Moving house
Pack a first-night box for a move
The first-night box holds what you'll need before anything else gets unpacked: easy food, a few tools, chargers, clean bedding and toiletries. Build it around your actual household, including medications, mobility aids and anyone with specific needs, and carry it yourself.
A text to start with
Help me plan a first-night box for two adults and a six-year-old. We're arriving late on [date], the kitchen won't be unpacked, and my partner uses a shower chair. I want simple food that doesn't need cooking, the tools to put our bed frame together, phone chargers, sheets, towels, and my daughter's night light. Tell me what I've missed, and keep the box small enough to fit in our car.
Example request. Change the details to fit your situation.Fitting the box to your household
A generic list misses things like a shower chair, a particular charger, or the comfort item a kid can't sleep without, so compare the suggestions against your own household. Food should need no cooking and no unpacked dishes, which means including a can opener and utensils if the food calls for them. Tools should match what you'll actually assemble that night. Medications travel with you in their original containers, and questions about carrying or storing them go to your pharmacist. Check that the list will fit in the car alongside everything else you're bringing.
Pack it last, carry it yourself
Gather everything on the list in one spot a few days before the move, and pack the box last. Mark it clearly and put it in your own vehicle. If it overflows, reply with what didn't fit and ask which items can wait until the second day.