How to Get Rid of Christmas Presents You Don't Want

'Tis the season for giving and receiving, so get ready to get a bunch of junk you don't want. What a beautiful thing that we reserve a special time of year to come together to celebrate. I love presents, but sometimes the thought is a lot better than the actual gift. We've all received stuff we don't need or want during the holidays. Sometimes disposing of these gifts can be tricky for a variety of unique reasons, but I'm here to help you to get rid of the holiday crap.

Hoard It 

Are you the type of person who has to keep everything!? Fine, then put the useless item in a self storage unit or in your basement to gather dust and never be used again. Or even better yet, let it take up the limited counter space in your home, so every spring cleaning when you dust around it you can remember the poor taste of your dead Aunt Susie.

Make it Into a Toy for Your Pet 

Another set of ugly, seasonal dish towels? I have no idea why people think I need so many dish towels, but I've just started giving them to my dogs to chew on. Don't limit this idea to just dish towels, dogs and cats will play with anything. For cats rub a little cat nip on that ugly sweater, and you may have just received the world's cheapest cat bed.

Pretend to be Buddhist 

Or you can even become Buddhist if you want to go extreme. Say that you want to live with the least among of things possible, so you can truly appreciate the important things in life. Seems like a good excuse as any to get rid of all the bad gifts you received over the year, and not to mention all that other sentimental junk you've been storing in a hidden cardboard box. That is right, I'm the Santa of junk, and I SEE all the clutter you've been keeping around for no apparent reason. Taking up Buddhism is also a good way to get out of any future gift exchanges, secret Santas, etc.

Ask for a Receipt

Why not be the sane person in your family, friend, co-workers to suggest giving the receipts with the gift. Then of course you know who is cheap and who is excessive, but honestly most of us can guess who that is without knowing how much a gift costs. Or you can continue the passive-aggressive pattern of gift-giving where everyone owns excessive amounts of junk they don't want in their homes, because guess what, those who receive your gifts probably don't like them half the time either.

Re-Gift It 

Give some other poor soul that scented candle that says Midnight Tangerine, but really just smells like a retirement home. It will save you some money and clutter.

Donate It 

Some people actually need the sweaters, candles, CDs, etc. that us fortunate folk take for granted. Stop by Good Will or wherever, and your unwanted items will make someone's day. After exploiting the holiday bar tab at the company Christmas party, you are need all the good karma you can get.

Sell It on E-Bay or Craigslist 

Who couldn't use a little extra doe? I recommend waiting a little while after Christmas, because everyone will be on there trying to sell the gifts they don't want the day after Christmas. By spring though people will be desperate again for your second-hand goods for great prices.

Throw It Away 

If the item is old, gross, well-used or just useless, just throw it away. Or maybe you just feel no good will towards man kind, and would rather contribute to the world's land fill than do anything good for society. No shame in that, we've all been there- especially after having to hear your drunk, republican uncle rant over the annual family Christmas gathering.

Happy Holidays!

How to Get Your House Ready to Sell without Spending a Dime

Putting your house on the market can be a nerve wrecking experience. It seems like the list of things that need to be done is endless, and it can be hard to know where to start. Here are some of the things that should be done before your sell that don't cost any money, but really can make all the difference on the appearance of the property. Not everyone has the money or time to dedicate to making a home like brand new before moving out of it, so don't feel bad if these are all the things you can afford to do right now. Instead take joy in the fact these little, free steps will indeed help you sell your homes. 


Make Your Yard Sparkle

• Keep the lawn mowed, edged and cut on a regular basis. Also, water any brown spots if needed. 
• Prune branches of trees and shrubs that make the yard appear in disarray. 
• Remove all weeds from flowerbeds and the lawn. 
• Clear any fallen branches, small sticks and ugly rocks off the lawn. 
• If there is snow and ice, make sure to clear it from your driveway, sidewalks and walkways. Do a thorough job, because a half-cleared walkway is ugly and dangerous. If you have a walkout porch, it is probably a good idea to at least partially clear it off in case the buyer wants to check it out. 
• If you have a shed or any other outdoor storage space, make sure to organize everything in it. Buyers do peek in storage spaces, and finding a messy one can be alarming. This includes trying to clear out any critters or spiders that may be hanging out in there.  
• Make sure your welcome mat looks welcoming. Clean it by beating it or rinsing it.
• Sweep decks, porches and all other surfaces. Make sure to dispose of the leaves, lawn trimmings, etc. 
• If you have a bird feeder and/or bird bath, make sure they are kept fresh and clean. 
• Make sure any children's toys are neatly put away and organized. If there are old, unused children's toys in the yard consider disposing or donating them. 

Make the Inside Seem as Vacant as Possible 

• De-clutter everything. The more empty a house seems, the easier it is for buyers to envision themselves living inside of it in the future. 
• Pack-up anything you do not need like knickknacks, books, toys, small kitchen appliances, etc. 
• Thoroughly clean everything. Make sure you dust, scrub, vacuum everywhere physically possible. 
• Regularly re-clean areas that are high traffic. 
• Keep bathrooms extremely clean. If you know someone is going to come view the house, it is a good idea to give each bathroom a quick scrub before they come. No one wants to look at a stinky and/or dirty bathroom.
• If the weather is nice, air out the house whenever possible. This keeps the house fresh smelling.  
• Make sure all your window curtains and blinds are neatly arranged.
• Bleach everything. Well, not everything, but all tiles, sinks, bathrooms, etc. This will help things have an extra shiny appearance, and it helps get rid of odors. 
• Shine all water fixtures. A little extra elbow grease to make metal faucets shine really can make a bathroom look like new. 
• Organize closets, shelves, drawers, cabinets, etc. People looking at your home will more than likely take a peak in your private storage spaces. Make sure that when they look where they have no business looking  that they will be pleasantly surprised how organized you can be. 

Don't Forget the Unfinished Attic, Basement and/or Garage 

• Do not neglect cleaning, organizing and primping unfinished spaces. 
• For the garage, empty everything out then hose down the floor. 
• When you put everything back in the garage organize and condense as much as possible. 
• Make sure to clean off any dirty shelves. 
• Throw away anything you don't need in the garage, attic and basement. 
• Clean and dust everything thoroughly. 
• If you find any mice nests or droppings, dispose of the evidence. 
• Consider parking your car out in the street if you have a garage if at all possible. This lets the buy more thoroughly view how much space the garage offers. 
• If you store any boxes, furniture, etc in the basement or attic, try to make sure this storage is condensed all into one area. 

Consider Renting a Cheap Self Storage Unit 

• Alright, we know that renting a storage unit is not free, but you can get self storage units cheap if you shop around. 
• The great thing about renting self storage during a move is that you can store all of your extra stuff in the unit, so that buyers can view your home more effectively. 
• It will also save you time when it comes time for moving day, because most extra items will already be packed and ready to move. 
• Temporary self storage is actually quite cheap for how much it contributes to the move, so make sure to price around before counting  it out as a viable option. 

8 Tips to Make Combining Households a Little Bit Easier

Merging two households can make moving even more complicated than it already it is in the first place. Newlyweds, partners, children, pets and whoever is involved will need to do some planning ahead to make the combining of two households a little less stressful. Here are some basic pointers on how to make moving into together easier to manage. 

1. Duplicate Items

There is really no reason reason to have two of most items, so each person is going to have to donate, throw away or sell some of their items. Sitting down to discuss which items will make it to the new house and which will be left behind before the move will save you a lot of clutter and stress later when you are trying to settle in. Maybe you don't need to sit-down to discuss small items like whose spatulas you are keeping, but deciding on bigger items will save you a lot of sweat, money and time if you handle them first. So decide whose television, furniture, desks, etc. will make it to the new house before you actually move it to the new home.

2. Be Prepared to Get Rid of Stuff

Chances are if you are combining two households, you are not going to have room for everyone's items. Beforehand you should prepare yourself to let go of some items by tossing, donating or selling them. Both partners should make a list of items beforehand that they don't mind getting rid of when moving into the new home. Also, make a list of items that you would really want to keep. Compare the lists then figure out what other items each of you may need to discard.

3. Consider Getting a Self Storage Unit 

If one or both of you are apprehensive about tossing items, especially larger and expensive ones, you can consider renting a self storage unit. Look, I understand not wanting to end up without any worldly items in case this whole moving in thing together doesn't work out. Make sure that your partner gets that too, even if it is uncomfortable explaining it.
Even without apprehensions, self storage is a cheap way to deal with any extra stuff you guys aren't sure to do with yet. For those who are doing all the work last minute, you can put extra items in self storage then figure everything out later at a more leisurely time.

5. Decide if One or Both of You is Going to Hire a Mover 

Sometimes one partner is more of a do it yourself type of person, while the other prefers the luxury of letting others do the heavy lifting. When these two type of people collide, it can cause some conflicts in the moving in process. Beforehand it is good to communicate if you are going to hire a mover or not. Remember that just because one person wants to do the moving themselves, doesn't mean the other person can't hire a mover to move their stuff.

5. Lay Out the Rooms Before You Move In

This is an important step for any move, but it is especially important for partners moving in together for the first time. Decide before you move in what purposes each room will serve. There is nothing worse than moving in only to discover your study is actually going to be his man cave. Make sure each person has enough designated space to continue to enjoy the things they like, but with smaller spaces remember this may require compromising on sharing spaces.

6. Utility Companies

Beforehand you both will need to decide what utilities you do and do not want. Also, you may need to negotiate exactly which companies you plan on using. Remember call the utility companies at both of your old places to turn off the utilities on the date you move.

7. Budgeting

Make sure before you move in that you discuss all the details of finances. Creating a financial plan will make sure everyone knows how much they are supposed to contributed when it comes time to pay bills, rent, etc. This will help you stay on budget to keep up with your bills, and it will avoid future fights. You also may want to start thinking about setting aside some extra money to get a vacation after all the hard work of the move!

8. Communicate

Like in all aspects of relationships, a little bit of communication makes things run smoother. You are moving in together, so talking to each other about serious topics shouldn't be a complete mystery. Make sure that you set aside plenty of time to talk about the boring, exciting and stressful aspects of moving. Before you know it this whole moving ordeal will be over, and you will being starting a new part of your lives together. 

4 Ways Self Storage Units Can Save You Money

Save Money on Self Storage 

Homeowners and business owners can save a lot of money by opting to rent a storage unit. Here are some ways, that may or may not surprise you, on how self storage units can save you money in the long-run. Let us know any additional ways self storage save you, a friend or family money in the comment box below. 

1. Saving Space 

Renting out a storage unit is a lot cheaper than renting a larger house, apartment or commercial space. For those who have extra stuff with little space, it is a great option to just get a self storage unit. This also increases the amount of commercial or residential space available to the person, so they have more room for more vital or profitable items.  

2. Reducing Damage on Items 

Harsh weather conditions can make storing items in sheds, basements or non-protected areas a not-so-good option. Even in temperate climates damage is done to items not placed in a secure area. Climate controlled self-storage units allows businesses and homeowners to store their items in safe conditions, so they don't have to end up replacing items they are storing. Not all self storage unit are climate controlled, so make sure if you want a self storage unit with climate control to ask for one. 

3. Preventing Theft and Damage Risk 

Many storage centers offer security and insurance options that ensure the safety of your stored items. This helps out people in two different ways. For one, the owner of the property is less likely to have their goods stolen or damaged. Secondly, storing high-value items in a storage center reduces the insurance costs for the items. 

4.  Reduce Moving Costs

When it comes time to re-locate storage units can save homeowners and business owners a ton of money. You can gradually move all items to the new location instead of hiring an expensive service to do it all at once. It also allows you to scope out the new area for the best deals on real estate.

4 Creative Home Storage Methods

Do you feel like your home is cluttered? Before you go out and get a self storage unit or a dumpster, consider these creative methods to more efficiently make use of the space you already have. You'll be surprised how much space you can save in your home when you think outside of the box.

1. Our plugged in lives inevitably lead to a lot of cables all over the place. Make sure in all parts of your home you neatly organize cables. Using velcro straps, like the ones in the picture above, you can reduce the floor space that cables take up below desks. This means you clear up floor space to place shelves, cabinets or boxes.

2. This classic trick is made with simple materials. You super glue the top of a jar to the bottom of a table then fill the jars with tools, spices, whatever. When you need the item just unscrew the jar to gain access.

3. Who says curtains have to just be decorative? Using shower hooks you can attach organizers onto your curtain poles. You can put shoes, supplies, toys or anything you want in this extra space.

4. I've got to admit I'm a bit of a book hoarder, so this one seemed like a genius idea to me. Get bookshelves that have an open back then you can turn them out towards your room. This also serves as a good barrier if you want to have a sense of divided space between certain rooms. 

5 Easy Tips to Pack for Self Storage Efficiently

We have all seen or at least heard of storage units that are an absolute mess. What we don't consider is actually how long it takes to sort out that mess when it comes time to remove things from self storage. What is even worse is if there is something you need to get out of self storage. Packing your self storage unit so that it is organized will save you loads of time in the future. Here are some quick and easy tips that will help plan and organize your items when you plan to move them into self storage.

Step 1: Know what you are going to store. 

Before you even move anything is when the process of self storage begins. You need to go through your items to figure out exactly what you are going to put in storage. Make an inventory of all items you want to store. If you have a bunch of smaller items you want to store try to generalize it all in one group..

Step 2: Organize Your Inventory 

Once you have created an inventory of all the items you are going to put into storage, you can start thinking about where all of these items should be placed in the storage unit. After you've organized your inventory, you can start to draw a picture of roughly where you want items to go in the storage unit. In the picture you may want to consider if you want to create a walkway or two, so that you can more easily get to items packed in the back of the unit.

• List what items you will need access to and plan to put them towards the front of the storage unit.
• On the other end of the spectrum, list the items you won't need regular access to. 
• List items that will be boxed and stacked. 
• List the heavier items that will go on the bottom of the storage.

Step 3: Figure out the Size of Storage Unit You Need  

Now that you already have an inventory of your items, it is pretty easy to figure out what size storage unit you need. You can do this one of two ways: ask a storage unit manager or figure it out yourself. Show the storage unit manager your list of items, and they can pretty accurately guess what size storage unit you need. As far as doing it yourself goes, there are many different online tools, like for example, this one, that can assist you in finding out the approximate size of storage unit you need. I personally recommending doing both to get the best estimate. I always err on side of caution by choosing a larger storage unit to avoid having to switch storage units after figuring out that the one selected is too small. And a dirty little secret of the storage industry is sometimes they will charge you extra if you need to switch to a larger unit. 

Step 4: When Packing Label Everything Very Specifically 

First off, everything you can get into a box, do it. Items left exposed in self storage can get dusty, or even worse, moldy. After that you will need to carefully label each box with the items in it. Be specific as you are willing to make yourself be, because there is nothing worse than searching through a ton of boxes to find one specific item. For example, if you are putting several boxes of paperwork in storage, make sure you sort of  label what type of paperwork, ie tax returns, invoices, are in the box. It may seem a little anal now, but trust me, if you need to find a specific item you will be thanking me.

Step 5: Take Your Time Filling in the Storage Unit 

There is nothing worse than rushing through and throwing everything in your storage unit. Make sure you set aside a large amount of time to get your storage unit filled and organized. You already have a rough plan of where items should go, so try to stick to it as much as possible. Just remember by taking time to organize everything from the get-go, you are making it faster to empty the storage unit and find items if needed.

How to Welcome a New Neighbor (and Possibly Make a New Friend)

Moving really is no fun at all. Most people can relate to how unpleasant any move can be. So next time when you see a new neighbor moving in perhaps you can give them a friendly hand. Sometimes just going over to say "hi, welcome to the neighborhood" can be enough to make the person feel less alienated in their new home. If you want to go the extra mile to make your new neighbor feel welcome, the following items can really help a person who is new in the neighborhood out. Who knows, you may even make a new friend if you are looking for new contacts in the area.

Emergency Card

One way to help a neighbor out is by creating a list of all the must-know numbers we all need. Numbers to the fire department, police, animal control, local pizza place, etc. You can even put your neighbor on there as a friendly reminder that you are available. 

Gift Card

When most people move, they are going to be spending at least a couple meals ordering a carry out. If you don't want to make them a meal yourself then you can just get them a gift card to a restaurant in the area. This can also be a good chance to support any local businesses in the areas that offer gift cards. 

Play-Date or Babysitting? 

Moving when you have kids can be a real big challenge. If you have kids, it can be a great idea to offer a play date or to baby-sit for even just a couple hours. Finding distractions for kids can be a challenge while moving, so just about any parent would appreciate a little break from their little one when they are unpacking. Don't be offended if they say no, some people are weird about allowing "strangers" watch their kids. 

Invite Over for Dinner 

If you really want to make someone welcome, why not welcome them into your own home? This can give you a chance to get to know your neighbors. This also gives the new neighbors a fun social distraction and a free meal, and that is something most of us would appreciate when going through the atrocities of a move. 

Baked Goods 

Yummy snacks of any sorts can be a good option as a gift. Fruit or baked goods are especially a good idea to help your neighbor out. Most people don't care if the baked goods are from your kitchen or the local bakery, so if you suck at baking or don't have time, buying something can be a great option.  

Should I Rent a Steam Cleaner or Just Buy a Steam Cleaner?

Pets, kids and spouses can all do some serious damage to carpets. Whether you are getting ready to move out or just want your home to look clean again, steam cleaning is an effective way to make your carpet look almost like new. You might even get used to this whole having your carpet look clean thing. This is when you may start to wonder what are the benefits of buying versus just renting.

I'm going to go through some of the pros and cons of buying a steam cleaner versus owning a steam cleaner. I have person experience renting and buying steam cleanings, but I eventually opted to buy a steam cleaner for my home after renting one a couple times. At the bottom of the page you can check out different types of steam cleaners to consider for purchase. 

Pros of Renting a Steam Cleaner 

• It usually only costs around 30 bucks to rent a steam cleaner for the day. There are lots of different locations that you can rent steam cleaners from including Rug Doctor, Home Depot, Lowe's and various moving companies. I highly recommend Rug Doctor, because they usually have a plethora of convenient locations in most areas.  
• If you have extremely messy carpets this is usually the way to go, because when you rent a steam cleaner you get a professional grade quality steam cleaner. This means that any tough stains you have will actually come up. You can actually buy a professional grade steam cleaner, but it will cost you around 500 dollars when you include tax. 
• You don't have to worry about repairs or replacement parts. All appliances eventually break, steam cleaners are no exception. 
• If you only plan on using the steam cleaner once, there is no real reason to buy one.

Cons of Renting a Steam Cleaner 

• Picking up and dropping of a steam cleaner can be a pain. Between gas, squeezing it in your vehicle and time spent, sometimes it is just better to cut your losses and buy one. 
• If new stains up you have to go rent a steam cleaner again. For people who want to keep their carpets looking new and stain free after they give it a deep cleaning, this can be a deal breaker. 
• For those wanting to give their carpets a deep clean more than once a year you'll end up spending about half of what it costs to get a low grade steam cleaner.

Pros of Buying a Steam Cleaner 

• It is available for you whenever you want it. Next time the cat, kids or whoever makes a mess, you can easily get rid of the stain. 
• If you give your carpets a deep clean once or twice a year, it keeps your carpets looking fairly new. This can be great news for people who may plan on selling soon, or if you simply don't want to play for replacement carpets for a long time. 
• Cleaning your carpet regularly is great for people with allergies. I personally have mild cat allergies and three cats. Deep cleaning the carpets is one of the many ways I can actually keep the allergies at bay. 
• You don't have to pick up or drop of the steam cleaner ever again. 
• You can lend the steam cleaner to your friends, family or neighbors as a favor. 

Cons of Buying a Steam Cleaner 

• Buying a really cheap steam cleaner will just not work as well. You may find that your purchase is a waste since it won't get out the tough stains. 
• It can be a high up front cost to get a good steam cleaner. It can be tempting to invest that money in other parts of your home. 
• Steam cleaners do eventually break. The cost of repairs and replacement parts can quickly add up. 
• If you end up never using the steam cleaner despite all your plans for clean carpets it can end up being a waste of money. Make sure to set up a schedule to deep clean the carpets, so your steam cleaner doesn't gather moth balls in the closet. 

Different Steam Cleaners for Your Consideration

Below are pictures of different types of steam cleaners for you consideration. Left click on the picture to get details about the different products.

The Dissel Upright Cleaner is a great option for people who have lots of semi-tough stains they want to address in their home. Dissel offers lots of different upgrades and versions, but this one costs a reasonable $169.99 at Best Buy.

The Portable Deep Cleaner is a great option for people who only have a couple of tough stains they want to address. This is also a great option if you want to clean out any stains in your car. You can find it at Best Buy for just $149.99.

The Rug Doctor is a professional grade cleaner that you would actually rent from most Rug Doctor locations. If you want a serious cleaner for some serious messes this is your steam cleaner, but it comes in steep at $400 for Lowe's.

Tips on How to Dress for Moving Day

When it comes time to move the stress may make you want to put on your pajamas and take a long nap till this ordeal is over. Unfortunately, as the responsible grown-ups in the situation some manual labor is more than likely going to be involved (unless you hire movers to handle every last thing). Even with movers, more than likely you are probably going to end up with at least some work.

The best way to get prepared for the job is dressing properly for it.  The following are some tips on the what to wear if you are moving. We also picked out an outfit for the guys and gals at the bottom of the page in case you don't have anything proper to wear for moving day.

1. Wear jeans. It is a good idea, especially if you are moving heavier items, to wear pants with heavy duty material like jeans. The material of a good pair of jeans avoids rips in the pants, getting caught on items and sustaining scrapes on your legs. Make sure it is a pair of jeans that give you full mobility for bending over and navigating. So skip any skinny or stretch jeans for moves unless you want everyone looking at your butt crack all day long.

2. The shirt. When choosing a shirt make sure that you fit one that is not too snug or too loose. You want to be able to comfortably move around, but you don't want excess material to get stuck on any furniture, boxes, etc. Ideally also skip any buttons or pockets which can just create problems by pressing uncomfortably against your skin or getting caught on different items.

3. The weather. When you move it is important to check the forecast. Dress for whatever the weather may be, but make sure to keep in mind that all of the physical activity will warm you up. Maybe keep a jacket handy for when you start to cool down after hitting the road.

4. Boots. Make sure to have a sturdy pair of shoes to wear for the move, but work boots are highly preferable. Work boots give you traction to make sure you don't slip. They also protect your feet if anything gets dropped on your foot. This also will help you avoid any rolled ankles which can make moving worse than it is already.

5. A baseball cap or hat. During a move a hate is an invaluable resource. It keeps your hair tamed (if you still have any after the stress of the move). A hat also will catch any sweat that may roll down your forehead. There is nothing worse than trying to move some furniture while sweat stings your eyes.

6. Gloves. Cardboard is especially rough on the hands. Lifting heavy objects can also cause really painful blisters. Make sure to protect your hands with some work gloves.

Moving Day Outfits 

The following are shortcuts to any of the accessories you may need for moving day. For details on the product left click on the pictures.

For the Ladies:

For the fellas:

10 Ways Movers Calculate Bids

When you are pricing around the cost of a move with different moving companies, it may come as a surprise the large differences in bids. No two moving companies have the same exact formula, but it can come in handy to know exactly what the moving company employees are considering when giving you an estimate. The following are the main things movers consider when calculating bids for different moves. 

1. Distance: How far away you are moving will be a large part of determining the cost of your move. Some companies charge by the mile while others give a flat rate for moves in the area. This cost is especially vital if you plan on moving a long distance.

2. Time:  Most movers can estimate about how a long a move will take, because they move stuff everyday. How the moving company charges for the amount of time a move will take varies largely between houses. Some moving companies charge by the hour, some charge by the day. To cut down on this cost you can have everything packed and ready, because the less time they spend the lower the cost.

3. Weight: This is where moving companies will try to add on additional fees. Some moving companies will look at your items then give you a low estimate on the weight of your items, so they get your business by giving you a low bid. When they get the items on the truck and weigh them they will add on fees. To avoid this unexpected cost make the company give you a binding agreement on the original quote at least for the charge of weight of your items.

4. Access: If either your old or new residence is not easily accessed due to no parking, narrow streets or long hanging branches, most moving companies will charge you more. The charge is due to the extra labor from shuttling all of your items a greater distance from the home to the truck.

5. Don't be a Jerk: Like most things in life, a good attitude will get you a long way. The chances are if you rude or unpleasant to employees of moving companies, they may just round up your bid or add on extra fees. Movers are used to dealing with stressed out and crazy people during the move, but they figure if you are crazy even before the move has begun you'll more than likely go nuts on moving day.  

6. Lots of Delicate Items: If you have a lot of breakable and delicate items with specific instructions, the movers charge for the extra time it'll take to pack and move these items. You can pack up your delicate items yourself to lower the cost charged by the movers. It is surprisingly easy to package art, electronics and the like when you get the right supplies to do so.

7. Uncertainty: Make sure that you let movers what you will expect them to do or not to do. If you seem a bit wishy-washy about what will be pack and what will not be packed, they are going to add on extra just in case they end up with a lot of extra work.

8. The Season: If you move during peak moving season during the summer, the movers will just charge more. The reason for this is they usually have more business than they can actually handle. Moving off season is a great way to get a lower bid, because the moving companies usually get a little more desperate for business.

9. Holidays: It is understandable to want to move on a holiday, but movers are people too. If they have to skip their celebration with their families and friends, they are going to want to get a little bonus working on a holiday. Wouldn't you?

10. Ask questions: Make sure that you know what you are and are not paying for on the bid. Get the company to give you a detailed list of how the estimate is broken down. If you have any questions do not hesitate to ask. Being thorough in your understanding of the cost can save you a lot of time, money and trouble in the future.

3 Ways PODS are Great for People that are Moving

Moving is a tedious process for anyone, but it doesn’t have to be that way. While most people simply use PODS to store belongings that they don’t need, there is much more that can be done through PODS. In fact, it’s the premiere choice for many people that are on the move because it can be a one stop solution to all of their needs. Here are 3 facts that you didn’t know about how PODS can help you move.

1. PODS Will Move for You

Whether you are a residential or business mover, you can use PODS to get your belongings from one location to the next. You can move across the town or the entire country with PODS, and you can unload at your own pace because the units will be stored for you. When you move with PODS, you simply pick the unit you want, fill it up, and then send it back with moving directions. After that, all you have to do is travel to your home. This also frees up people so that you don’t need multiple drivers or have to make return trips. Don’t spend all of your time worrying about how your things are doing or opening yourself up to a moving horror story. Drive across the country and enjoy the sights or fly to where you will be staying and take the stress out of moving. Why use a moving company when you can get everything done at once with PODS?

2. Choose to Pack Your POD (or not)

One of the biggest headaches with moving is not the actual moving process, but getting everything packed up. It takes a lot of time and energy to pack everything up and keep it organized. While you have the option to pack everything yourself, PODS gives you another alternative by partnering with a variety of packing and loading services. This gives you the freedom to let others safely pack your items in a fast and professional manner. Regardless of if you don’t have the time, manpower, or confidence that you can pack up everything in time, you’ll be able to mark one more thing off your list by getting it all done with PODS.

3. PODS has Moving Supplies

If you do choose to pack up your things yourself, PODS can still help you. PODS actually sells moving supplies for you to use. You can shop for boxes, tie downs, bubble wrap, tape, and even mattress bags. If you need to pack it, PODS can give you the tools to get it done safely. What’s even better is the fact that many of these supplies can be purchased in kits, providing you with the right number of supplies to pack everything and not have to figure out how many boxes you will need. Because PODS specializes in the safe storage of people’s personal belongings, you can rest assured that you are getting the highest quality products for the jobs. Best of all, PODS provides free shipping and next day delivery for all orders.

Tip: Save up to $100 by using a Pods promo code when you reserve your unit. Find the latest at podspromocode.tumblr.com.

How to Move Artwork

Moving artwork is a task that requires close attention to small details. Any mistake in the moving process can lead to permanently damaged artwork, and unlike other items, valuable artwork can't be as easily replaced or replaced at all. It may be a good idea to consider hiring movers to relocate artwork, or if the artwork is extremely valuable to hire a moving company that specializes in just moving art. Moving companies and art packing specialists both have the extra materials and experience needed to thoroughly pack your artwork.

If you don't want to bother with a mover or simply can't afford it, you can pack the artwork yourself. It will just take some time and attention to complete the process effectively. Before you know it you'll be hanging up your treasured items up in their spots in your new home. The following tips will help you pack your artwork to ship to its next destination.

Tips for Packing Framed Paintings 

• To pack framed artwork you'll need to get strong packing boxes. There are boxes available on market that are made just for mirrors and framed paintings, so it should not be difficult to find this item. 
• You will also need bubble wrap, masking tape and lots of newspaper, tissue paper, linens or any other items that could work as cushioning. 
• If you painting is covered in glass, you will need to secure the glass to ensure it doesn't break. You can do this by using the masking tape to make an 'x' across the front of the painting. This will avoid the glass from sliding around during the move. 
• You will need to wrap your artwork by using bubble wrap. Make sure every corner is thoroughly covered with bubble wrap. 
• Secure the bubble wrap with masking tape. 
• In order to provide cushion for the painting in the box first put down extra filler on the bottoms of the box. Then put in the painting. 
• Next fill any extra space in the box with filler. 
• After you close the box tape all of the edges to make the box extra secure for moving. 

Tips for Moving Unframed Paintings 

• You will need flat pieces of cardboard, paper, masking tape and corrugated cardboard.  
• It is best not to roll fine art work. There is chance the corners could get bent. The artwork also could get creased permanently damaging the image.
• With paper create triangles that will fit around corners of cardboard.  
• Place painting artwork between two piece of cardboard that covers the entire artwork. 
• Tape triangles onto all four corners of the cardboard. 
• Tape all four sides of the cardboard. 
• Place between two pieces of corrugated cardboard then tape the corrugated cardboard together. If corrugated cardboard is not available, you can use a mirror box instead. 

Tips for Transporting Artwork 

• Make sure to have this side up arrows and fragile marked on all boxes containing artwork. 
• Never lay artwork flat with the image exposed. This could easily lead to damage if heavy objects are placed on top.
• Supervise and instruct movers when they are moving the artwork. 
• If you are moving yourself, make sure to place painting in a safe place. Shielding the boxes with artworks behind a mattress or cushions is a safe method.  

Packing and Unpacking Services

Are you sick of packing? Have you not even got started packing yet? Do you just have no time to pack? When you are moving or considering putting stuff in self storage, there is a great option to avoid some or all of the packing that needs to be done. These miracle workers called unpacking and packing services will actually do all of the work for you.

These type of services will come in and pack and unpack all of your items in your house. Even if you have packed some of your stuff, they will still come do a partial pack of what is left. What is even better at the end of the move they'll unpack and organize everything for you, if you so desire. Good services will know how to organize your house probably even better than you do, this is what they do for a living after all.

The cost of this service varies from company to company, but most charge hourly for the service. Most good companies will give you an in-home estimate to give you an idea of how much it will exactly cost to hire the packing service. It is a good idea to price around and research different packing and unpacking services to choose the best one for your move. Just as a tip: you can minimize the price by actually doing some of the packing yourself.

If you can afford it, I highly recommend these services to save some of the head ache of moving. It is a great option for people who just can't take the time off work to pack and unpack everything. Or for people just don't want to deal with trauma of moving at all.

Happy moving!

Packing and Unpacking Services Can Take Some of the Stress Out of Moving! 

Are We Heading for Another Housing Bubble?

The U.S. housing market increased 18.4 percent from March 2012 to July 2013 according to this article from the New York Times. I highly recommend reading the article to gain some insight into housing market trends in the United States. If you don't have time, here are the main points of the article:

• When corrected for inflation, all house values eventually go down over time.
• Despite things like limited land, the aging of a houses almost always leads to a drop in value. Who is going to want a 30 year old house when they can get a new house from the development down the road?
• Real-Estate is not always the best investment for long-term holders.
• The type of thinking that housing is the best investment is ultimately what leads to the housing market bubbles. 
• Conditions of rapidly increasing home values like we are seeing now are similar to the previous housing bubble in 2008. This could or could not lead to another housing bubble.  

When deciding whether to move or not, many people look to the housing market to decide if it is a good to move onto something else. Since the market is on the rise now, it may be a good idea to sell and call the moving company before the bubble bursts again. This true especially if your house is around the ten-fifteen year old mark, because if the bubble burst your house is going to be older with more problems. It also will become outdated as new houses designed in different styles begin to enter your area.  

It is important to put this on all in perspective though. Frequently, economist predictions more often than not are actually wrong even though they are supposed to be the experts. It is just too hard to forecast all of the factors that contribute to our markets even if it is your job. Ultimately you should do what is best for you and your family. There is nothing wrong with getting while the getting is good by trying to sell your home when the market is up. 

Predicting the economy is sort of like trying to finish a jigsaw puzzle when a lot of the pieces are missing. 

  

What size self storage unit do I need?

"What size self storage unit do I need?" is the most frequently asked question that self storage companies receive from customers. I wan to level with you, some self storage owners may stretch the truth about the size you actually need for all of your problems, because obviously the self storage business profits more from you if you rent a larger unit. Also, some owners want to avoid suggesting too small of a unit, because if a customer needs to switch units they will not be happy with the recommendation.

Do not give up hope for picking out the correct sized self storage unit yet! The best way figure out what self storage unit you need is to do it yourself. There are three ways to approach this problem. I highly recommend number one over the other two options.

1. Do the math yourself! 

The most accurate way to get an estimate for self storage unit size unfortunately involves a little bit of math, but don't worry it isn't too difficult. All you need to know how to do is add and multiply to figure out how much space you need from a storage unit. Find out how much space each item will take up with this formula: width x length x height=cubic feet/space the item takes up. Then you add up of all your items' cubic feet to see how much self storage space you'll need.

There are a couple of issues with using this method. One is that you'll first need to pack any loose items in a boxes to be able to add them to your calculations

The second is that you'll need to consider how capable your are of stacking items. If you are not physically able to stack furniture, box, etc on top of each other, then obviously you won't be able to use every inch of space. To address this issue you'll need a bigger unit with more floor space to fit all of your belongings. To find out how much floor space your items will take up just calculate the width x length of items. Then add all of these numbers up. This moving calculator can actually help you figure out the floor space you'll need without you even getting out tape measure.

2. Use a self storage calculator. 

There are lots of self storage calculators help there that will help you figure out about how big of a self storage unit you need. Just as a warning, these calculators can significantly round up. Also, a lot of the calculators assume that customers won't stack any items besides boxes.

This is one of the better self storage calculator available on the internet. All you have to do is enter the inventory of items you plan to put in self storage then the calculator gives you an estimate of the size of self storage unit you'll need.

3. Ask Multiple Self Storage Companies for their Guesstimate 

If you are still shopping around for which self storage company you want to use, you can consider calling several self storage companies for an estimate. If the estimates vary widely I recommend going with the average of all the estimates. If the person on the phone won't give you an estimate, it may be a good sign the self storage company does not have good customer service.

As a bonus, you can also use these phone calls to price different self storage facilities in your area. It is always good to price around before committing to any particular self storage company.


 

5 Ways to Make Moving Fun!

Moving can be a real drag. Luckily, somehow millions of people get through the arduous process every year. I've never heard of someone who started to move than gave up, so I'm confident you'll get through this move. One way to make the process a little easier is to try to add a dash of fun whenever you can. Let us know any tricks you may use to making moving a little less painful by leaving a comment below. 

Listen to Music

Turn on some music while you are working hard on your move!  Although be careful, you don't want to waste too much energy dancing to your favorite tunes. Upbeat music can even motivate you to go faster while you listen to fast and fun rhythms. Even consider making a special playlist that you can use just for moving. Below I'll list some of my favorite moving tunes: 

'Papa Don't Take No Mess' by James Brown   

'Born to Run' by Bruce Springsteen 

'Movin' on Up' The Jefferson's Theme Song 

'Gimme Shelter' by The Rolling Stones 

'On My Mind, In My Heart' by Jesse Dee 

'I Will Survive' by Cake 

Have a Competition

If you have multiple people in your household consider adding a little competition into the mix. Race to see who can complete their moving to-do list first. This can be a great strategy if you are looking for ways to motivate your kids, might as well put that sibling rivalry to good use.    

Hire Movers

There is nothing like the joy of hiring movers to do the heavy lifting for you. Make sure to take the time to be thankful you are not doing all that hard work yourself! I'm not sure how professional mover do it everyday, but I'm sure appreciative that people out there willing to do it! 

Have an Adult Beverage

Having a beer, a glass of wine or a cocktail can make packing feel a bit more fuzzy. I do not recommend getting hammered on or before moving day, but enjoying alcohol in moderation can help ease the pain of moving. 

Plan a Reward 

Whether it is a big slice of cheese cake or a tropical vacation, make sure that you reward yourself for working so hard on your move. If we don't take time to pat ourselves on the back for all the hard work we've done, we'll never get the credit we deserve. Planning a reward also gives you something to look forward to when you are starting to fill the misery and stress of a move weighing down on you. 

Happy Moving!

Tips for Loading a Moving Truck

Moving is no fun! 

Doing all the labor for a move yourself is hard, I commend your efforts. I definitely know what it is like to not be able to splurge on movers, and it is definitely a lot of tough work. Between boxing all your stuff, hiring a moving truck, and moving all all of the boxes and furniture, you definitely have your work cut out for you. The following are some tips to make moving all your boxes and furniture into a moving truck just a little bit easier.

1. Get the right size truck. There is nothing worse than realizing you don't have enough room in your moving truck to fit everything. It is extremely important to go with the right size moving truck. Either calculate how much space you need yourself, or get an estimate from where your renting from the place you rare renting the moving truck. To avoid too small of a van, I always err on the side of caution by renting a moving truck that is slightly bigger than what I actually need.

2. Think about how everything will fit. Before you even start packing, consider how you want to organize all the items in the truck. A moving truck is like a puzzle, and every piece will need to go in its place.

3. Put one person in charge. Have one person that actually organizes and places everything inside of the van. When you have a bunch of people just throwing stuff in the van there is a tendency for chaos to ensue.An unorganized moving van is also a lot harder to unpack.

4. Load heavy items first. Put all of the heavy and large items in first. These will obviously need to be on the floor of the van.

5. Lighter items last. Items that can just be squeezed in or thrown on top, save for last.

6. Padding. For items you don't want scratched put a sheet over or some other form padding. Couch cushions, blankets and mattresses are a good way to put cushion in between large items. It is also smart to not put heavy items next to or on top of each other to avoid scratching on the road.

7. Put stuff inside of appliances. If you are moving appliances, you can put items inside of the appliances to save space. Small boxes, towels, pots and pans can fit inside of the appliance.

8. Mattresses. If you have multiple mattresses, you can use the cushion of the mattresses to protects things like pictures and mirrors.

9. Pack everything tightly. You should try to pack everything as tightly in as possible to avoid shifting during the move.

10. Bungee cords. If you have excessive space inside of your van, it is a good idea to strap down bigger items to avoid sliding.

Simple tips to Start a Make Over for Your Home Office

Is the state of your small home office starting to drive you crazy? Maybe you are even considering getting a dumpster or hiring out self storage? One of the best ways to avoid needing to throw things away or hiring out self storage is by utilizing all the space that our homes has to offer. A fun way to approach this method of interior decor is by giving your home office a face lift! 

The following are some ways for normal people to approach a new home office set up to make the office pretty and useful at the same time. Not all of us are natural born Martha Stewarts, but that doesn't mean that we can't get professional home decorating results for our home offices with just a little bit of effort. 

Choose a Theme Color 

Choose one color to add stylish and attractive accents to your new home office design. Make sure not to overdo it, because a little bit of color goes a long way. Keep this color in mind when you are selecting home office furniture, paintings or anything else. You can even add an orange cat to the family if that happens to be your theme color, but that may just be the crazy cat lady in me coming out.  

Set a Budget 

Know how much time and money you are willing to spend to re-decorate your home office. This will give you guidelines to go by as you proceed through the marvelous/painful process of re-decorating. 

Brainstorm

One of my favorite places to brainstorm for any home decoration is at IKEA. There displays give viewers great idea on how to best make use of a space. Write down or draw out what you are envisioning your office to look like when you finish. Don't be afraid to alter course along the way. 

Paint Things Yourself 

Painting a Home Office Can Be a Fun Headache! 

Office storage, office furniture and even the walls can all benefit from a splash of color. Keep in mind if you plan to paint, how much time you are willing to dedicate to renovating your home office. Painting office shelves is a lot easier than painting an entire room!

Self Storage for Your Home Office 

One of the best ways to re-organize and expand the space of a room is by adding storage shelves, storage racks or storage cabinets. You can hunt for cheap versions of these at Ikea or even yard sales. Consider getting office storage in fun shapes or various sizes to give the room a simple touch of creativity and style. If you are feeling industrious, you can add a splash of color by buying color storage shelves. Or even paint the storage shelves yourself!

New Home Office Furniture 

If you need it, getting new home office furniture can amp up the style of your room. For those on a budget, you can search craigslist, Ikea or yard sales to get great deals. Make sure that every piece of home office furniture has a purpose, because too much furniture can add unnecessary clutter to a room.

Give Away, Sell or Donate Extra Stuff in Your Home Office 

If you have any excess junk in your office, it is time to let that stuff go. Many of us are closet hoarders, so it is time to make like a Buddhist monk and minimize the worthless junk in our lives. If you are not going to use an item in the foreseeable future, it is probably time to toss it. 

Take Your Time Re-Decorating Your Home Office 

As we speak, I am in the process of re-organizing and re-decorating my own home office. It has been one month now, but I still can't say that it is completely finished due to lack of budget and time. Be kind to yourself by allowing yourself plenty of time to complete the project. Beating yourself up for not instantly changing your home office around in one day like some version of Mary Poppins is not helpful. Even with a spoon full of sugar cough syrup tastes bad anyways Mary Poppins, so what does she know anyways!     

Funny Moving Memes

If you are lucky, you can hire movers to smooth over the difficult process that is relocating. For the rest of us there are at least moving memes, so that we can laugh at our unfortunate circumstances. If you find yourself feeling tired, stressed or sad about moving, it can help take a minute to laugh, because moving is definitely not the end of the world.  

Do I need self storage insurance?

Many customers store their belongings thinking that the storage facility or their homeowners/renter policies cover their items, but both assumptions are usually wrong. You can find out yourself by asking the storage facility or insurance provider whether they provide self storage insurance. Nine time out of ten the answer is going to be "no", just to warn you, so be prepared to purchase additional self storage insurance when you decide to use self storage.  

I personally think if an item is worth storing then it probably is worth insuring unless you are a self-admitted hoarder just utilizing extra space by using self storage. If it is worth paying the money to store than you probably should consider getting a self storage insurance policy. Some self storage facilities make self storage insurance policies available with your self storage bill, but other times you may need to seek out a provider yourself. I recommend pricing around self storage insurance policies to make sure you get the best value for your self storage coverage. 

More than likely you will never actually need self storage insurance. In the event of unexpected destruction or thievery, you'll be extremely happy to get some monetary compensation for your items. Remember to always be careful considering what you actually put in self storage, because as we know all know there are some items that money cannot replace. 

Be Safe: Invest in Self Storage Insurance!

Dorms Vs. Renting for College Students

Every college student eventually considers whether staying on school dorms or renting an apartment/house is a better option. This is a complex question that requires careful consideration from the student to make the best decision for their particular set of circumstance. Here are the major issues that come up when a student is considering their living options.

Cost

To compare the costs you'll need to financial research to figure out exactly what the cost different between dorms vs. renting is in reality. Get ready to get out a pen and paper to calculate the different cost of dorm vs. renting. Most students may be surprised that their assumptions about what it actually costs to live on or off campus may be slightly off base.

A big part of the cost will be determined by the housing market around your campus, because obviously it is cheaper to rent in some areas than others. To get a feel for the cost of rent research on craigslist, word-of-mouth and other students to figure out what housing is going for around your campus. Also, consider living with roommates to reduce the cost of rent.

Next you will need to calculate cost of living for dorms vs. renting. For dorms you will need to pay for meal plans and parking, but all utilities and laundry services may be included. For living off campus you need to estimate how much you would spend on food a month to figure out how much you'll be spending on food versus a meal plan. You'll also need to include utility costs like water, electricity and internet.

There are also some additional moving-related costs some students may need to consider. For dorms you may need to rent self storage to store your stuff while you live on campus. There is also the potential additional cost of hiring movers to help move heavy things into and out of your apartment when the time comes.  

Privacy and Restrictions 

When most students embark on their higher education journey they assume they are adults, but by the time they arrive in the dorm they learn this is not exactly the case. All dorms have strict rules, inspections and guidelines for residents, and for some students this may seem to stifling in their new supposed adult lifestyle. Not to mention living in dorms with other students usually means you have no privacy, because dorms seem to form their own new families on campus.

These things may seem trivial to some students, but for others are ready to pursue a more independent lifestyle. Finding independence through where you live is a very important step in life, and some students will be ready for this step sooner rather than later.

Location 

Living on campus can be huge convenience for full-time students, because they have the obvious benefit of just walking to class. What a lot of students forget to consider when renting is the additional cost of transportation via bus, car, bike or whatever means you will use to get to campus.

For other students living on campus is not a viable option because all of the additional grown-up responsibilities they need to deal with on top school. Jobs and family are two factors that make some students live off of campus, because separating themselves from the additional facets of their lives is not an option.

Security 

No where you go is 100% safe, not even dorms. Although dorms do have the benefit of security through staff, locks and policing they do have a host of crime-related problems that are not necessarily found off of campus. Even though dorms are marketed as a safe option, students soon learn the reality is that these are not pristine environments. It is good to be careful and mindful no matter where you live, even in dorms.

That being said, finding cheap off-campus housing may land you in a bad part of town. Make sure to check out the neighborhood before you sign a lease. If you don't feel safe, it is probably a good idea to look somewhere else.

Where to Find Free Moving Quotes

Never Ever pay for a Moving Quote! 

Moving is one of the most daunting tasks that anyone will ever need to deal with in their personal lives. To ensure that this process goes smoothly, I always recommend for customers to get a moving company to help haul stuff from the old residence to the new home.

Understandably people hesitate when it comes time to think about the cost of moving companies. One major way to save hundreds on hiring a moving company is to get a free moving quote. Reputable moving companies will not charge for moving quotes 99% of the time, so if someone is asking to charge you should consider further researching the reputation of that company.

Here is a link to some of our top reviewed moving companies that all offer free moving quotes. With these companies you can compare their current rates through their free moving quotes to choose from some of top ranked moving companies in the moving industry. Here is another link that tells you about a helpful moving site that will instantly give you six free online moving quotes.

It is important to not always go with the cheapest moving company without consideration. If a moving company offers significantly lower prices on a moving quote there is the potential issue that they also offer inferior services or are a complete fraud. To investigate the reputation of a moving company look them up on the BBB.

Why I Hate Moving!

Last time I swore it would be the last time I ever moved. I promise that every time as I unpacked the last of the boxes wondering how many hours I've wasted. Then things in life come up. Break-ups, new jobs, falling in love, babies- you know life! All together I would say in the past five 10 years I moved around 20 times. I am an expert on moving only because I hate it so much I learned very quickly how to make things a little less painful. 

The last 5 times I have used a moving company to make the process easier.  Let me tell you, movers are magical people! I have no idea how one dedicates themselves professionally to such an arduous task, but they definitely earn every penny we pay for them. I'm telling you why I hate moving to let you know why you should hire a moving company to avoid tears, disasters and other atrocities. Or just not move at all possible! 

1. I own too much stuff. Even after getting rid of stuff continuously through Craigslist, donations and trashing, I still own a lot of crap. Unfortunately, I need MOST of this stuff. I even like most of my thing until I move. Then I realize how much STUFF there really is as I pack it all away into boxes wish I lived a less materialistic lifestyle. 

2. Stress. Stress is probably the number one killer in the world! At least I think I read that somewhere. Anyways, there is no way to avoid stress in a move unless you are some sort of zen monk. It stresses out all parties involved, even the household pets. 

3. Cardboard boxes. I stopped using cardboard boxes and switched over to green moving boxes in the last three moves not just because I'm a tree-huger either. It is because of the paper-cuts from the cardboard boxes. I even seem to get even when I wear gloves. There is nothing worse than a paper-cut! Or a cardboard box deciding to give out in the middle of the move. As bad as that is, paper-cuts are worse! 

4. New Bathrooms. Unless it is a completely new house, I am completely grossed out when moving into a used house due to the bathrooms. I immediately scrub down the bathrooms with bleach as soon as possible. Sometimes twice if it is particularly gross. I'll never forget the time I moved into an apartment where the previous owner dumped their cats litter into the bathtub. I literally scrubbed that bathtub five times, and still felt like it was unsanitary when I used the shower. I recommend hiring move in cleaners if at all possible to help with the cleaning if at all possible, these cleaners are also magical in my book.  

5. Children. We all know being a parent is stressful, but kids are especially monstrous during moves. They are either complaining or making a mess. I sometimes wish during a move there was a storage facility that took children in until the process was over. In our house we call this type of facility grandma's house.

How to Motivate for a Move

Moving can test the boundaries of what you are capable of in your personal life. It tests your relationships, motivation and general sanity. There is so much more on the surface of moving than just throwing stuff in boxes. It is a matter of transplanting your life to a whole different location.

There is no real way to make moving easy unless you have a boat load of cash to hire some to do everything for you, but I can offer some tips to ultimately make the move a little bit easier for you. The main secret is finding motivation to work on the move every single day as much as possible. The sooner you start getting everything the done the less of a stressful rush there is at the end. So here are some great ways to find motivation to work on your move everyday.

1. Take small steps. Each day make a list of the projects that you want to get done. A daily to-do list shows you that the things you need to get done are achievable. There is also a special satisfaction from crossing things off that list. Perhaps even give yourself a small reward each time you cross something off the list.

2. Commit via social media, texting, chatting, etc. If you have a project that you need to tackle, commit to that goal on social media to hold yourself to it. Perhaps even tell a friend or family member that you know will bug you for an update on your progress. Important note: Asking someone who lives with you -especially a spouse- can be a bad idea, because it can be perceived as nagging with someone you are too close to.

3. Focus on the positive. If you think about all the negatives of the move you are going to drive yourself crazy. Instead, remind yourself of all the benefits you will achieve by moving. Maybe even print of a sheet to post on the fridge or somewhere else you look a lot to constantly remind you of all the benefits of moving.

4. Get excited. Once you start focusing on the benefits, try to actually amp yourself up for the move. It is easier to achieve our goals when we are actually excited for the end results.

5. Read about moving, decorating, etc. Sometimes reading a blog or a book about your goal can inspire you with new ideas and aspects of moving. Perhaps you can start planning on cool new ways you can re-organize and/or re-decorate your new home.

6. Recruit friends or family to help. When you invite some over to help, you'll definitely be committed to actually working on the project at hand. Pick a specific project that you can get done together, and perhaps finish it off with a bottle of wine and/or meal.

7. Sign yourself up for a new class and/or activity at the new home base. If you are moving a long-distance, signing up for an activity can give you something to look forward to once the move is finally over. It can also help you make new friends and connections in the area.

8. Don't be too hard on yourself. Even if you have a day that you slip-up by not getting anything done, don't beat up on yourself. When we are hard on ourselves it can create a cycle where we focus on being too critical instead of actually getting things done. Try to re-direct that energy into getting things done tomorrow instead of being hard on yourself.

Storing a Mattress in Self Storage

If you are considering putting a mattress in a self-storage, you will need to take special preparations for the mattress to avoid damage. A mattress is an intimate object that damage really is not ideal for, so luckily these precautionary steps are easy for anyone to take. 

A mattress bag

1. Get a mattress bag. These plastic bags usually only cost around 5 to 20 dollars from the store. It only take a couple of minutes to put the plastic bag over the mattress. These bags help you avoid dust gathering in the mattress. The problem with dust getting into the mattress is there is no real way to get all of it out. Dusty mattresses get a dirty odor. The dust is also terrible for people with allergies. 

2. Humidity control. This is an especially important note for people who live in humid climates. Humidity can cause mold and mildew spores to grow in your mattress. To prevent this, you should try to elevate your mattress off the ground. Also, storing it away from the other items in the unit helps if you have the space for it. If you have time, airing the mattress out by opening the bag and storage unit can be helpful. The only sure fire way to avoid this is to get a humid controlled storage-unit. 

3. Do not stack things on tops of your mattress. The worst thing you can do for a mattress is to stack things on top of it, because this will cause it be lumpy. A mattress with an uneven surface is nearly impossible to sleep on. 

4. Deal with bugs. Your mattress offers all sorts of yummy organic materials for bugs to munch on. Putting your mattress in a box and bag is the best way to avoid the bugs. Climate controlled storage units also tend to have less a bug problem, because it benefits the storage owners to not leave cracks and crevices for bugs to sneak into the storage unit. You can also consider some sort of bug spray to apply on the ground around you mattress, but be careful not to get any on your mattress. 

5. Clean After Storage. Once you take the mattress out of storage make sure to clean it thoroughly. First you will want to vacuum it to try to get some of the dust off. Next you can apply a thin dusting of baking soda through a kitchen sifter onto the surface the mattress. Let it sit for an hour. The baking soda will absorb moisture and odor from the mattress. Vacuum the mattress again to get the baking soda off. Repeat these steps if the mattress still seems to have a musty smell on it.