6/30/2019 2 Comments Moving Starter PackJuly is fast approaching and that can only mean one thing: moving. Every year, I’m surprised to see the amount of people who are moving in July. It’s like the entire city is agreeing to a big great game of musical chair. As for myself, I moved (for the first time!!) at the end of last year, with my boyfriend. We like to do things a little differently. We didn’t have to put up with the intense heat, but we did have to deal with very little daylight. Moving into our apartment was both scary and exhilarating. That being said, I don’t think that I could have wished for a better move. My boyfriend and I got a ton of help from our families, and we quickly settled into our new space. But even so, some things, of course, didn’t go according to plan. I thought that we had planned everything and that we had packed in the smartest way possible. I was semi-wrong. When we arrived, I quickly realized that there were some things that we didn’t have or didn’t have enough of. That’s why I decided to make a list of essential things that you need when moving. These things – which can be packed in a small box or a large bag – should be the first items to arrive at your new location, as they are basic necessities. You’ll need these to unpack the rest of your boxes and to settle in nicely. Towels I don’t know if you’ve ever washed your hands only to realize you don’t have a towel to dry them on… It’s not the end of the world, obviously, but it gives you that feeling that something is seriously missing and that you’re shamefully unprepared (unless you’re one of these people who wash their hands but never dry them, and proceed to leave water on everything you touch). The feeling is even worse when you get out of the shower and realize that you forgot to bring a towel with you. That happened to me all the time when I was little, and I once had the brilliant idea of drying off with tissues, which has become a running gag in my family (at my expense). Point is, you’ll need towels in your new space, and pretty quickly. Having at least one towel of every type (bath towel, hand towel, dish cloth, etc.) comes in really handy. A whole lot of rags Before I moved, I bought 4 rags specifically for the occasion, because I knew we would have to wash things. When we got to the apartment, we realized that two of these rags had gone missing. We found them much later, but we handled the entire move with only two rags. However, you don’t necessarily want to wash everything with the same rag; bathroom, dishes, furniture, walls… You need different rags. The more the merrier, right? You’ll also need paper towels to wipe things down or quickly clean small messes. Extension cords and power bars This is especially true if you’re moving in an old apartment or house with very limited electrical outlets. Even if your new space seems to have an outlet for every electrical device, I recommend getting a few extension cords, just in case. You might need to plug a lamp in an incongruous place, or have more things to plug than you had anticipated. Soap Just like the towels, you need a soap for every purpose; shower gel, hand soap, dish soap… I think the hand soap is the most important, because you’ll certainly want to wash your hands or use the bathroom at some point during the move. Basic food items When we moved, we didn’t have a fridge or a stove for three days. Luckily, we live close to restaurants and could always get food delivered for meals, but we still wanted some food for 1) the move and 2) snacks in the subsequent days. My in-laws were super nice and brought us fruits and oatmeal. We also dashed to the market closeby to buy bread and peanut butter. I think it’s important to have food on hand, even if it’s just to offer to your friends who are helping you move. It also helps to make the new space feel like home, when you have a fruit bowl on the table or are able to prepare a small snack in your new (unfinished) kitchen. New toothbrushes This may seem stupid, but I think it’s worth mentioning. At some point, we all need to brush our teeth, and we don’t want to unpack a whole box in order to find basic toiletries. When I moved, I bought new toothbrushes to be more hygienic (and because our teeth deserve a fresh start too!). Broom It was my mom who made me realize that I would probably want to sweep the floors at some point. During the move, people will be dragging in dirt, and the floors might not have been left spotless by the previous tenant either. It’s nice to have a simple broom, just to give the floors is quick sweep until you’re able to fully clean them. Tools Obviously, when moving, there are things to hang on the walls and, most likely, things to fix. We were lucky to have two dads, a grandpa, and a big brother who all came fully equipped with their tool box on the big day. Even if you’re not the “manual” type, I think it’s always good to have a few tools on hand, especially when you’re trying to make a new space your own. Pen, tape, scissors… You basically want the equivalent of a kindergartner's pencil case. You’ll need markers to write on boxes, a pen to sign delivery slips, tape to secure bags or boxes, scissors to open packages and boxes… You can omit the glue stick and the cupcake-shaped mini eraser, but everything else, you need! Cleaning products It’s really important that these are one of the first things to be unpacked, because you’ll probably want to clean the space before filling it with your personal items. I’m thinking of cupboards, drawers, bathtubs, sinks… Even if you’re bringing your old fridge and oven, why not give them a quick clean-up before installing them in their new home? Utensils You don’t necessarily need to have porcelain plates and wine glasses ready if you’re planning on eating pizza on cardboard boxes for the first few nights, but I think utensils can be pretty useful. You might need a knife to open something, or a spoon to eat ice cream directly from the tub (that you just bought and are planning to eat in one sitting since you don’t have a fridge yet…). Ice trays This might be useful if you’re moving during the summer and already have a fridge. You can pop some ice trays in the freezer to ensure you’ll have something to cool off with later on, especially in the first couple of days where you unpack and organize all day. A glass of iced tea can make all the difference. Toilet paper I mean… toilet paper. Clean pajamas & face wash If you’re not planning on unpacking everything on the first day (you’re a superhero if you manage that), make sure to have something to help you unwind at the end of the day, like clean pajamas or your favorite face wash. When I moved in with my boyfriend, we had to open up the huge box of toiletries on the first night, and get everything out in order to grab what we needed to clean ourselves up before bed. It was no fun. That’s why I recommend packing a cozy outfit and the essential products for your night routine. That first night will be that much more enjoyable. Tea What can I say? A house without tea is not a home. These are, in my opinion, the essentials that you need in order to survive those hectic first few days. You can pack these in a bag (minus the broom) and make sure you bring it with you on the first trip that you make. If there is anything else that you feel like is an essential, please leave a comment down below so we can all have successful moves together. Happy moving! Much love
-TM-
2 Comments
Marc
6/30/2019 09:55:44 pm
I remember my first move out of my parents house. It is an unforgettable experience for all. And i remember a few trips to the « dépanneur » to get stuff I didn’t have:
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Isabelle Bernuy
7/1/2019 11:35:48 am
Thank you so much for sharing! You're right, hangers! Need lots of these. :)
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