Moving can be expensive; don’t let moving boxes add more cost to it. Why spend money on something that you can get for free?
Here are some places where you can get free boxes.
1. Your Workplace
Companies often order office supplies such as computers, copy/print paper, etc. Those packages are quite new and clean and are no longer needed.
Tell your office manager or the person at the front desk that you need those boxes for moving. Most time, they will be glad to save those for you or let you know when there are new empty boxes for picking up.
2. Stores
Visit stores in your area and ask whether they have any boxes to give away. We got our boxes from office supply stores, grocery stores, liquor stores, and bookstores.
Don’t be shy; just ask. If they do not have boxes for you at that moment, ask politely when would be the best time of the day to come for boxes.
3. Freecycle
Freecycle is a website where people post free stuff that they offer or want. You can search for posts from people in your local community to see whether there are offers of moving boxes.
You can also join your local Freecycle group and post that you need free moving boxes.
4. Craiglist
Many of us have used Craiglist to find cheap used stuff, but do you know you can get free stuff too?
Find the Free section of Craiglist and search whether anybody is giving away free boxes in your local area.
5. U-Haul Box Exchange
U-Haul’s Customer Connect Box Exchange is another place to search whether someone near you is giving away moving boxes.
6. Yard Sales
Yard sales can be a good source to find great deals on items that would be much more expensive elsewhere. You may also find free moving boxes there. As items are sold, their containers (usually cardboard boxes) are ready to be recycled. Ask the owner whether you can have those boxes.
Here are some websites that I use for finding upcoming yard sales:
7. Schools
I have two school-aged children, so I simply ask the front office of their schools whether they have any boxes. They may have boxes from the school supply shipment.
Just stop by your local schools and it does no harm to ask.
8. Friends
Tell people you are moving and if they have any boxes to give away, let you know. You may even get some other moving supplies.
Are there other places you’ve used to get free moving boxes? Please share your ideas in the comment section.
Check out what other things you can get for free:
BoxGiver is also a great resource for free moving boxes