It is that time of year again: time to go back home and move out of our dorms. Moving out can be incredibly exhausting, especially after finals. It can also be expensive. There are lots of inexpensive ways to pack away your things and to make moving out easier than ever.
First step: Separate your things into three piles
Divide all your things into three separate piles: keep, store for the fall and throw out. The keep pile is about separating things you will need or use at home during the summer. For example, clothes, personal items and shoes. The store for the fall pile could be for things that you will be using for the fall semester. Those items can be stored later at your home or at a storage facility. The throw out pile is obvious; anything that could be considered garbage or has not been used would go in that pile.
Second step: Packing
Pack all your things that you have separated into piles. The items you will need for an inexpensive move are boxes, tape, Ziploc space bags, bubble wrap and a vacuum cleaner. You can find inexpensive cardboard boxes at grocery or hardware stores. All you must do is ask the owner or manager if they have any spare cardboard boxes from stock. These boxes can be used every year you move back and forth from the university to your home. The bubble wrap is to create padding for the items you are placing in the boxes, but you could also use other things as padding, like newspapers or old t-shirts. When I am moving, I use Ziploc space bags to create more room in my suitcase or boxes. You store clothes, towels or bed sheets and vacuum the air from the bag to create more space. If you do not have a suitcase, you could use garbage bags to store your clothes.
Third Step: Throw out
Go around your room and clean it out. Any garbage or dirt can be thrown away in the garbage bags. Clearly separate all your things from your roommates so you do not accidentally throw something of theirs away. Return all your rental books to the university bookstore or sell the ones you purchased to friends or online.
Fourth step: Storing and shipping
Storing your boxes and bags into a car could be difficult. You could hire a UPS, FedEx or a U-Haul to take your things back home. If you do not want to spend your money on a delivery service, spend it on a storage unit. Store the items you will need for next semester either at a friend’s house or a storage facility.
