As it's a swap it all has to be done in 1 day really. The other tenants are booking a removal company for a day but we absolutely can't afford that! We have a farmer friend willing to lend a tractor and a big trailer. I have a small car for the little things. We're in a 2 bedroom flat and have lots of stuff!

We don't really have any friends who can help us! So we have to shift the furniture between us. We have 1 flight of stairs to get down and I'm 3 months pregnant, what are we doing!!

I have a 1 year old daughter and will have to take her to my Mums which is 45mins away so half my morning will be taken up by taking her there and back and then I'll also have to collect her in the evening as Mum won't have her overnight.

Having just moved myself over the weekend, and with none of the complications you have, I feel so sorry for you! Are you sure there is nobody who would help you out?

Assuming there isn't a valid reason for her refusing to have your daughter overnight, why is your mum being such a miserable cow? Honestly, it baffles me how unhelpful people can be to their own family?! I wouldn't think twice about having a friend or colleague's child overnight if it would help them out in a situation like this, never mind my own granddaughter!

mmummy21 wrote: »

Does anyone have any ideas for us as it seems impossible. I do have £200 saved which I can use. We need to buy 2 blackout blinds for daughters room from that (£15?). I'll also need to buy boxes from that too.

As others have said, don't buy boxes, you'd be mad to do that. You should easily be able to pick some up for free from somewhere. RE transport, we just hired a van for £96 Fri - Mon. From my experience pricing them up last week, I agree with others that local places seem cheaper than the big rental companies.

Sambucus_Nigra

Surely you know one person who is a friend that could help? If you hire a van and they do the lifting with your OH.

mmummy21

Well, £280 is the cheapest quote for a removal company. It's practically round the bloody corner!!!

My OH has plenty of friends but I can't imagine any of them helping seeing as he has been lazy and refused to give them help with moving, decorating etc. in the past! There is 1 who might help us, I've messaged him and asked if he'd help to lift the big stuff and offered him a beer, his dinner and £20 or something! I might be able to get another of his friends to help if I speak to him very nicely too but he has a newborn baby so I would feel very rude. A friends boyfriend has offered me a trailer but says he can't help as he's too busy with his work. I have friends who can help me paint etc. once we are moved but nobody who could help with the lifting down the stairs as my friends are all as small as me and most have small children!

How much can I tow in my 3dr Corsa? Would it pull a trailer? And would my insurance and driving license cover this?

My brother, my Dad and my sisters OH are all lazy sods too. I would simply get no for an answer. Apart from that there is not a single person!

My Mum can't have my little one overnight as she already has her on a Weds, Thurs and Friday days while I work and works full-time including nights from Sat - Tues so couldn't squeeze an overnight in. My OH is making this difficult and refusing to take a holiday from work so the move has to be done hopefully on a Saturday so I have his help on the Sunday to get unpacked.

I have posted on both those sights for a man with a van to move the big stuff!

hazyjo

Try sticking a notice in the newsagent's window saying 'Strong Person needed to assist pregnant woman (and OH) with house move on [whatever date] - £30 (or whatever) cash'. Items to be moved include TV, sofas, fridge freezer, cooker, washing machine etc.'

You never know...

As for the mate with the baby, I'd have thought he'd be the first one to jump at it! Any cash for him would surely be helpful? Even if not for the cash, they're probably more likely to appreciate your predicament.

Have you checked out local papers for 'man & a van'? Your own contents insurance might cover you whilst in transit for a fee, or as part of your insurance. Ring them. Start saving newspapers to wrap stuff. You might have to give it all a good wash the other side, but they're pretty good. Don't use them on anything matt though. Had a matt cream vase which has never quite been the same since! Teatowels, towels, blankets, sheets, bedding, etc are also good for wrapping china. I stuff the insides of breakables too if possible.

Jx

Sambucus_Nigra

mmummy21 wrote: »

My OH has plenty of friends but I can't imagine any of them helping seeing as he has been lazy and refused to give them help with moving, decorating etc. in the past!

That's nice of him!

Sambucus_Nigra

mmummy21 wrote: »

My OH is making this difficult and refusing to take a holiday from work so the move has to be done hopefully on a Saturday so I have his help on the Sunday to get unpacked.

That's nice of him!