There'’s a theory that bigger is better when it comes to boxes for packing your stuff. Not so. In fact, the reverse is true. You need to keep boxes small and manageable. Those boxes that reams of paper come in (you can get a few from your office) are perfect for packing books, CDs, DVDs, tapes, records (if you’'ve still got them) and other small items. The ones with handles are best.

Check out your local shop and ask them to save the boxes that snacks and chocolates are delivered in. They'’ll need to be reinforced but they'’re a good size as well. For all the mums out there, the Pampers multipack boxes are strong and solid (and they have handles). Finally, book boxes (the smaller ones, of course) from your local bookshop. These are difficult to get hold of but when you use them you can be sure that your stuff won'’t fall out mid-move.

Tape talk
When it comes to tape, the wider the better. Your packing tape should be at least two inches wide and very strong. The brown rolls are best (you’'ll need one for each of the main packers), but masking tape (good for labelling) and Duck tape (strong but expensive) are other alternatives. You can also use the tape to label anything stored in a garbage bag (you'’ll need plenty of those as well – and not just for rubbish).

Getting grounded
Everything you move has to go through your front door, so it makes sense to have your belongings as close to the departure point as possible. That means getting all boxes and items down from the loft/attic (or up from the basement/cellar) before moving day. Most of the stuff in there you don't use every day anyway and can well do without for a few weeks. Put the boxes in a room you can do without for a while (this is usually the dining room as you can eat off trays for a couple of weeks) and stack them three or four high, big boxes at the base, small ones at the top.

Delete the junk
When you'’re moving things out of the loft or basement, use this as an opportunity to clear out anything you haven’'t needed in the last two years. If you don’'t need it, why move it? The same goes for the garage (does anyone keep a car in there?) and for the garden shed. Be ruthless, or you’ll end up with backache for nothing and have to throw it away on the other side. Moving is also a good excuse for ‘losing’ that unwanted gift from five years ago.