Let’s be honest: moving is exhausting. Between packing, lifting, and trying to remember where you put the tape, it’s easy to feel like everything is working against you. But here’s some good news — a few cheap items can make moving day so much easier, and you probably don’t even need to spend much money to get them.
We’re talking about stuff that costs just a couple bucks, or that might already be sitting in your junk drawer right now. Grab these 5 things before your move, and you’ll save yourself a ton of stress (and maybe a few headaches too).
1. Box Cutter
This one might seem obvious, but you’d be surprised how many people forget it. And once moving day starts, you really don’t want to be digging through drawers looking for scissors that never seem to be where you left them.
A box cutter makes everything faster. Need to build a box? Snip the tape and fold it up in seconds. Unpacking on the other end? Same deal — cut the tape, open the box, done. No fighting with your fingers to rip through packing tape (which never works anyway).
A couple quick tips: grab a retractable one, where the blade tucks away when you’re not using it. It’s a lot safer, especially if you’ve got kids or pets running around while you’re packing. And don’t just buy one — grab two or three. If friends or family are helping you move, everyone having their own box cutter means nobody’s standing around waiting their turn.
2. Stretch Wrap
If you haven’t used stretch wrap before, get ready for it to become your new best friend. It’s that stretchy, clingy plastic wrap you might have seen used at warehouses or moving companies — and it’s honestly a game changer.
Here’s the trick: you don’t have to empty out your dresser drawers before moving them. Just wrap the whole dresser a few times with stretch wrap, and the drawers stay shut the entire move. No more clothes falling out everywhere or drawers sliding open in the truck.
It’s great for other stuff too. Wrap it around couch cushions to keep them from shifting around, or around a mattress to keep it clean and dust-free. You can even use it to bundle a bunch of small loose items together, like curtain rods or hardware pieces, so they don’t roll around and get lost.
One more neat trick: instead of buying expensive wardrobe boxes, just group your hanging clothes together (still on their hangers) and wrap stretch wrap around the top, right below the hangers. Now you’ve got a “wardrobe box” for basically free.
The best part? A small roll from the hardware store costs just a few dollars and goes a surprisingly long way. You really don’t need much.
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3. Colored Labels or Tape
If you’ve ever moved before, you know the drill: someone carries in a box, sets it down, and asks “where does this go?” for the hundredth time. It slows everything down and gets old fast.
Colored labels (or even just colored tape) fix this problem completely. The idea is simple: pick a different color for each room. Kitchen boxes get blue, bedroom boxes get green, bathroom boxes get yellow — whatever makes sense to you. Then stick a matching piece of colored tape or a label on every box that belongs in that room.
Once you get to your new place, tape a matching color swatch on each door before moving day starts. That way, anyone helping you carry boxes can just glance at the color and know exactly where it goes, no questions needed. They don’t have to find you, they don’t have to guess, and you don’t have to keep repeating yourself.
It sounds like a small thing, but it makes a huge difference. Instead of boxes piling up in random spots (or worse, in the wrong rooms), everything ends up where it’s supposed to be from the start. Less time sorting later means more time relaxing in your new home.
4. Permanent Markers
This one’s simple, but you really can’t skip it. A permanent marker is how you label everything, and labeling is what keeps moving day from turning into total chaos.
Write the room name on top of each box (kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, whatever), and jot down a quick list of what’s inside if you want to find things fast later. If something’s breakable, write “fragile” in big letters so whoever’s carrying it knows to be careful. Got a box that has to stay upright? Write “this side up” with an arrow so it doesn’t end up sideways in the truck.
Permanent marker also works great right on the tape itself, so you don’t even need a separate label if you’re in a rush.
A couple tips: grab a multi-pack instead of just one marker. That way, if you’ve got people helping you pack, everyone has their own and nobody’s waiting around asking to borrow it. And here’s a smart move — label your boxes on two different sides, not just the top. Boxes get stacked and turned all over the place during a move, so having the label on two sides means you can always read it, no matter how it ends up sitting.
Read Also: 12 Hidden Costs of Moving People Don’t Know That Will Come Back to Bite Them Later
5. Doorstop
Out of everything on this list, this one might seem like the most random. But trust us, once you’re hauling boxes back and forth for the tenth time, you’ll be really glad you have it.
A doorstop keeps your door propped wide open so you’re not constantly pushing it with your hip, catching it with your foot, or watching it slam shut on your fingers (ouch). When you’re making trip after trip with your arms full, not having to deal with the door is a small thing that saves a surprising amount of energy.
Use one at your old place to keep the front door open while you’re loading up, and bring another one for your new place so you can do the same thing there. It’s also worth using on interior doors, like closets or hallway doors, so you’ve got a totally clear path to walk through without anything swinging shut in your way.
The wedge-style doorstops are your best bet. They’re cheap, super simple, and work whether you’ve got carpet or hard flooring. Just kick it under the door and forget about it.
Final Thoughts…
None of these 5 items are going to break the bank. A box cutter, some stretch wrap, colored tape, a few permanent markers, and a doorstop — that’s it. You could probably grab everything on this list for less than $20, and some of it might already be sitting around your house right now.
But don’t let the low price fool you. These little things add up to a much smoother moving day. Less time wasted looking for stuff, less confusion about where boxes go, less frustration with doors slamming or drawers falling open. It’s the small stuff that ends up making the biggest difference when you’re in the middle of a stressful move.
So before moving day rolls around, take five minutes to check that you’ve got all 5 of these items ready to go. Future you (the one carrying boxes and trying not to lose their mind) will definitely thank you.
And if you want to make sure you’re not forgetting anything else, check out our full moving checklist for everything else you’ll need to have covered.
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