Moving Time? Try These Helpful Tips
Changing residences can be an intensely stressful activity for many people. And often enough, people do this when other things are stressing them out, too. A new job, marriage, divorce, an ill parent - all kinds of things can cause a move to be even more stressful.
While you may not be able to eliminate it, here are some ways to reduce this stress.
* Get a good dolly and a little red wagon (or wheel barrow). The wheel is considered one of the most important inventions of all time for a reason. It's a good tool! Wheels make hauling easier. It'll save your back and your weight bearing joints. If you're no longer 18 and you feel things in your joints that you never did before, wheels are essential!
* Lighten the Load - or - Fall in love with your trash can.
There is nothing like a fresh start. And you can more easily get that fresh start by getting rid of things you don't need and/or that you'll never use.
If you are living in a house and have the space for it, I recommend getting a big ol' dumpster and arrange for it to be hauled away when full. Get a good size one. We got one big enough to throw out a couch and an old, useless, desk. And we didn't have to break them up into pieces either. Just lift over the edge and throw it in. Ahhhh.... :)
* Go through your stuff and ruthlessly toss anything that you don't think you'll ever use. Sure, the packrat in you worries that just after you toss it, you'll need it. I understand. Really. But if you're honest with yourself, you know that there's stuff that you'd call a four letter word (that I could use were this not aimed at being family friendly).
And don't sweat it - that dumpster is begging for more stuff.
* Standardize your boxes to make them stackable. Go to a box store (e.g., U-Haul) and buy a bunch of their 16" x 12" x 12" boxes. If you're old enough to have a vinyl record collection, this box size is just about perfect. Consider some of their larger boxes, too, for things like dishes, toys and other things you have. Just remember, if it's a big box and you fully stuff it, it's going to weigh a lot more than a smaller box similarly stuffed. Where's that dolly?
* Get wardrobe boxes, too. Makes storing your clothes a lot easier.
* Plan for a packing day. Especially for your dishes and stemware. If you have friends who can help you pack - invite them in for a pizza party to help you do this tedious and sometimes back hurting work. And, need I say it? Keep that dolly handy.
Be sure to wrap your dishes in something soft (we use big bath towels).
* Mark your closed boxes with the following information.
1 - The room it goes in 2 - Write the number of the box, followed by the word "of" as in "1 of ", "2 of " etc. Once you know the number of boxes for a given room, you can write that number after the "of." As in "1 of 9", "2 of 9", etc. 3 - Indicate if the contents are fragile.
* If you've hired movers, DO NOT let them move things like your computer or things that are irreplaceable if damaged. Move these yourself. You'll take much better care of them than the movers will - even if you mark a box fragile for them.
* If it's a big move, offer to buy the movers lunch. Fast food or pizza will do. They'll love you for it, and will generally take much better care of you. If you have three people, that's about $30 - well spent.
* Finally, be sure to give a good tip ($20 a person is a good minimum) -- if they deserve it. If they were courteous and made a reasonable effort to be good with your stuff, they deserve a tip.
Follow these tips and you should have a much more pleasant move.
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