-Pack the boxes yourselves. Label everything. If your using a moving service (recommended!) keep the essentials you need in your car with you.

-Garage sales, donation runs for things you are “meh” on… anything you can get rid of now is something you don’t have to move later. Especially that ginormous five piece sofa/chase/recliner set that probably won’t fit anywhere. Consider the cost of bringing stuff over buying new again.

-you can use towels as packing material. Unless they’re “special” towels. In any case, if it’s not in a box, (taped and labeled,) it should be padded with a moving blanket and wrapped.

-don’t over-fill boxes. If it’s too heavy to lift, you’ve over filled it. Over full boxes cause breakage. Moving is annoying and painful enough. More trips with lighter boxes is better for your back.

-Get help. Even if you have to feed/pay them, even if the help is kinda idiotic… getting boxes inside let’s you start settling in. Especially if you have everything you need where they’re not unloading it…

-a lot of time, the issues with help can be resolved with organization, they don’t know where most stuff is going. You can use colored post-it’s or something to label boxes for “bedroom”, “kitchen”, etc. down to individual people.

-this is a great opportunity to get rid of those decorative pillows that absolutely have to be moved on and off the beds…. If they’re you’re pillows? Be warned, if they’re not…well… an accidental knifing or two is in order…