Do's & Don'ts of Moving Out

By Kayleigh Chevrier on April 21, 2015

Me Moving Out
pc: sororitystylista.com

Ah, it’s almost the end of the year! Classes are ending, finals are approaching, and seasons are changing. There is a light at the end of the tunnel! But, if you’re like me and you don’t live on campus during the summer, then you’re also facing the colossal (and completely overwhelming) task of moving out.

I don’t know about you, but whenever I pack a few things in boxes, it seems like more stuff magically fills its once vacant place. I’m surprised I haven’t been submitted to be on the show Hoarders on TLC. When did I accumulate all of these seemingly useless things? How can I move out while still keeping my sanity!? Accumulated by personal experience and my several panicky searches for tips and hints on Yahoo, here are my Do’s and Don’ts of moving out.

1. DO recycle & throw away stuff

Before packing anything away, get rid of loose papers and trash. Have a stray copy of last semester’s lab report? Toss it. Have a folder of this semester’s syllabi? Throw it. Got an old pizza box stored under your bed from last week? Go get cleaning lessons because that is NASTY, and then yes, DEFINITELY purge that from your place. Like my wise mother, master of the arts of cleaning, says, “When in doubt, throw it out”. Works every time.

2. DON’T throw away old clothes

Don’t just toss out old clothes you haven’t worn. Put all the clothes still in relatively good condition into a pile to take to Goodwill. Unless it’s totally nasty and not able to use again, give your old clothes to a local church looking for clothing or drop it off at your local Goodwill. It’s a quick and easy way to give back to your community.

Goodwill Industries
pc: publicbroadcasting.net

 3. DO set a deadline

Give yourself an ample amount of moving time and set a deadline to be finished. Most dorms and apartments give a strict day to be moved out completely. I always set my own deadline a little ahead of their set one, just so I can plan moving time around my daily activities. Moving out in college is hard, especially with studying for finals, finishing final projects, and writing final papers. It’ll be easier to do all those things if you have deadlines for yourself.

4. DO start little by little

Now that you have set a deadline, it’s possible to start moving out little by little. It’s very overwhelming moving everything out at one time. I find it more helpful to box things up little by little. First, pack things you know you won’t use anytime soon. Now that the seasons are changing, pack away all your heavy duty winter clothes, if any. Then pack up your textbooks and get them ready to sell back to the bookstore or to half price books.

5. DON’T leave your place a mess

After you have successfully moved everything out of your dorm/apartment, clean up anything and everything. I know they require you to clean it anyway, but make it a habit for future. You wouldn’t want to move into a place that was left a mess; don’t leave a mess for the next person.

6. DO ask for help

Moving is not a one man job, unless, of course, you’re just so much better at it than I am. For all the really daunting tasks, ask for help. Beg your friends to assist you and offer to buy them coffee, or just do what I do and offer them unconditional friendship. It’s free! Plus, moving is a great memory building activity. If your friends refuse to help you, 1) get new friends and 2) ask your neighbors! They’ll never see you again! Bug them to your heart’s content. But actually buy them a treat as a thank you. I tried the whole “here’s my unconditional friendship” thing with my neighbors—didn’t work.

Iconic
pc: google.com/images

7. DON’T forget to take a picture!

Take a picture of you in your room or in front of your dorm with the sign! It’ll be a nice picture and piece of history to share with your grandchildren. I know I’ll be showing my grand kids the picture of me in my freshman dorm. “And here’s where grandma decided never to live in a dorm with hall bathrooms ever again.”

8. DO Believe in Yourself

Although it seems like so much to do, be comforted knowing that, eventually, you’ll get to it. Believe in yourself and know it’s going to be okay. Moving out is hard, but with good planning and help from friends, it’ll be a memory you’ll never forget.

It’ll be alright
pc: hellogiggles.com

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