Moving away to college or university can be one of the most trying experiences in a young adult’s life – not to mention the stress it puts on the parents! Those kids aren’t only moving away from home for the first time, leaving family and friends behind and starting a rigorous academic schedule, they’re also trying to condense an entire life’s worth of possessions into one tiny dorm room. It’s enough to make anyone get a little frantic.
It’s easy to get frustrated when faced with all these changes at once. Luckily, we’ve got some handy tips for both parents and students who are dealing with this important life transition:
Make moving to college or university easier and less stressful with these tips:
Start Your Planning Early
You definitely don’t want to wait until the last minute to start packing up. The earlier you begin, the easier this whole moving process will be.
Use the Appropriate Supplies
Grocery store boxes might seem like a good idea at the time, but because they were used to store food, they often carry unwanted little critters along with them. Also be careful about just stuffing everything into large plastic garbage bags – it’s very easy for them to split open and dump all those belongings on the ground.
Learn to Downsize
There’s no need to pack up everything – only the items that are going to be needed most. Mom and Dad won’t mind hanging on to a few things until shared dorms are out of the picture and private apartments are the norm.
Label, Label, Label
The more detailed you are in your labelling, the easier it will be to unpack and put everything in its place.
Stick with Original Boxes
If you have the original boxes for large electronics and fragile items – for example, TVs, desktop computers, gaming systems, mini-fridge – then you’ll want to use those to pack. You should also use special pink anti-static bubble wrap for any electronics.
Shop Around for Moving Supplies
Don’t just use the first moving supply company you find. You’ll often get a better deal by shopping around and comparing prices.
Keep Similar Items in the Same Box
This will help you when unpacking. You’ll be able to prioritize which items are needed most.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
When you buy moving boxes from a moving company, they’ll often times buy back any unused boxes. For the boxes you do use, remember to recycle any corrugated cardboard. You can also ask your moving company if they offer reusable plastic moving boxes. It’s just one small way to help the environment.
Don’t Over Pack
Remember this rule of thumb: The heavier the object, the smaller the box. Books get very heavy, very fast – they should be packed in small boxes. Light, large items like blankets and comforters can go in bigger boxes.
Use the Right Equipment
Using an appliance dolly will not only help you speed up the move into those new dorms, it will also save you some back pain! If you don’t own one, try borrowing or renting one.
