Packing stinks, doesnt it? I am packing right now also. Community and University pressure forced the people who own our building, and who are demolishing it in a few weeks, to give everyone until the semester is over, which is another 2 weeks. We have a lot of grad students and they were having to totally change the end of the year due to this. Anyway, here are some of MY packing tips.
Use your clothing to help pack items. It is softer than paper, has to be moved anyway, and often weighs far less than packing paper. Towels, sheets, etc... are also great for packing. My mother thought I had lost my mind (not just my marbles) the first time I did this. Then she realized exactly how much less room my items took and how much less stuff weighed (we were being charged by the pound for the move). Of course make sure you have enough clothes to last until you can unpack, esp for the kids. I didn't supervise husband well enough on one move and that got interesting, lol.
You can often pick up bags of old clothes that are considered 'unusable' by thrift stores for a few bucks to use for packing if you don't have access to old linens, enough clothes, or other free packing supplies.
Just in case you have guys helping you move who are hooked on duct tape, do NOT use it on boxes. It will NOT hold on them. By the time you pick them up to take them off the truck, the tape will come off.
Sorry if this is too late to help. I thought it was posted two days ago, but somehow it didn't.
Consider raiding the plastic bag recycling bin outside a store for plastic bags. Or snag some when you are shopping if the store is okay with that. Used plastic grocery/walmart types bags or opened up new ones make great packing and filling material. Especially for things that might get gooey or yucky.
Pack liquids in ziploc bags. Hit aldi's or another store with cheap house brands and buy some large sizes. I recently found 2 gallon ziploc style bags at dollar tree (six for $1) and they are handy for moving. It keeps things from being damaged if something breaks or spills.
Ask at local liquor stores for boxes. Usually they will let you know when they have the most boxes and they may even set some aside just for you. Liquor stores often do not sell open food containers (often depends on the state laws, of course) so they have less of a bug problem than grocery or walmart type store. Liquor is very heavy and still is often packed in glass, so the boxes are both super sturdy and not terribly huge.
Reward any and every person who helps you pack and/or load things. Feed them and provide drinks. Provide NO ZIP ZERO alcohol until AFTER everything has been completed, at least for the day. One of my aunts had a move where her husband's buddies brought out beer early in the afternoon. She had more broken and damaged stuff and found the most bizarre things packed together (or at all - who packs the dust bunnies very very carefully, with labels and names for each one, in mason jars? Drunk men who think all the cleaning is nonsense, that's who.) than anyone ever saw. Breaking out the beer is fine, but only AFTER you are done working.
Think of packing the pod like three dimensional tetris. It will help you make everything fit and stay in place better. If you have an older child with a gift for this, allow them to help you figure out where things fit in the pod. It will be a learning experience for them, and at least MY kids actually found it fun. boggled my mind at first, but we all have our talents.
Go to the thrift or dollar store and pick up a new toy or two for each child, or pull one out of your stash if you have a stash put back. Use these are rewards and bribes for helping and or staying out of things.Choose items that will keep them occupied foor a long time if possible.
