"Smooth Move"--Tips and Techniques to Make Your Move as Painless as Possible Written by Larry Denton
Whether you are moving around block, across country or just packing Junior off to college, entire moving experience is one of most difficult events of modern living. According to Joe Harrison, president of American Moving and Storage Association, "Research tells us that moving is usually one of most stressful events in a person's life, ranked as high as death of a loved one or a divorce." Moving is tiring, complex, and costly. Despite excessive stress and high costs, Americans are on move! In year 2000, about 120 million Americans over age of five--46 percent of us--lived in a different home than they did in 1995, according to a U.S. Census Bureau report. The reasons for moving are about as numerous as number of people who move. It could be for lack of space in old apartment, a job transfer, college graduation, starting a different career, a new marriage (or divorce), or a desire to be closer to relatives. Surprisingly, a recent study found that number three on list of reasons to move was to "get away from family and relatives." Whatever reason, an estimated 1.4 to 1.6 million American household moves take place each year, and although most go smoothly, a significant number of others do not. The U.S. Department of Transportation receives about 4,000 complaints each year from people who charge that moving companies mistreated them. The single most important thing you can do to make transition go as smoothly as possible is to PLAN, PLAN, PLAN. Make a schedule--you can get a free "moving calendar" from many sites on Web--and stick with it. Preparation, organization and forethought will help you minimize headaches and allow you to complete your move with your sanity intact. If you decide to hire a professional moving company, it can be nerve-racking trying to find one you can trust to move your household valuables. Tip--make sure you give yourself enough time to choose and retain a reliable mover. The major professional moving companies are busy, especially during summer months when a majority of moves are made. Consumer Reports recommends allowing six to eight weeks to get van in your yard on time. The American Moving and Storage Association reports that some companies offer discounts for moves made between October and April--the slow months. Ask your moving company for details.
| | Feel better, de-clutter!Written by Steve Hawker
Clutter! All those unloved possessions, that are neither use nor ornament, and that constrict your living space. Life's 'excess baggage'. The objects that weigh you down, slow you down and stop you moving on. Clutter's horrid, isn't it? Here are ten tips to help you de-clutter, feel better about yourself and make money: 1. Set aside some 'quality time', or a series of 'quality times', for de-cluttering. Stick to those times. 2. Start with areas of your life that are least chaotic and cramped. Then tackle areas that are most ‘challenged’, progressively. Look for big and easy disposal decisions in each area first. 3. Don't panic if you find that up to half of your possessions are redundant! It's quite normal. Hoarders will find that over half of objects they live with are surplus to requirements. 4. Give other people's clutter back to them, or at least ask their permission first, before you dispose of it! 5. Keep serviceable objects that you've used in past six months and/or that you're likely to use in next six months. Find qualified trades people to repair broken or damaged objects that you want to keep.
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