If you are moving then chances are you are going to need a lot of packaging materials. In order to cut cost you can call your moving company as they usually purchase their packaging materials direct from the source. Make sure that you order a lot of tape, boxes, labels and all the necessities.
If you are concerned about all that going to waste, there are environment friendly manufacturers who make “green” boxes. These are made from recycled materials. Also you can donate or sell your used packaging materials like boxes to ecobox.com. They also sell used boxes so you can cut your moving costs even more.
There are also special packaging materials that you can buy for valuables, oddly shaped furniture, antiques and collectibles. You have to stock up on tissue, cushioning, crates and other packaging materials to protect your valuables.
Stocking up on packaging materials allow you to get an early start on your packing and avoid stress as the big move comes. Start with items you do not normally use. If you have items that can be shipped away earlier, pack them up. This would minimize the things you need to keep track of.
thank's for the interesting advice.
the last time I moved, I gathered all used boxes around my neighborhood and fill them up to max. unfortunately for me, the used boxes gave way/broke down even before the actual moving date so I have to rent industrial plastic crates to save me. These are the ones with open top so there was nothing to cover my things up but it did work in some extent.
moral of the story: used boxes are not moving boxes. they are not sturdy enough to handle your belongings. open-faced plastic crates will only expose your things to breakage and other moving hazards so it is best to stick with the norm and do not experiment too much.