Moving house this weekend...

and we have next to nothing done!

Unfortunately I am ill (chronic) and don't have any energy to do anything at the moment and I'm visiting my parents tomorrow until Wednesday for a hospital appointment. I'm getting increasingly stressed out and worried as I see so much stuff that needs to be packed... we don't even have any boxes! >: (

I managed to pack up most of the bathroom stuff (except for things we'd be using daily until the move) and my housemate has cleaned the kitchen and livingroom the best he can until moving. Going to get another carrier for the pets, since Merlin has his own, Annie can go in the one we have now, and the budgie's can be split into a small one for them and the other big carrier for the rest.

So tired, making a to do list so everyone else in the house knows what role they'll be taking on whilst I'm hauled up in bed.

Anyone else want to share moving experiences, or tips/hints? Will read when I have energy

I have moved quite a lot in the past 5 years and it never gets any better! I have learned a few things though, one, go to your local grocery store and ask them to save you some egg boxes, they are super strong and great for moving, and since most places get eggs on a daily basis, you usually only have to wait a day or two and you can pick up a ton of them. Second, try and pack things like movies and books first, they are usually things that you can do without for few weeks and they are usually very heavy so it's good to get them out of the way and leave them to be stacked on the bottom of you pile. Next, I usually pack electronics, and then I move on to knick knacks/decorations. Then, clothes, don't tape these boxes shut, and it helps if you try to pack them in a way that allows you to easily get things out should you need them(like sweaters/socks). Lastly, call in favors, no one likes to move, but I've found that my friends are usually willing to help if I bribe them with some beer lol. I also try to move animals last, unless you plan on the move taking you several days, then pick whichever house you will be at more and move the animals accordingly. Moving is a stressful time for everyone, try to remain as calm and positive as you can or the birds won't make the situation any easier on you.

We're moving less than an hours drive away, so animals will be coming with us on our first trip and set up immediately, budgie's are gonna be put away in the quiestest room so they can settle, Annie can probably join them but she wont be phased by the travelling, and Merlin loves commotion and change, so we're not worried about him either. Just don't want anyone knocking his cage so he'll be somewhere relatively 'out of the way'. We're hoping to do it in one or two trips, we're going to be hiring a van for all the big furniture, then cars for the little bits that don't fit in the van!

Fortunately for us, we don't have to do things like defrost the freezer as it's such a short trip that nothing bad will happen, woohoo. I can't wait to move, but I'm dreading getting everything ready for it too!

We're boxing books and dvds at the moment, and we've put away all the bathroom non-essentials and most of my clothes that haven't been used/wont be seen till summer. We're marking up boxes so that when we're unloading the van we know which room they'll be taken to, which will make our life much easier

So much to do, so little energy!

I have a chronic illness as well so I can definitely relate. And I dread moving ever again!

I was also going to suggest the grocery store for boxes. I got as many as I needed the last time I moved, and they were good, strong boxes, too. Be careful packing books and clothes as those boxes can get heavy fast! I also wrote on each box what room it was for. So pots, pans, etc, I wrote "kitchen" on the box.

Make sure things like personal grooming items and other things you will need right away all go into a box together that you can get into right away in your new home. Nothing worse than not knowing where your toothbrush, toilet paper, etc is! Because you will want those things the first night even if you don't get to unpacking other things until the next day, or next few days.