I've Got My Visa - Packing is the Only Thing Holding Me Back - HELP!

I just got my visa last week, and as like a deer in headlights!  Now, I'm looking at a (small) house full of stuff and I need some major advice in a quick way.  How do I get started?

I am not planning on taking any furniture.  It will just be keepsakes, photos, household odd-and-ends that aren't electric, art supplies, a saxophone, a bicycle (hopefully), clothes, and other odd knick-knacks and keep-sakes, plus IMPORTANT records.

I imagine I can box up winter clothes now, since I won't be needing them.  But should I bring everything?  I mean, I don't have a lot of possessions... but still... 

I have no clue if, once I gather everything together, it would all remotely fit into suitcases.  I suspect if I truly take everything I want, then I'll need to box some of it.  I have a few dishes I'd like to take, for example.

My first idea was to pile everything in the middle of the floor that I want to take, but that seems so disorganized.

If I end up with boxes, will airlines TAKE boxes?  Heck, I'm so disorganized, I don't even know what to ask.

My earliest travel date is 27 July, and I want to get over there ASAP. 

BESIDES the packing and what to bring...  WHAT are the last minute things I need to take care of?  Can I just keep my same bank accounts and use them over there, making changes as necessary over time?  Can I keep my US credit cards and continue to use them even though residing in the UK?  My brain has been so on overload on getting the darn visa approved and getting my pet ready to travel, that I've left this part to the end, and am not COMPLETELY overwhelmed!!!

Please, if someone could just help me with how to get started!!

~Teddy

My first idea was to pile everything in the middle of the floor that I want to take, but that seems so disorganized.

This is what I did. Granted, I basically only brought clothes, a few electronics (laptop/phone/camera), and my pets/their things. For clothes, though, I went through my closet/drawers and put everything into 3 (sometimes 4) piles - Definitely Want, Maybe Want/Nice to Have (this was 1 or 2 piles depending on my mood), Give/Throw Away. Having them in separate piles made it easy to judge how much I had of everything, and once everything was in a pile, I could go through the Maybe Want/Nice to Have and decide if I really really wanted it. I think I gave away/threw out at least 1/2 of my clothes, if not 2/3, and I still feel like I don't wear most of the things I brought with me.

Can't help with the rest as I didn't bring anything that wouldn't fit into suitcases/backpacks, but I do believe airlines will take boxes. Not sure about weight/size limits, though. My parents took their bikes to Israel with them for a ride, so that's doable, too, though I think they had to pay a special baggage handling fee because they were so big.

I unfortunately don't have any advice, but wanted you to know I'm going through the same thing right now.  I'm seriously thinking about putting everything we don't want to take with us (clothes, knicknacks, whatev) into one room and having all my friends over for a "who-wants-my-stuff" party. For shipping, I've read on here both good and bad things about upakweship for just shipping over some boxes of stuff we don't want to part with. We're not taking any furniture or larger stuff either, biggest thing besides boxes will probably be our guitars and my keyboard.

Read the what I should/shouldn't have brought with me threads!

Our plan for moving my junk over has consisted of us paying to have an extra bag on flights for the last year and then stuffing that bag with as much of my stuff as we could.  A lot of my stuff is now in the UK, just waiting for me.  My parents are willing to hold onto the rest of it and we’re going to spend the next couple of years bring extra suitcases of the stuff that I’d just like to have.  When my parents downsize, and we get some furniture from them, we will ship that and anything that is left of my stuff over. 

The thing about what to bring abroad is that you’ll want to go with the things that you want to look at every day.  All of my family photos and favorite do-dad’s were the first thing I brought to the UK.  My current apartment is really sparse now!  Then I went with the stuff that I have to have but don’t need here right now – like my button down work shirts (I don’t need to wear suits at my current job), and basically all of my winter clothes.  Last up in my must have list will be my summer clothes, my wii, wii games, and my workout dvds.  I also have a lot of dvd’s and kitchen stuff that I’d like to bring over.  They will be shoved into my bags in an as they fit sort of way.  This doesn’t include my old year books, regular books, and childhood stuff that will eventually need to make it there. 

As much as I want to have every little possession of mine over there asap, the reality is that I haven’t looked at my yearbooks, or reread my childhood books in years and won’t need them right away. 

I’ve often heard, and told people, that if there is something from home and you can’t find it in your new home then you have to ask how badly you actually need it.  If 60 million people can do without it, you probably can too.

I sold everything except our (mine and my daughter's) clothes and a few nicknacks which I knew could easily fit in our suitcase. We also sent one MBag full of books over (mostly my daughters-- she is a book addict and I couldn't ask her to part with them).

I advertised my big pieces of furniture to friends/ colleagues first and once I knew what was going to sell to them (this was best because they were good at picking them up at the last minute so I had a bed/ couch etc until the day before I left) I then had a large yard sale. I sold everything I could -- and gave away some things. I did give two pieces of furniture to my sister to store -- they were my daughter's grandmothers and I wanted her to have the option of having them in the future. (they are still in my sister's basement 7 years later).

I am very much unorganised and a procrastintor-- it was important for me to sell as much and get rid of as much as early as possible so I could see what I really had to work with.

As to whether the airline will take boxes:  Yes, they will, however the handlers (I used to be one) hate them, since they are usually oversize and overweight and naturally don't have any handles.  So they get moved around by brute force, dropping and kicking are not uncommon.  The point being that you need to make sure everything is very well packed.  There should not be any air space in the box, or else it could crush.  Everything should be wrapped in two layers of bubble wrap (the kind with the giant 1-inch bubbles) and hollow items should be stuffed with the bubble wrap with the tiny bubbles.

The effort involved in packing to such a high standard might just motivate you to take only the most essential items. 

I think several people on here have moved here with those big giant rubbermaid containers, lid/boxes strapped together with zip ties- and the airlines took those fine. Those are least better than boxes, as they have handles and are sturdier.

I think packing sucks and whilst many people relish in giving away stuff/selling stuff/tossing stuff- I hate it! I really struggle with that.  I actually posted a thread on here about how much packed for the move sucked so much.    So no real advice, except for good luck!!! 

Oh, for peace of mine and a half dozen angels!!!!!  I've read over the posts, and thank everyone so much.  Unfortunately, I'm still floundering.  I have looked at the info about extra / oversized luggage on the Virgin-Atlantic website.  I've tried going through a few things.  I am still STRESSED and CONFUSED.

Wish I had time to even vent about the strain.  All my close friends are suddenly (and unavoidably) busy.  I am going to have to somehow get my dog to last minute vet appt, then to BA World Cargo center at Dulles, and then myself and  XYZ number of bags/boxes/what-have-you to check-in, all on same day.  I don't drive.  I swear, I've aged 30 years in 2 weeks!!

Lots of "what if" stressors, too...  Oh, well, isn't life about stress!?

I now have to collect the same extra / oversized luggage info from British Airways, since it is looking like my dog and I are going to travel same day and same flight.  You know, even on a NORMAL trip I can't decide how many warm shirts and how many cool shirts to bring!!!!!!!!!!  Or even now many of my WHITE pairs of American socks!!!  :-D

Help!!

~Teddy

I've been avoiding reading this thread -- because it's where I'm at! Or very very soon to be. Arrrrgh!

I've weeded out a lot of clothes already and at the end of the summer I'll chuck a lot more summer things. Same with when I finish work in December. I won't be working so won't need so many things. And as for those suits leftover from my project manager days -- well, they're going too. Goodwill (Morgan Memorial) has a manned collection point near us which helps greatly. They will give you a receipt too for tax purposes.

As for the other stuff ... books, knick-knacks, cutlery and crockery, pots and pans, sheets, towels, CD's, photos, etc. etc. Don't know where to begin. Will try to find a shipper that will do door-to-door. (Last time we had to collect it from Liverpool - nuisance) I would give anything to keep all my mother's antiques and the furniture my great grandfather made. I've given a few things away to cousins but nobody really wants much. I also seem to be the repository for all the family Bibles!

Do you have minibus size taxi cabs over there I would suggest getting one of those to cart you your dog and the whole shabang at once.  That's what I would do but I sympathise I have never moved countries but moving house is stressful enough I said never again lol x

Pads x

Hey Teddy,

I would recommend that since you have such a long journey, packing as little as possible is the best way for you to ensure a stress-free move! Sort through all your items and only pack the must-haves.

While packing, remember to pack as tightly as possible, to ensure that things don't shift around or break when they're in transport. If you have sweat-shirts (since you mentioned putting away winter clothes), use them to fill in the spaces in empty spaces in your boxes.

Although I love the idea of just throwing everything in a pile on the floor, I think that will just frustrate you more than anything! I would organize your things based on which room they will be in your new destination- making it easier for you to unpack after your move!

Hope this helps!

We also sent one MBag full of books over (mostly my daughters-- she is a book addict and I couldn't ask her to part with them).

Still struggling... can you explain what an MBag is, where to get it, and how it works?

Frantic!

~Teddy

Still struggling... can you explain what an MBag is, where to get it, and how it works?

Frantic!

~Teddy

I think they are talking about a media bag/media mail
http://www.usps.com/international/mbags.htm

Teddy, there's an old thread all about the M-bags on here (I found it just on a google search), I'd suggest taking a look at it if you've got a lot of books you are wanting to ship.