12 Ways to Make Moving Cheaper and Easier
Text Source: lifehack.org
#EASIER #AND #CHEAPER #MOVING #MAKE #WAYS
12 Ways to Make Moving Cheaper and Easier
I’ve moved dozens of times within 5 cities in 3 different countries on 2 continents. Before I had mastered how to organize everything efficiently, moving was always a real hassle. No matter of my vast nomadic experience I am always surprised that I have way more stuff than I thought! Moving to a new place is like a journey when you let go of your past and start a new life. It encourages become minimalistic and more conscientious about what you actually want and need in your life, especially during this time where meeting a new person is often just one swipe right and buying a new thing is a click.
If spending wasted hours wondering should you throw away these tickets which remind you of your travels, should you keep that dress you used to liked 10 years ago (and other stuff you’re never going to use in the next decade), constantly driving back and forth to the new place because you didn’t prepare things properly, fearing of not being able to find anything for the next two months after moving in, sounds very familiar – my article is for you!
When selecting your helpers for moving, give them enough notice. Don’t procrastinate asking! People will appreciate it (and maybe even show up!) if you give them notice.
If at all possible, try to stagger your move-in day and your move-out day at least 1 week apart to avoid stress. It’s easier if you can go back to your old place and finish up moving / cleaning any leftover little stuff for a few more days after you move.
Magazines are even heavier. Many SMALL boxes with 6-10 books are better than 1 big box with 60 books in it.
Do NOT buy/use cheap packing tape to seal your boxes, unless you enjoy having your pinkie toe smashed by a book that fell out the bottom of the box that was sealed with cheap packing tape. This is not the place to save money.
Some things you may want to write are: (a) Box #, (b) Where the Box is Going (ie. Bedroom, Office, etc.), (c) Contents (ie. Books, Cables, etc. ), (d) Special Handling Instructions (ie. FRAGILE, etc.)
It’s better to rent a moving truck and make one or two trips than to try moving using your buddies pickup truck and making 68 trips. The gas savings alone will pay for the truck rental.
Loading a moving truck usually takes 3-4 times as long as unloading it. Keep that in mind when planning your day, lunch for your helpers, etc.
Have water available in the fridge for your thirsty helpers. People who are dying of thirst make very poor helpers.
If you do solicit help packing your stuff, the fewer people that help you the better. The more people that help out packing, the harder it will be to find something later on. For moving, the more helpers you have the better, but for packing you don’t want too much help or you’ll go insane trying to find things after the move.
8-9am is a good time to start, not noon. It’s MUCH better to move the majority of your big things in one day.
Here’s a quick mental reminder of moving related things that might jog your memory: You’ll need boxes, packing tape, permanent markers, fragile stickers, packing paper for dishes, and some blankets. You’ll need to call the utility companies (cable, telephone, hydro, etc.), house alarm, change your driver’s license address, and notify post office to forward your mail.
Indeed, moving can be a hard physical and mental activity. But don’t forget that when you plan it right, it can be a lot of fun!
The journey to paying down your debt can be challenging in the best of times. It can be even more complicated when you’re balancing the effects of a global recession. Many Americans are facing immediate financial uncertainty from losing their jobs or being underemployed. The economic repercussions of this pandemic recession will be felt for years to come. Although becoming debt-free might not be your top priority during this difficult phase, you should still take steps to maximize your money.
The first on this list of debt consolidation tips is asking your creditors to lower your interest rates. Many borrowers don’t realize they can contact their existing credit card providers at any time to request a lower interest rate.
This often-overlooked tactic is a quick and easy way to reduce your debt burden, and it may result in a permanent or temporary (e.g. 12 months) interest rate reduction.
Creditors are more likely to say “yes” if you have a history of on-time payments or if your credit score has recently increased. Even if that’s not the case, the worst thing your creditor can do is say “no.”
If you aren’t successful in lowering your interest rate, don’t hesitate to ask again after a few months or after receiving lower offers from competitors. Credit card providers can issue reductions at their discretion, but it’s up to you to initiate the request.
High-interest loans and credit cards can prevent you from climbing out of debt. Although you’re …