Packing tips for moving out after your divorce.
One of the happiest times in a divorce is when you get to pack your clothing and personal belongings into big boxes. Or if you’re broke and can’t afford boxes, you get to pack it all in big green garbage bags. Nothing says “I’m almost homeless” like your underwear spilling out of Hefty trash bags.
So as a public service, I thought I’d share my divorce packing tips.
1. Set time limits. You won’t need more than 2 hours to pack all the belongings you’ve accumulated during the last 18 years. Whatever you do, get in and get out before your ex spouse returns. And try not to cry all over the boxes, it weakens the cardboard.
2. Find Your Own Packing Style. Here’s mine. Open your closet door. Take a broom and dustpan and shovel everything off the floor into the nearest box. When that box is full, get another and repeat until your side of the closet is empty.
There are two methods for packing drawers. One, remove the drawer, turn it upside down and dump contents into waiting box. I prefer the “gatherer” method. Open the drawer, gather as many sweaters and/or underwear you can wrap your arms around, pivot, and empty into box. (Just pretend you are snapping up 75% off bargains at a Banana Republic sale and you can move fast.)
3. Bring a friend. She can keep a lookout for your ex. And she can make you put down the wedding album you’re cradling. She can also let you know when there are no neighbors walking their dogs and it’s safe to load the car. No one wants to make chittychat with the neighbors while holding a garbage bag full of their bras.
I hope that you find packing boxes of your own meaningless junk as craptastic as I did.
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