<p>I can't believe school is almost here! Ah! I'm so excited! However, I was wondering, how the heck do I pack my stuff? I don't think suitcases would work... or would they (We do have some giant suitcases that would work, but where to put them afterwards)??? How do I bring all my books (I have like 20 pounds of them), clothing, extras, sport gear and electronics? </p>
<p>Are bins the most common way of doing it? We are driving to the school, so everything is going into the car, no shipping is being planned.</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>By the way, I know there are probably other posts like this, but packing is such a common word in titles that I couldn't really find any.</p>
<p>Pick whatever container type (bins, bags, suitcases, boxes) is easiest for you to fill up and to transfer from house-to-car, then from car-to-dorm. Keep in mind that lugging the stuff to your dorm room might involve stairs, so packing 200 lbs. in one container will make your dad very unhappy.</p>
<p>Your parents can take back home all the empty containers, except for the suitcase you will need for school breaks. The BS generally have some storage space in the dorms for suitcases & sports equipment.</p>
<p>suitcases work just fine for clothes! it’s a time saver if you pack your stuff on hangers… just take them out of the suitcase, hang 'em up, and you’re done with that part! as for everything else, pillows and quilts can go in a box or big bins. if i’m bringing storage to school (drawers, bins) i try to pack as many things in them as possible to maximize space in the car…</p>
<p>Ok imagine having 6 people in one car with TWO people’s luggage. What we did was limit ourselves to he following: 3 bins, two suitcases, a backpack, and stuff we can just carry. The suitcases and bins fit easily under the beds once we finished unloading and the bins were pretty large. If you have a mini van, you probs have hooks in the car to hang some shirts and such that need hangers. Clothes and other fabric objects should go in the suitcases while the rest in bins:</p>
<p>I’m SO not looking forward to this part of it! My daughter has gone to camp after camp but it’s not just clothes anymore…it’s the musical instrument and the sports equipment, which usually takes up the whole car anyway–hockey anyone?<br>
I told her to bring the basics to school for the fall rather than buying everything now and fill in the rest later. We have closed weekends pretty much most of the fall–does that mean parents shouldn’t bring anything up either during that time, so they can get acclimated?</p>
<p>Count your blessings that you can haul it by car. Try lugging it from the other side of the world and dealing w U.S. Customs…</p>
<p>note- i noticed you mention 20 pounds of books- only bring school textbooks, and maybe 1 or 2 pleasure reading books. You will most likely not have time to read them, will be home more than you think, and will most likely have a great library at school.</p>
<p>Leppy’s right. Perhaps bring essential reference books, such as a dictionary and a thesaurus, and a couple of pleasure reading books. If you can withstand the temptation to fill it up with pleasure reading, a Kindle weighs next to nothing. </p>
<p>If you must bring your books, try a book rate parcel through the US postal service–now known as “media mail.” <a href=“FileNotFound | Postal Explorer”>http://pe.usps.com/cpim/ftp/manuals/dmm100/dmm100.pdf</a></p>
<p>If you use duffle bags for your linens and most of your clothes, the empty duffles can be rolled up and stored inside a suitcase or box.</p>
<p>Many students use plastic boxes or bins. Many schools have storage space for suitcases and boxes. Remember, you’ll want some storage equipment in your room, under your bed or at the top of your closet, so some of the boxes can do double duty.</p>
<p>However, now is the time to prune the items you’ll bring. Most schools have school stores, which sell common school supplies. You do not need to bring 4 years’ worth of tape, etc.</p>
<p>If you’re in New England, the weather will probably remain mild enough until Parents’ Weekend. You can leave the heavy winter coat and most of the sweaters at home, for your parents to bring or ship later. If you’re female, a few cardigans (dress code may require it), a fleece, and a light jacket should be more than enough. If you’re cold, the school store will be happy to sell you a school sweatshirt. Pack up the winter stuff now, to make it easy for your parents to send or bring it to you later.</p>
<p>A car should be big enough to carry all the stuff you’ll need.</p>
<p>For hanging things, a garment bag always helps. If your parents have ever traveled for work, chances are they might have one. Even a free plastic one that you might get from a place like J Crew if you bought a blazer or dress helps keep clothes together, clean, and relatively wrinkle free.</p>
<p>If you have a ton of clothes and want to save space, you could always use Space Bags, the ones you vacuum all of the air out of… They worked great for me, and clothes don;t come out too wrinkled either.</p>