• Double wrap and box fragile items.woman packing/unpacking boxes during a relocation. image by T.Tulic from Fotolia.com
  
  Moving day can be an exciting, but sometimes stressful, experience. You can lessen the stress and the loss or breakage of your items by employing some helpful packing tips. Write a list of some important packing materials to have on hand before you begin to pack. Being prepared and thinking ahead will work to your advantage and save you time and money.
  
  

Moving Materials

• Packing time is not the time to skimp on needed materials. Purchase quality permanent markers, sturdy boxes, packing tape, bubble wrap and Styrofoam peanuts for packing.
  
  

Heavy on Bottom

• Pack with the heaviest items on the bottom of the boxes. This will become useful also for sturdying lighter items in the tops of boxes. Don't, for example, try to pack an entire boxful of books. This will only overload the box. Do, however, use a dictionary or a large book in the bottom of a box and then pack lighter, more fragile objects on top of it. This will help spread out the weight of the books and allow the books to help steady more delicate items.
  
  

Labeling System

• Label all boxes appropriately. For example, use a permanent market and label a box, "Dan's Closet Files" or "Kitchen Cups and Saucers." Don't label the boxes with labels such as, "Dan's Bedroom Stuff" or "Kitchen Items." It is more efficient to take a moment to label the boxes with exactly what is in them, so that when you get to the new location, you won't have to send out a search party for the coffee pot.
  
  

Packing Breakables

• Pack breakables carefully, double-wrapped in bubble wrap or newspaper. For dishes or glassware, roll them up in a few sheets of newspaper. You can also wrap breakables in clothing, sheets, placemats or towels for extra padding.
  
  

Box for New Location

• Pack a separate box for the first night at the new location. According to Moving Online, this box should contain a flashlight, a change of clothes for everyone in the home, each person's toothbrush and toothpaste, prescription medications, a tool kit, a set of clean sheets for each bed, a towel, snacks, beverages, zippered plastic bags, plastic utensils, paper plates, toilet paper, toiletries, trash bags and pain relievers. If you have children, you may want to also include a portable DVD player, a DVD and motion sickness medication.
  
  

Clutter: Two Year Rule

• According to Collins Development Online, don't move any clutter that you have had in storage in your attic, basement, garage, closets or shed if you haven't used it in the past two years. Donate it to a charity thrift shop, a neighbor or a church, or throw it away. This will save you time and money by not relocating items that you aren't using.