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If you’ve ever moved house, it’s likely you’re familiar with the stresses that go with it - from trying to locate your toothbrush, to realising that you haven’t eaten for twelve hours because you’ve been so busy.
One way to ease the stress of moving house is create a moving house survival kit. Just one bag, full of things that would usually be taken for granted but can make the whole process a lot easier.
Even if you’re the most seasoned of movers, it’s easy to forget the essentials when there’s so much going on. To make things easier on moving day, we wanted to put together a list of items that are perfect for a moving day survival kit, and will hopefully help alleviate some of your stress.
Why You Should Pack a Moving Day Survival Kit
They always say hope for the best, prepare for the worst. On a day where stress levels are already at breaking point, having a survival kit to hand can mean you’re prepared for pretty much anything.
Moving house can be particularly difficult if you have kids. The confusion of moving to a new house and unfamiliar surroundings can result in a grumpy, uncooperative child.
If there's one thing a moving survival kit can do, it’s restore harmony and peace to the household (and ultimately remove the desire to kill each other).
What to Include in a Moving Survival Kit
Knowing what to include in your survival kit can be tricky, especially when you’re not quite sure what moving day will bring. It is however always best to prepare for the unexpected.
Below is a list of things that you may want to consider including in your moving house kit:
From the Kitchen
It’s easy to get carried away on moving day, and usually one of the first things that gets overlooked is mealtime.
Snacks: including items such as cereal bars and non-perishable packet foods will mean you have something to just grab and go on the move. Whilst they’re not the most nutritional thing in the world, they’re really handy for keeping your energy levels up on what will likely be the most exhausting day of the whole process.
An easy meal: most will opt for a take away on the first night after moving in but this might not be for everyone. A pack of dried pasta and a jar of sauce is a simple but wholesome choice. If that’s not an option, then anything you can just pour boiling water on such as noodle pots is a smart choice.
Cereal for the morning after: the fun doesn’t stop on the day you move in. Starting with a good breakfast will mean you’re able to get going straight away.
TOP TIP: If you’re not sure if you’ll have a functioning refrigerator, opt for products such as long-life milk so you don’t have to worry about it turning sour.
Tea bags, coffee and sugar: particularly important if you enlist the help of friends or family. It’s pretty much a guarantee that someone will want a brew at some point.
Utensils, crockery and cutlery: if you plan on cooking on your first day in your new house, consider what utensils you’ll use for the meal you’ve planned. In addition, some essential crockery such as mugs, plates and bowls will mean you won’t need to eat whatever you cook straight out of the pan - as great as that is for whoever’s tasked with the washing up.
Kettle: an appliance that’s often taken for granted, it will certainly come in handy for drinks and quick cooking.
From the Bedroom
Probably the last thing you’ll think about on moving day, but the room you’ll appreciate the most at the end of it.
Bed linen: sleeping on a bare mattress is not the most comfortable thing in the world, so pack a sheet for each bed and pillows. If you’d prefer to pack quilt covers away with the rest of your possessions, pack sleeping bags instead.
Pyjamas: a good night’s sleep is essential when moving, so pack your most comfortable nightwear in your survival kit.
TOP TIP: stick them inside your sleeping bag or pillow case for safe keeping.
Spare clothing: don’t forget to pack clothes for the following day. The last thing you want is to find out you’ve got no clean pants because they’re hidden away in a box somewhere.
From the Bathroom
You may want to wrap up your busy day with a nice hot bath or shower, so packing some bathroom essentials is a must.
Towels: no-one wants to jump in the shower to discover they don’t have a towel to hand. Including a couple of towels in your moving house survival kit will mean you don’t have to drip dry!
Toothpaste and toothbrushes: no one likes having a furry mouth in the morning.
Toilet paper: there’s nothing worse than being caught short, especially when kids are involved.
Toiletries: essentials such as soap and shower gel will ensure you and your family will feel fresh as a daisy, ready for a day of unpacking the mountain of boxes that awaits you.
Medicines: if any of your family members require daily medication, it’s vital these are close at hand.
For the Kids
If you have young children in your family, it’s unlikely they’ll be able to get fully involved with the process of moving house. That said, including some items to keep them entertained throughout the day is essential for your sanity.
Portable DVD player & DVDs: it’s likely you won’t have any internet on the day you move into your new place. Bear this in mind when it comes to the electrical devices you pack.
Books: if your children are of reading age, a couple of good books should keep them quiet for a while (and can be educational, too).
Board games: perfect if you have more than one child - assuming they don’t get too competitive of course!
Soft toys: ensuring they have their favourites to hand will comfort them and help keep them calm on what can be a really confusing day.
Baby supplies: if you have a baby in the family, making sure you have the appropriate supplies to get you through a couple of days is essential.
Other Items to Consider for Your Moving Day Survival Kit
In addition to the essentials noted above, there are a few other items you might want to consider packing:
Phone charger: because running out of battery can seem like the end of the world.
Tools: keeping a selection of tools to hand means you can get cracking if you need to make a start on building furniture before you unpack. Items such as scissors, hammer, a screwdriver and drill will generally be all you need initially.
First aid kit: you can never be too careful, especially since moving furniture and lugging boxes around leaves you open to injury.
Pet supplies: ideally you should keep pets out of the way during a house move - ask a friend or family member to take care of them, or book them into kennels. If this isn’t possible, ensuring they have food and familiar bedding is critical.
Hot water bottle: if you’re moving house in the depths of winter, it’s likely your new house may have stood empty for a while and become quite cold. A water bottle will mean you don’t have to risk hypothermia while your house warms up.
As stressful as moving house can be, planning and preparing accordingly for the big day will make life that bit easier.
Know someone that’s about to move house? Why not help them settle in with a personalised new house card and chocolates, presented in a personalised new house gift bag?
