10 things to pack in your moving day survival kit

Buying a new home is super exciting – as long as you survive the move.

Like any outdoor activity, moving out of home needs a care package. You’ll need sustenance for lifting boxes, a warm drink to calm the nerves, and nibbles to keep the good vibes flowing. Pop down to the supermarket and pick up these ten must-have items to create your Moving Day Survival Kit.

1. Snacks.

There’s nothing like low blood sugar to turn a perfectly pleasant person into a two-headed hangry monster, so make sure you keep a stash of healthy snacks on hand. And do yourself a favour: avoid the sugar rollercoaster by choosing protein and low-GI carbs for long-lasting energy and fewer headaches.

2. A roll of toilet paper.

Moving day can be lengthy, and you don’t want to be caught with your pants down. Make sure you pack a loo roll for when the call of nature, well, calls. If you’re really serious, make a note of the closest public amenities, in case things get urgent while you’re on the road.

3. Remote controls.

Don’t end your day with a panic-scramble through fifty-eight boxes labelled “IMPORTANT”. Keep TV remotes on hand so you can settle into your new place with a relaxing five hours zonked in front of Queer Eye.

4. Medications.

This one’s serious. If you have regular medicine you need to take, you do not want to lose it in the chaos. Keep any essentials on you, even if you’re sure you’ll remember it’s with the half-empty body washes. That includes a sheet of Nurofen for that inevitable moving-day migraine.

5. Swiss Army knife.

Besides having an adorable pair of tiny scissors, a multi-tool knife will come in handy for just about every moving day task. Need to slice through some tape? Tiny knife. Banged your finger trying to lift the couch? Tiny nail file. Want to just lie down for ten minutes? Tiny camp mattress.

6. Your kettle (and tea bags).

Keep calm and drink English breakfast may very well be the moving day motto. There are few things a steaming cuppa can’t solve, so don’t forget to pack your favourite brew. Bring enough for everyone and take a deliberate break to regroup and relax. Also, you can buy cold-water tea bags now, so you can get some flavoured H₂O in your gob before you dehydrate.

7. A torch.

Has anyone ever had their electricity connected on time? Bring a torch – after putting in new batteries – so you can get your keys in your new locks and find your way along an unfamiliar hallway in the dark. Plus, you can hold it up to your face while you tell spooky stories.

8. Bin bags.

Tidy as you go with a handful of extra-large bin bags. Take a whole roll with you. There will be food scraps, bits of cardboard and probably a few bad moods that need to be taken out as the day progresses. Make sure you grab the sturdy kind that can take the pressure (like you, thanks to your extremely good moving day pack).

9. Paper plates and cups.

Remember how you kept your crockery safe by wrapping every individual plate in newspaper? Yeah, now it’s ten o’clock at night and your limbs feel like noodles. Pick up some biodegradable or reusable plates and cups so you can skip the unboxing and the washing up for now.

10. The local pizza joint’s website.

You’ve got no power, no internet and you’re actually not sure how the stove works. Time for the age-old tradition of ordering a pizza to your new address. The great unpacking can wait until tomorrow. For now, celebrate with the mates you roped in and a meat lovers on the floor.

Congrats, home owner.