![]() Recycling centersĪnd where’s the No.1 place you always see used cardboard boxes? Your local recycling center. School custodians may be more than happy to let you take them off their hands. If you know the administrator at your child’s school, ask about recycled boxes. Schools may not be the first place you’d think of when looking for used cardboard boxes, but schools receive many deliveries - from books to paper supplies to canned goods for the cafeteria. But not all of them welcome phone calls, and just paying a visit can be hit or miss. Liquor store boxes also tend to be on the smaller side, just right for packing books - book boxes can get too heavy to carry if they’re too big.īig-box stores like Sam’s Club and Costco are also gold mines for box hunters. Liquor stores are a dependable source for heavy-duty cardboard boxes, and the dividers used to separate glass bottles are useful when packing glassware. Liquor stores, bookstores and grocery stores are great places to ask for spare boxes. He suggests starting with grocery stores, bookstores and electronics stores - bookstores may also give you the wrapping paper used in the box. “See if they would be willing to give them to you for your move.” “Many businesses receive shipments on a regular basis and have to break down the boxes to recycle them,” Aviv said. ![]() Plug your ZIP code and the keyword “boxes” into the search bar. U-Haul, which rents trucks and has storage facilities, operates U-Haul Customer Connect, a message board where you can find box giveaways. If you time it just right on a Saturday, you’ll catch people unloading who might be happy to have you take used boxes off their hands. The most popular moving days are at the end of the month, which is when most leases start and end - facilities are often teeming with people moving goods out of their units on the last weekend of the month. “Ask the manager if you can take some of them off their hands.” “Storage units often have a lot of boxes that people have left behind after they move out,” Aviv said. Some moving and storage places sell boxes and packing supplies, but you can also find them for free. You can read through your neighbors’ posts looking for giveaways or make one of your own requesting cardboard boxes. The Nextdoor app, designed to connect you with people in your neighborhood, is another way to locate moving boxes nearby. ![]() Because you’re probably in paring-down mode in preparation for moving, you may want to search directly for “moving boxes” and avoid temptation. You can also download the Buy Nothing Project app, but prepare to wade past a lot of fascinating giveaways - from never-used pots and pans to leftover birthday cake. On Facebook, search “Groups” for the name of your neighborhood and sign up to join. If you’re not familiar with Facebook’s “Buy Nothing” groups, you’re missing out on a world of free stuff. You may be surprised at how many people are happy to help out.” Social media networks like Facebook and Nextdoor often have listings for people giving away boxes. “Put up a post on your local Facebook group or Nextdoor app and see if anyone has any boxes they're looking to get rid of. “With the power of social media, you can reach a lot of people quickly and easily,” Aviv said. You can join your local neighborhood group, which means you won’t have to go far to collect your boxes. Sign up for Craigslist notifications, and you’ll be one of the first to know as soon as a new curb alert hits.įreecycle, a listing site dedicated to preventing reusable items from going to landfills, is another good source for used moving boxes. These bundles often include bubble wrap and packing paper too. You’ll see “curb alerts” posted by neighbors who have just moved and are giving away boxes. On Craigslist, locate your local area’s “For Sale” section, then look under the “Free Stuff” category. “Websites like Craigslist and Freecycle are great resources for finding free or cheap moving boxes,” Aviv, the founder of iMoving, said. Here are five places to check if you’re trying to save money on packing supplies. Many stores sell boxes, but you can save a significant amount of money if you know how to find free boxes that you can reuse. ![]() Check storage facilities on the last Saturday of the month, which is prime moving time.Ħ places to check for free or cheap boxes.Connect with neighbors giving away boxes on social groups and apps.Look for “curb alerts” on local listings sites.A cardboard box can be recycled five to seven times.“Not only do you have to worry about the cost of hiring a moving company or renting a truck, you have to factor in the price of packing materials,” said Meyr Aviv, founder and CEO of moving resource site iMoving.īut no need to buy boxes when you can get them for free-and it’s the greener way to go.
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