When packing for college, going home for the summer or just moving locations in the same town, there are a few tips that can make things easier on you, not to mention your back.
It seems like a no-brainer, but have you considered actually packing your things before moving out? Despite frequent moves, some students tend to make far more trips than are necessary.
“The biggest thing I have noticed when people move both in and out of the dorms is that people don’t pack,” said Jeff Oliver, ASUO Housing Advocate.
Instead, students often choose to move items in and out one by one. You know the scene: The hairdryer hangs out of one hand, a handful of books is in the other and a trail of coat hangers litters the ground.
By packing your items, you will make far fewer trips. Not only will you do yourself a favor, but you will decrease the stress of all the other people that live around you. This is especially true in a college setting where everybody is moving at the same time.
The next time you plan a move, remember that boxes are your best friends. And there are plenty of places to get boxes, even free ones. There are specially designed boxes to fit your computer, clothes, dishes and perishables. Just make sure you don’t pack all your books in one box or you will never be able to lift it.
Here is another technique for people overwhelmed by packing: Spend a day going through your things and decide what you don’t need. At the end of the term you’ll find bins in the residence halls intended for unwanted items that will be taken to Goodwill. Of course, some of the items never make it there, as other residents may find something they like. As the saying goes, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.”
Now that the sun’s out, what better time to do some spring cleaning? We all have stuff that we do not use but keep dragging around. Not only is it useless when moving, but “that stuff takes up valuable space in students’ rooms or apartments,” Oliver said.
“What is the point of having all of this extra stuff if it isn’t going to be used?”
Packing Tips
Delicates: Pack your breakables in clothes. Fabrics are softer and do not cost anything, unlike bubble wrap. Those bubbles can be fun when you’re unpacking, though.
Clothes tips: Roll your shirts so they take up less space. Squishing clothes allows more to fit than if you were to fold each individual item. Also, try squishing fluffy items.
Space savers: Collect plastic containers, a cooler or a backpack. Fill them with items. That way you have fewer boxes in the end.
Start early: If you live nearby, start collecting boxes well in advance. Spending a weekend with the parents? Sneak some of the items you won’t need for the next month back into your parents’ house. But be sure to keep your umbrella.
Pack during Dead Week: “Packing is a great way to procrastinate,” said DynŽe Putnam, a senior general science major and packing veteran who has moved often in the last seven years. It can also help relieve some of the stress of finals because then you have one more moving task finished.
Get help: “U-Haul is your friend if you have a lot of stuff. Instead of making multiple trips, rent a U-Haul,” Putnam said. It can often be cheaper, plus a lot less stressful than doing it on your own. Be warned though, they are popular, so reserve one now.
If you don’t want to take everything home this summer, there are storage places in Eugene where you can rent a unit. Don’t have a lot of stuff? Get a group of friends and split the cost.
For those of you staying in Eugene this summer, if you’re moving in with roommates, check out who owns what before you go shopping for household items. Your new roommate may have everything you need.