<p>I'm debating on what to use to transport my stuff. Should I use cardboard boxes, large plastic containers, the large Ikea shopping bag, or big luggages?</p>
<p>I have to bring the following
- Clothes
- Toiletries
- Bedding, Pillows, and Towels (probably the thing that will take the most space)
- Laptop & Other Electronics
- Room decorations</p>
<p>We’re putting most stuff in Rubbermaid totes, as they stack easily and are easy to carry (and we have lots of them after years at Scout camp). Daughter is taking one suitcase, as she’ll need it to get home at Thanksgiving (still haven’t figured out if that will be via plane or train, but whatever mode she takes won’t accommodate the Rubbermaid totes!).</p>
<p>Do you plan to keep the moving container in your dorm room? If so, then my suggestion would be to put some of the big items like bedding in plastic bags so that you don’t have giant boxes cluttering up the room. A couple of Rubbermaid type containers that can be stored under the bed come in handy.</p>
<p>Duffel bags or even huge drawstring laundry bags are good for soft stuff. Much better than plastic bags since they don’t tear. Giant IKEA bags are great, but hard to close.</p>
<p>We used suitcases and totes, then stuffed them into the family car. There were a couple small boxes too. I ended up using the totes and suitcases as storage throughout the year, because I was in a triple and needed to save as much space as I could.</p>
<p>I used cardboard boxes I got from Home Depot.</p>
<p>Are you driving or flying? Will you need to store stuff over the summer? My D is flying to a school where she will need to store stuff. We shipped two cardboard boxes ahead of time (bedding, toiletries, clothes, a few books). She will have packing tape so she can break down the boxes and store them under her bed, then “reconstitute” them for summer storage. Then we are flying Southwest, which allows free bag check for 2 bags per person. She will have a big sporting equipment bag, then we will check a couple of suitcases. She will keep one large suitcase and one carryone suitcase with her at college for trips home.</p>
<p>If you are taking any Rubbermaid type drawers I would highly suggest you pack them exactly how you want them
In your room and tape them closed. My dd did this and her roommate did not. Dd’s move in took much less time.</p>
<p>1) Fill any storage containers you’re bringing with your clothes and school supplies and stuff.
2) Get suitcases, tote bags, and backpacks for everything else.
3) Stuff it all in the vehicle.</p>
<p>I have a 7 passenger van that I have to stuff with 6 people plus everything I’m bringing…This will be a fun journey…</p>
<p>I have 3 drawer plastic bins and in there I have my toiletries in small boxes, I’m using a cardboard box from staples for my school supplies. My kitchen stuff and tupperwear is in a cardboard box, my clothing and shoes are in 2 suitcases and a duffel bag (carry on size). And my towels, and sheets are in a plastic bin. Also for other storage my garbage can and laundry basket have things that were too big for a bin like pillows and bed risers.</p>
<p>Since I’m flying, I’m shoving as much stuff as I can in 2 luggages and a carry on. Zip Lock vacuum bags are my best friend while packing, I seriously love them. When I get to school, I have several stores nearby if I’m missing anything.</p>
<p>1 Suit case. 2 duffle bags. 2 boxes. And some those resuasable shopping/grocery bags <----HIGHLY reccomend them! They’re turning out to be a lifesaver! If you can shop for your toiletries when you get to your schools city. It should save you some space in the car. I’m not done packing but I’m getting there. Oh and leave your clothes on hangers in the suitcase. It will save a lot of time when unpacking. :)</p>
<p>I have a friend whose Dad had a very practical solution that caused her no end of embarrassment. They couldn’t fit everything in his pickup truck, so he hitched up his fishing boat and put the rest of her dorm room stuff in the boat! She was mortified, but all her friends thought it was cool to get their pictures taken with the fishing boat…</p>
<p>So… if you are driving, make sure everything is in SOME kind of container (box, bag, suitcase, etc.) that is easy to grab. At some schools they have older students (orientation people) waiting at the curb to keep traffic moving. They grab your stuff from your car and hustle it off to your dorm room. If you have stuff laying around loose in the car, it slows down the unloading process and makes everyone a little frantic. So have a “container” of some sort for all the loose stuff. If you have stuff out of your purse or backpack as you get close to campus, stow it to make the process more efficient.</p>
<p>I flew out to my univ, so the only things I really brought with me were some electronics, clothes and climbing gear. I live a simple life, so I really don’t have much more than that. Use the bridal registry through Bed Bath & Beyond and preorder your bedding and some plastic storage bins (you’ll have extra stuff you rarely use that just gets in the way) and pick it up at the closest store.</p>
<p>Don’t waste your time, space and effort bringing decorations and that superfluous junk with you. If you must have it, buy it where it is you’re living.</p>