The Essential Moving and Packing Checklist for 20-Somethings

Moving is hard work. There’s no denying that. Between the sorting, packing, organizational challenges and then the move itself – followed by unpacking! – it’s a lot. And it’s no wonder that moving – whether you’re moving cross-town or cross-country – is practically a synonym for stress.

We get it. Any time you need to uproot yourself and relocate, you need tools to help you minimize stress. At Additional Financial, our goal is to make your life easier. That’s why we’ve created this moving checklist to help you out.

Your Moving Checklist

Any move, whether moving into your first home or a new apartment, has got to start with the big picture. What do you need to do to make your move smooth and as simple as possible? To make it easy for you, we’ve broken down your moving checklist into categories.

Logistical Checklist

You know you’re moving, but what arrangements do you need to make to get your belongings from your old home to your new one? Here’s a list to help you out:

Choose a moving date
Decide whether to do a DIY move or hire movers
For a DIY move, reserve a moving truck if you plan to use one
For a professional move, obtain quotes from movers
Choose a moving company
Enlist friends/family members for a DIY move

Keep in mind that you may have an easier time getting your friends to pitch in if you move on a weekend and promise them some pizza and beer at the end of the move. Pro movers may be easier to book on a weekday, especially if you’re moving at the same time college kids are pouring into town.

Utilities/Phone Call Checklist

One of the biggest hassles of moving is all the time you’ll need to spend closing your current utility accounts and opening new ones. Even if you’re staying in town, you’ll still need to get your service switched to your new place.

It’s nobody’s idea of a good time, but here’s a checklist to help you keep track of who you’ve called and who you still need to call:

Electricity provider
Natural gas provider
Cable/internet provider
Water/sewer provider
Trash pickup/recycling

You’ll also need to update addresses for your billing and subscriptions. You’ll need to contact:

Your bank or credit union
Credit card providers
Cell phone provider
Magazine subscriptions
Memberships
Online billing (monthly subscriptions, etc.)

We suggest using a list app to keep track of everything. You can mark each call when you’ve made it and add new people to contact as you think of them. (Let’s face it, we all forget things when we’re making lists like this!)

Financial Checklist

Finally, you’ll want to make sure to take the time to think about how your move is going to affect your finances. That makes this a good time to:

Update your weekly, monthly and annual budgets
Identify new savings goals
Look for ways to trim your budget if necessary
Update your checking and savings accounts

Moving to a new place is a good opportunity to update your finances and make sure you’re on track to meet your goals.

Packing Checklist

Packing is one of those tasks that always takes longer than you think it will. Here are some things that will help you get it done with a minimum of fuss.

Supply Checklist

Moving means boxes, and guess what? You don’t need to pay for them. Making a quick round of your local supermarkets or liquor stores will probably get you all the boxes you need. Liquor boxes are nearly always a good choice because they’re sturdy. Here’s what you’ll need:

Enough boxes to pack everything you’re taking with you
Packing tape
Packing peanuts, old newspapers, bubble wrap, etc.
Furniture pads to prevent your furniture from getting scratched
Labels
Colored markers to make it easy to get boxes into the right rooms
Cleaning supplies
Back braces for moving heavy furniture

If you hire pro movers, they’ll supply the moving pads. You can find a guide to help you estimate how many boxes you’ll need here.

Packing Tips

Let’s close with some tips to make packing a little easier:

Pack one room at a time
Before you pack, sort items into five piles: Bring, Store, Sell, Recycle and Trash
Once you’ve sorted everything, pack boxes, grouping like items together as much as possible
Make arrangements to sell/store items as needed
Create a color-coding system to identify which boxes go to each room in your new place
Label each box as you go
Stack boxes by their destination room to make things easier on moving day
As you finish packing a room, clean it as much as you can

In our experience, being organized as you pack is one of the best things you can do to prevent stress and chaos during a move.

Moving is exciting and it can also be a hassle. The moving checklist we’ve provided here is designed to help you focus on what’s important – the excitement of setting into your new home.

Want more information about Addition Financial’s checking accounts and how they can help you navigate your next move? Click here for more information.