The How To's On Moving - Kristin Sterk

Today we are busy packing away our belongings again! Dan put it well today ‘I wish we could just say “boom” and all of our stuff would be in Minnesota.'” I couldn’t agree more! We picked up a 20 foot U-Haul and car trailer (we will be towing our Intrepid) and it is sitting patiently, waiting to be filled tonight. God has blessed us richly yet again, with the big snow storm coming today/tonight instead of Wednesday. What a huge blessing! That means hopefully on Thursday morning, it will be smooth sailing!

Moving can be an overwhelming task when you think about everything that needs to be done. On Thursday, this will be the second time we will be moving in 5 months. I would still call us rookies, but here are a few tips and tools I think are essential to help a move go smoothly. If you are not in the process of moving, tuck it away! (these are not in any particular order)

1. Start packing early (to prevent the overwhelmed/stressed out). If you know a move might be in the close future, I would start preparing for it now, if possible. Start to clean off bookshelves. Go through EVERYTHING and either keep, pitch, or donate it. Yes, EVERYTHING. This may sound so weird, but physically touch everything so that you are forced to make a choice about it.

2. Collect boxes – start early because you will need a ton. Go around to businesses or ask a business to save them for you. If you go to a business, be consistent w/ picking them up

3. Save newspapers or ask others to save their newspapers for you to wrap fragile items in.

4. Clear packing tape and sharpie, are a must.

5. Start to clear out your refrigerator and freezer. Be
intentional in making meals that use items in your fridge so that you will have
less you need to give away or throw away. You would be surprised what meals you
can create! This also means, don’t keep buying groceries to replace the empty
space.

6. As you are looking through your items and packing them, think about what
you may need early on in your move. For example, set-up/instruction
manuals for electronics or even your bed!

7. Change address at post office. You can now fill out a
form online at www.usps.com

8. This doesn’t apply to us, but save your moving receipts
to deduct them on your taxes

9. Figure out your “last bills,” meaning call companies to get last
“reads” on meters or set up disconnection dates.

10. Set up people to help you move – if needed, make the calls early so that you
are not stuck doing it on your own. We were so blessed to have numerous people
helping us.

11. Here is a list of people you should notify when moving: internet/cable,
electric, telephone, gas, home insurance, car insurance, life insurance, credit
card companies, bank, magazines, doctors, friends, family, voter’s registration, pensions, cell phone, colleges, non-profits you donate to, and this list goes on…

12. Use gift cards for the restaurants that are only in your current living place.

13. Cancel any appointments

14. Refill necessary prescriptions

15. Do a final walk through of each room, every closet, the attic and the garage to
make sure you have cleaned out every nook and cranny.

16. Thank God for new chapters and new beginnings, but also for past experiences and lessons learned. Our sovereign God continues to reign and care about every detail of our life – big and small. As it says on our blog title, “Today is a gift from God, remember to thank Him.”