| Spring is here, final exams are not far off, and soon | | | | maybe help the driver load. |
| college students who plan on returning home for the | | | | Storing it Until Next Semester |
| summer will have to answer that all-important extra | | | | This is a pretty common practice, actually. And with |
| credit question: What do I do with my stuff? This is | | | | more than 50,000 self storage locations in the U.S. |
| important, because college students today tend not | | | | (according to the American Moving and Storage |
| to settle for the Spartan dorm rooms and | | | | Association) that means there is definitely one near |
| apartments of old. When the semester ends, they | | | | you. But be careful - self storage places usually offer |
| may have furniture, big-screen TVs (with | | | | some kind of great upfront incentive ("First month |
| accompanying video game systems, of course) and | | | | free!") but you'll only get it if you sign a six-month or |
| multiple boxes of clothes, books and assorted odds | | | | longer agreement. So where does the mover come |
| and ends to take care of. So what's to do? Talk to a | | | | in this time? Well, local moving and storage outfits |
| mover if you're considering any of the following three | | | | often offer package deals whereby they'll pick up |
| options: Shipping it, storing it, or selling it. | | | | your stuff, store it, and bring it back next semester, |
| Shipping it Long Distance | | | | all for a single price. They'll charge less for storage |
| Since it's hard to box furniture or other large items, | | | | because they're getting the moving business, so you |
| find a long distance furniture mover who specializes in | | | | can probably save money. And it's definitely easier. |
| small moves. A long distance small move specialist will | | | | Selling it Locally |
| put your furniture (as well as TVs, boxes, whatever) | | | | You can generate a few dollars for next semester's |
| on a truck with other loads. It costs a fraction of | | | | tuition by posting at the usual online locations like |
| what a full-load mover charges. And guess what - it | | | | Facebook or Craigslist and selling your items. But first |
| can even cost less than a U-Haul truck. Sure, a truck | | | | contact one or more movers to find out what they |
| rental is cheaper up front, but it rarely costs less in | | | | would charge to move the items locally. Why? |
| the end - not when you consider what you don't | | | | Because your buyer may need a mover to get the |
| save in terms of gas, time and sheer hassle. Bonus | | | | stuff from your place to his, and he'll want to know |
| tip: If you don't have furniture and can box all of | | | | his total cost. If you can answer that question up |
| your stuff, the cheapest way to ship is usually with a | | | | front, you'll smooth the way toward sealing the deal. |
| freight carrier. Your local UPS Store can hook you up, | | | | So whether you ship it, sell it or store it, remember |
| but they'll charge a markup. If you go direct, you'll | | | | that even movers go to college - when you need |
| save. Search for "freight shippers" online. You'll have | | | | them to. |
| to carry your boxes outside for the pickup and | | | | |