How to make moving to a new house enjoyable

Moving to a new house is widely regarded as being one of the most stressful times a person can go through during their life. When there are kids involved, this can be considered even more true. Stress levels are high, money seems to be draining, and it seems like it might not be worth it. Yet you can turn moving into something that is a fond memory, rather than one associated with bad times. As long as you follow the right tips, you can turn the frowns in your family up into happy smiles, and make this a time to remember- for the right reasons.

Ask friends and family to help

One of the biggest stresses about moving is that you feel like you are low on resources and help. Packing seems to be piling up, and you might not be able to get your head around the quote the moving company has sent you. Though you might feel alone in this endeavour, you should never be afraid to ask for help. Your family and friends will want to see you happy and prospering, rather than dealing with moving when your partner is tied up. Asking them to help you could range from them bringing you meals when you have no time to cook, lending a hand with organising your belongings, and even being a friendly face that you can talk to should you need to offload any worries.

In the times when your network is busy, it’s important to note that help is just around the corner. For example, moving your possessions is unlikely to be done with the help of a few cars, which is why it’s best to hire local furniture moving companies to be with you every step of the way. Choosing the right one will mean you don’t have to worry about hidden costs, and that your belongings will be cared for in the right hands.

Make packing fun

After weeks of packing, it can quickly become the bane of your life. When you come home from work, packing is the last thing you would rather be doing, and your bed might seem like the more attractive option. If you have a large family, this job can become immeasurably difficult, meaning you might not know where to start.

The first thing you should do is write a packing list, which could feel tedious in the long run, but will make packing a much more streamlined process. Once this is out of the way, you can focus on turning packing into a fun family activity that will keep everybody entertained. Having some light-hearted music in the background will set a calming tone to the room, and you could turn your kids’ playfulness into productivity. Set them challenges to see who can pack away the most stuff in the shortest amount of time, or show them that whoever packs their box the neatest will receive an award. This will not only be fun now, but will reap its benefits in the long run. It also makes for some fun memories of the last days in your house to take away with you.

Sell your old items

There will likely be some belongings that you are unable to bring with you into your new life. Old baby clothes, pots and pans, and even pieces of furniture are all things that can be turned from a rubbish heap into some extra cash. Having some spare change on the side makes moving automatically less stressful, and you can make it into a fun experience by selling your goods in a yard sale or online. This will give you something to focus on other than the move, which could be a welcome but productive distraction. This is something your kids could also get involved with. If you have chosen to throw a yard sale, then they could set up their own little stall to sell what they no longer want, and if you have chosen to make quick sales online, they could act as a budding photographer for the day when you upload items online. Getting rid of what you don’t need will leave you feeling refreshed and energised for the next step of your move.

Remind yourself of where you are moving to

Even though you are ready to move on to the next chapter in your life, it can still be difficult saying goodbye to the previous one. Some people find that taking such a big step can result in fears over leaving, which can dampen their excitement. The best way to get over such fears is to face the future, even if it seems scary. Looking to what lies ahead will show you of the potential of where you are moving to. It could mean that there are better schools for your children to attend, amazing job prospects, and a sparkling social life. There is a reason that your dream house captured your heart when you first saw it. In short breaks, you could visit the house you will be moving into to remind yourself of where you are going. It could also help your kids deal with the move by showing them their new rooms, or what fun activities they can enjoy in the area.

Be creative with cooking

Cooking can become a chore when you have so much packing to do before moving day. You may be left with a strange assortment of freezer food and the odd vegetable in the fridge, but that doesn’t mean your spare money should go on ready meals and takeaways. Make sure you leave some pots and pans out from packing, which could be ones you end up throwing away or packing last. This way, you can still cook as you would usually. Being short on time means you can explore recipes that take minimal time to cook, and use minimal ingredients and utensils, which could be a fun challenge to set yourself each day. Serve your food on paper plates to make washing up quicker and to avoid keeping plates out for packing. Make sure you reserve your last meal for the takeaway as a final goodbye to your house.