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We are moving!
Hello, everyone! I have some big life news! My family and I have recently moved back to Germany after 6 years in Austria. It has been quite the journey living in Austria, and I have thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. Though we are returning to Germany, the memories and people I have met while in Austria will always stay in my heart.
Moving is always difficult. Not just because of the actual act of moving, but because it means saying goodbye to friends and neighbors. In this post I want to talk a bit about my experience moving, and share some tips on how to best prepare for a move.
The bittersweet act of moving
There is nothing more bittersweet than moving. Moving back to our hometown means we can be close to our close friends and family. We are also on track to building our dream home that we hope to live in for the foreseeable future. Just thinking about all of this makes my heart happy and excited. Though I love adventure and meeting new people, sometimes there is nothing more comforting than being around the people closest to you. But moving is not all sunshine and rainbows!
During these 6 years living in Austria, I have met some incredible people. From friends to colleagues to neighbors, everyone has been nothing but sweet to us. With the help of technology, it is much easier to keep in touch with long-distance friends. But, it doesn’t feel the same, does it? Sometimes there’s nothing better than grabbing a coffee or tea with a friend and talking about everything and nothing. It is sad to think I won’t be able to do that for a while. I won’t be able to bring them any of my delicious food and snacks now!
In all seriousness, I do want to take a moment to thank everyone who made me feel at home in Austria these past 6 years. I will never forget any of you, and hope to keep in contact with you all. Feel free to visit our family in Germany!
Moving is a pain!
Fortunately, our move has gone surprisingly smoothly. Which is saying a lot since we are moving to a whole different country! You never truly realize how much stuff you have until you start moving, right? Hopefully our next house is our forever home, so we never have to move again!
I am very excited to be closer to family, but I think I’m more excited to be done with this move. I am so tired! When we finish moving in, I am going to treat myself to a spa day. Get all my sore muscles massaged and relaxed. That sounds very nice right now.
After this moving experience I have learned many different things on what to do (and what not to do) during a move. Here are few of my favorite packing tips you could use on your next move.
Moving Tips
Plan Ahead
I cannot stress enough how important it is to plan ahead when moving. From packing and sorting everything in your house, to hiring movers, or renting a moving van, there is a lot to deal with. Rather than do it all last minute, plan out your steps before diving in.
Try and schedule everything beforehand. See which steps you need to take first to make your move smoother. Do you need to take time off work to pack and move? Or do you have kids and pets that may be stressed by all the hustle and bustle of moving?
There are many questions and situations that arise with a big move. It is best to set aside some time and plan your move. Then, you can get right into all the nitty gritty stuff!
Pack Smart
It may be tempting to throw everything into boxes and trash bags, but this will cause you many headaches when unpacking. When packing during a move, it is best to pack as if you were playing the game Tetris. Shift and adjust items around until they fit together in a box comfortably.
Another great tip is to pack smaller items inside bigger items! This may sound strange, but hear me out. Let’s say you have a small box filled with trinkets. Instead of leaving that box as is, place it into a larger box that has leftover space. That way you will have less things to carry during and after the move. Unless the box has fragile goods, fit as much as you can in the box!
Label Your Boxes
This may seem like a no-brainer tip, but labeling your boxes appropriately saves you so much stress when you move. Rather than opening all the boxes to see what’s inside, you can clearly see on the outside “kitchen plates,” or “office supplies.” This will help you to move the boxes to their correct space in the house on the first go. No need for unpacking everything first and then moving it to the right place.
PHOTO: FREEPIK
Labeling can also help prevent accidents and things breaking. By making it clear on the box that the items are fragile, you won’t place them under a bunch of other boxes or mistreat them! It may take a bit longer to add labels to your boxes, but it will save you a lot of stress in the long run.
Use Your Clothes
Packing materials can get quite expensive. But there is no need to spend all that money on them! One great way to cut moving costs is to use clothes instead of things like packing peanuts or air bags. Wrap fragile items like wine glasses in t-shirts, or pajamas. This will not only help you carry more clothes easier, but it will protect your belongings in a more affordable way.
Conclusion
I hope you enjoyed these packing tips, and that you will use them in your next move. Moreso, I want to thank everyone in Austria for being so caring, open-minded, and loving towards me and my family. It has been a wonderful time, and I will miss you all!
Onwards to new adventures!
Please check the rest of my blog for some more interesting articles HERE.
