Whether your offspring are moving out for the first time, or coming back for summer, these hacks will save you time and money.
Things they no longer want can be loved by someone else. Donate clothes to textile banks and charity shops. Donate furniture, sports equipment and bric-a-brac to Renew at your local recycling centre. Renew refurbishes the pre-loved items and sells them to raise money for good causes across Greater Manchester. You can also bag a pre-loved bargain at their physical and online shops.
Boxes are an essential moving tool but there’s no need to waste money on brand new ones. Instead, ask your local supermarket for cardboard packaging boxes which they’ll normally give you for free. When you’re done you can collapse the boxes and save them for the next move or recycle them in your paper and card bin.
When cleaning out kitchen cupboards, cans, tins and unopened non-perishable food can be donated to your local food bank. Make sure the food is in date and anything that’s expired or opened can be recycled in your food and garden bin.
Instead of wrapping fragile items in sheets of bubble wrap, use towels, blankets or clothes to protect them during the move. This zero-waste hack avoids using single-use plastic and it’s free.
Some charities will collect things like bed frames and furniture from you. If the items are damaged or can’t be reused, you can arrange a bulky waste collection with the local council.
