Where you can get free moving boxes for Move In day!

1. Where to Get Free Moving Boxes
http://tedrollins.org/ted-rollins/where-to-get-free-moving-boxes/
The new school year will be upon us soon and one of the most commonly asked questions we get
from students is where to get moving boxes for free. We’ve put together a great list of a few of
the best places to look. In our experience most store managers are perfectly willing to set aside a
few boxes, if you ask politely enough. In most cases a friendly phone call will do the trick. We
recommend that you check your boxes thoroughly for bugs and to make sure that they’re clean.
Here are some of the best resources we’ve noted
over the years:
Craigslist.org - A quick search in the free section
(found underneath the “for sale” heading) will
usually offer up a decent list of sources for free
boxes.
Freecycle.org – We love this site! You’ll be
impressed by what you can find here. We
recommend checking frequently for people listing
boxes.
uhaul.com/Exchange/ – U-haul has created a
message board allowing you to search by location
for free boxes in your area!
Liquor stores – Try and ask for boxes with lids. Boxes from a liquor store tend to be small and
sturdy, which is great for smaller, heavier items.
Bookstores – A perfect place to pick up boxes specifically for moving books.
Grocery Stores – Ask them to save their apple boxes for you to pick up. These freebies are
perfect for moving fragile items.
McDonald’s Fry Boxes – These boxes are strong and excellent for hauling heavy items that
require a smaller sized box. Because the original contents of the box are frozen, you won’t have
to worry about the boxes being smelly (or greasy). McDonald’s fry boxes also have a Facebook
page, pointing out alternative uses: http://www.facebook.com/groups/67955942657/
Starbucks – Starbucks boxes range in size, we recommend asking them to hold their larger sized
containers for storing your lighter, bulkier items.
Dollar Stores – They usually have a never ending stream of boxes of every size and shape.
Fed/Ex & Kinkos – Boxes used to ship reams of paper are usually strong, come with a lid, and
are great for stacking.

2. Empty cardboard boxes, whether they were used to move personal belongings or to deliver office
supplies and furniture, are among the easiest items to recycle. You can toss them into the recycle
dumpsters or you can retrofit them into many practical and creative items for the home. We also
recommend listing your no longer needed boxes on sites like “Freecycle.org” and
“uHaul.com/Exchange/”. Remember, you are doing the environment a favor by recycling…
Ted Rollins
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