8 Game-Changing Tips for Moving

It's that time of year when new residents are moving across the country, fellows are moving to their new hospitals, and undergraduate students are avoiding the thought of going back to school in a a few more weeks! I recently finished a big move and thought I would share some of things I learned along the way so it might help others! Whether you're moving back to school or moving to your first home, I hope these tips can help :)

1. Use boxes - "Well, duh" you're thinking, but this is actually a great strategy. Boxes are easy to stack on top of each other in the back of a car, pick-up truck, or U-Haul. It will make it way easier on yourself to pack things in boxes that are sealed with packing tape, instead of open boxes or crates, where things can shift or slide out.

2. Pack Smart - In between plates use coffee filters and wrap dish towels around mugs. Use t-shirts, towels, or pillowcases for picture frames, glass, and mirrors. In the truck, use softer items to cushion more fragile items. We moved a nice wood table and used my sleeping bag and some soft weekender bags to make sure it didn't hit the side of the truck while driving.

3. Label EVERYTHING - This seems obvious, but labeling where you want the box as well as what is inside the box is extremely helpful! I had boxes and boxes of kitchen supplies but when we just wanted bowls and silverware for breakfast the next day, it was extremely helpful to only have to open one box! Also, marking "FRAGILE" on fragile boxes will remind you, and anyone helping you, to be extra careful with those boxes to ensure nothing breaks!

4. Get help! - Moving is never fun, so if your budget allows it, have movers help you. This is a great resource -- they will give you quotes based on the amount of time/people you need. Even if you don't book the movers through the website (you can call each moving companies directly), you will have an idea about the price ranges in your area. You can also look at yelp.com for your city to find smaller businesses, as well as college student movers. I used a small business from Yelp that didn't have a website or anything, I just called and got an estimate. At first it seemed a little shady, but  since they had good reviews, I went for it. The movers were extremely professional and affordable, even more so than a big company I ended up using to unload my boxes! Don't feel like you need to go with a big name. If you can't use movers, enlist your friends, roommates, significant others, or family! Remember to treat them to a delicious meal/massages afterwards because anyone who helps you move is a saint! A lot of colleges also have move-in teams to help you once you arrive on campus, so check your school's website for that! If you can't get human help, a rolling chair could do the trick (*insert laugh-crying emoji*)

5. Keep a weekender bag with you - Many people told me to pack an overnight bag with my toiletries, but my genius sister reminded me to pack a bag with toilet paper (GAME CHANGER), soap, towels, PJ's, clothes for the next day, undergarments, toiletries, sheets, and an extra set or 2 of clothes. Once we unloaded everything, returned the U-Haul, bought groceries, ate dinner, and got back to the house, I was not ready to go on a scavenger hunt for all these items. It made the move SO much easier and way less stressful.

6. Make an itinerary - I am overly pretty organized so when it came to the big move, I planned everything. I had a big Word doc with info regarding U-Haul/mover/etc, what times I was meeting the movers, the exact address, their phone numbers, and my reservation number. I also planned out when the U-Haul tank would run out of gas and used GasBuddy.com to find cheap gas stations right near the highway around those mileages. It was super handy because we drove separate cars, so we already had a planned destinations to meet throughout the trip.

7. Have snacks ready to go - Ain't nobody got time for hanger (hungry + anger, it's a real thing) when you're trying to move!! We each packed trail mix, 3 granola bars, an apple, water, sandwiches, and carrots to keep us fueled throughout the day.

8. Leave early - Try to think about traffic and plan your departure and arrival in order to avoid rush hour traffic. The drive will always take longer than you think because of unexpected traffic, bathroom breaks, gas, and eating, so make sure you leave yourself plenty of time!

Do you have any extra tips to add? If so, comment below!

Thanks for reading!