“College Bound is a big step”. That is the understatement of the year. Shrinking your life down to a dorm room is like an overcrowded bottle for the genie. Reinventing your room at home for the first time in a foreign place, and keeping your belongings organized is essential for doing well in this new environment. Getting your garb to school can be one of the most exciting and stressful beginnings to the year. Get off on the right foot. Instead of shoving all your belongings into totes and trash bags, consider the moving box kits that are available thru many online companies. Moving companies are looking to make your move as seamless as possible; one less thing students need to stress about.

Moving boxes kits are custom made for the student leaving home to enter the bizarre world of dorm living. Kits can be bought pre-packaged with moving supplies or you can choose your moving boxes individually according to your specific needs. Most kits are pre-packaged based on the average amount of “stuff” that the new college student is taking with them to school. The world of moving boxes isn’t your mom’s pair of gym shorts. It’s calculated. It’s strategic. Moving companies have advanced with times and recognize that our possessions have changed. We don’t bring clunky computers to school, we bring laptops. We don’t bring monster televisions to school, we bring flat screens. (Well, admittedly, some of us still use the scrapper of a television, because let’s face it, we’re college students!) And all of us bring microwaves, because, well, Raman noodles are on the menu five out of seven days of the week.

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Among the more impressive and innovative boxes in the field, are the electronic box options. Based on the average size microwaves and televisions in American homes today, moving companies have transfigured what is most size appropriate box to transport your electronics in, including flat screen television sets, and the standard 19 inchers as well as the 27 inch televisions and microwaves. Virtually, nearly every electronic device in your home has a custom cardboard box out there to help get it from point “a” to point “b” without a wrinkle, dent or crease. (You may want to pay the extra four to five bucks for bubble wrap for peace of mind.)

Gone are the days of stuffing trash bags full of clothes. Modern moving boxes even include cardboard wardrobes with bars for hanging clothes; an easy transport from closet to box, to truck, to new closet. No need to wrestle with the monster of wire hangers that magically create a jungle gym rubric cube world within moments of placing them all in one area, or labor over folding all your hanged clothes and re-hanging them in their new abode. This one box sometimes called the “grand wardrobe box” eliminates the hassle and the tedious element of folding and hanging clothes.

In addition to having a solution to all your “stuff” problems, most companies will buy back any packing boxes that are not used, helping you save money in the event that you “box overstocked”. The capability to order moving supplies and cardboard boxes online is convenient as well as informative. When ordering online, however, just be careful to note that sales tax and shipping may not be quoted within the retail price. Start thinking outside the box and check into what is available to help make your move as organized and stress free as possible.

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Moving does not have to be as hairy as most of us imagine; piles of clutter being stuffed into oversize suitcases, improperly labeled moving boxes strewn across a havoc of chaos, and endless newspaper wrapping of fragile items. Current day companies have molded their services to better enhance the moving experience, reduce stress, and make a profit. Essentially, they’ve broken ground into a world of organization and categorization that fits any lifestyle from apartment dwellers to college dorm life. And if you properly assess your needs, these tools could greatly benefit the hauling experience. There is, surprisingly, a vast array of types of moving supplies available on the market today.

Moving companies have opened up their truck rental businesses to the wide world of moving boxes. Currently selling packing boxes in categorical forms, many companies can supply you with the average amount of cardboard boxes to move your kitchen safely and neatly through a “kitchen package” promotion. Kitchen package promotions will include the types of packing boxes needed for moving glassware, dishes, wine bottles, with cell dividers to avoid bumping, bruising, or the toe curling breaking. Be careful in reading the descriptions on which type of moving boxes you are investing in as some come with cell dividers and some do not. Buying boxes based on a room package in bulk can run fifty dollars and upwards, but buying cardboard boxes individually is also an option for the savvy mover.

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You don’t need to spend a fortune on a home office. While electronics and specialty equipment costs might eat into your budget, the overall cost of setting a home office doesn’t have to be through the roof. Here are three things you can do to cut down on costs:

1. Don’t worry if you don’t have a whole room you can dedicate to an office. The cheapest way to deal with space is to choose a corner of the kitchen or living room and use it as an office. Don’t think about buying a whole new set of furniture but instead use what you already have. Any small table can be used as a desk and in pinch a regular kitchen chair (rather than a desk chair) will do as well.
2. Build your office slowly. Add bookcases, desktop accessories and even equipment as you go. For a start, you’re unlikely to need anything except a place to sit and write and maybe a computer and a phone. In the meantime, search garage sales, thrift shops and flea markets so you can get the items you need at a discount.
3. Think of alternative uses for things. A small kitchen table might be cheaper than a desk, and is basically the same. If you can’t afford bookshelves, look into kitchen shelves or even shower caddies to see if they can double as bookshelves. A small flower pot will cost you pennies –A lot cheaper than a penholder and both are likely to look pretty much the same.

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After you finish unpacking your moving boxes into your new home you should consider was to protect your self from burglaries. Follow the below quick tips for a safe home:

1. Make sure all doors that open to the outside have dead bolt locks. Anything else is too flimsy and can be broken or dislodged to gain access into a house. Install a latch on the inside so you can double-protect the doors when you’re home. Put locks on the windows as well. Metal bars might be needed for low windows that can be easily accessed or if you live in a less-than-desirable environment.
2. Keep the lights on. Install motion-activated lights in the outside of your house so you’re not left in the dark. If you’re going to be away for a while, put your inside lights or even a radio on a timer so it looks like your house is occupied.
3. Get a home alarm system. You can buy a cheap one at most home repair shops and some are simple enough that you can install them yourself. These alarms will do nothing but make noise, however. For added security, get an alarm system connected with a security company. This means that if the alarm goes off, the company will know and notify the police.
4. Avoid obvious displays of wealth. If you buy a new computer or a plasma TV and then leave the empty box right outside your gate, you’re advertising your new electronics. The same is true if your TV or other expensive equipment is right against the front window, where everybody walking by can see it.

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If you’ve been living in a rental and want your security deposit back, you need to make sure that the place looks as close as possible to the way it was when you first moved in. Most places will allow for some wear and tear, which is natural and expected, but if your dog chew on the coffee table or you broke a lamp, these things will be discounted from your security deposit.

Chances are you’ll pay more if you leave things broken than if you replace them yourself. This is because your landlord is likely to get the best, most expensive replacement he can get. So if you can replace that broken lamp for a similar one without spending a fortune, do it.

Repair chipped paint and holes in the wall yourself. You’ll likely spend just a few dollars at Home Depot if you’re willing to do the work. If you leave it to your landlord, however, he’ll charge you for supplies and the time spent doing the repair –unless he pays somebody to do it and then it’ll end up costing three times more.

Clean the carpet if there’s one. If you can’t seem to get rid of stains and smells on your own, hire a rug shampooer. Although it looks like a vacuum, the machine uses steam and industrial-strength soap to clean difficult stains.

Throw away your garbage. Don’t leave bags or old things around or you might be charged a cleaning fee. Simply put stuff you dont want in some moving boxes and throw them out. It takes just a few minutes to walk your trash outside.

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Professional movers have an unwritten 30-pound rule. This means cardboard boxes should not weigh more than 30 pounds. Heavier moving boxes are more likely to break and cause injury to those moving them.

If you have lots of electronics, take a picture of how the wiring is connected. It might seem like a simple thing, but connecting 10 different colored wires can turn into a headache, especially if you no longer have the original manuals. So before you take the items apart and box them, get a digital record of their connection.

Mark your packing boxes with permanent markers. Pens, pencils and thin markers can disappear if the moving boxes get wet. Even if the words are still there, you won’t be able to read the words that easily. If you have moving boxes marked “fragile,” you’ll want movers to be able to see the word clearly.

File your change of address with the post office at least 30 days before moving. Then write your new address on all the boxes. If for some reason they get separated from the rest, they can still be delivered to the right place.

Start early. Don’t wait until moving day to finish packing boxes. The boxes should be done, sealed and ready to go at least a day before. Preferably more, so you have a day to relax before the movers arrive. On moving day, wake up early and take a walk around the house to make sure everything’s ready to go.

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If you’re renting a place, chances are you’re not allowed to repaint it or make major changes to the structure or look of the place. This doesn’t mean you have to live with the impersonal, dull beige paint that is standard in most rented places. After you finish unpacking your moving boxes try some of the below changes you can make without altering the structure of the place:

• Use a piece of furniture or a folding screen to create a cozy area within a room or to divide a large room into two. The back of a sofa can create a division between the living and dining room, or you can use a bookcase to achieve the same result.
• Change the hardware in your kitchen cabinets. Choose something bright and bold, or something large and ornamental. Make them shine and make an impact.
• Hang large rugs on the wall to change the color without painting it. You might need to ask permission to put nails on the wall, though. Or use Velcro and something lighter, like sheets.
• Floors are easy: just buy a large area rug.
• Just because you can’t hang paintings on the wall doesn’t mean you should give up on the idea. Get an easel to display the pictures or place them on a table, leaning against the wall.

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If you thought time management was just for work or your social life, think again. Many of the activities we have to do at home can eat away at your time if you don’t plan them well. Lack of planning can also cost you money, as you might end up buying duplicate items or misplacing a bill and forgetting to pay it, resulting in a late fee. While getting organized is important, these time-management tips will also help you improve your home life:

Have a designated place for everything. If all the bills to pay go into a specific folder and all dirty clothes go into the hamper, you won’t lose time searching for them when you need them.

Plan your meals in advance or cook in batches. Instead of making a single lasagna, make two. It won’t take much more time and you can freeze it to use when you don’t have time to cook. Or spend a few hours on Sunday cooking and freezing meals so you don’t have to cook the rest of the week.

Buy in bulk. Not only will it save you money, but you’ll spend less time driving back and forth to the stores to replace things. Try to find a single store (or maybe a couple) that offer everything you need, so you don’t have to drive all over the city to replenish your pantry.

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If you run a business from home or have your own office, you will need to move it with you when you relocate. Bringing your office along can be complicated if you don’t plan well and in advance.

Before you do anything else, make sure you hire a shipping company that has any experience moving office. Sometimes known as “office removal specialists,” these people will know what should be packed in cardboard boxes and what shouldn’t, how to protect valuable equipment and how to dismantle and reassemble office furniture.

If you have electronic equipment, make sure it gets boxed using padding material and thick cardboard moving boxes. Always seal moving boxes with quality packing tape so there’s not risk of contents getting spilled or shift around.

Aside from moving the actual office equipment, you will need to move the logistics of the business. This means getting new business cards, renting a new office, changing your business address and making sure your clients can find you. If you can’t provide services at a distance, you will need to plan on finding new clients upon arrival.

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