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Modern American society is materialistic. People are frequently judged not only by the things they own, but by their ability to buy more things. Simply put, we as a society like stuff.

Unfortunately, that’s not always healthy. TV and other media are full of stories of homes that are so full of material possessions that they are practically uninhabitable. Most people aren’t this far gone but could certainly stand to live with less than what they think they need. A challenging economy has led people to compromise over what they should and shouldn’t own, and many younger Americans are now living minimalist lifestyles.

Maybe you don’t need to get rid of all of your possessions and live in a tiny studio apartment, but you would probably enjoy a little less clutter. Here are some tips to help you live with less.

Get Rid of Your Desktop Computer

Computers have developed from their roots as a tool for programmers, accountants, writers and gamers to all-purpose media centers. People watch their favorite TV shows, read the news and chat with family and friends from computers. Technology has advanced to the point that even the most powerful devices come in book-sized, portable laptops. If you have a decent laptop, you don’t need anything else. If you have a desktop PC, consider trading it in for a laptop. You’ll save space and you might even find that you can use the laptop to replace your TV as well.

Use Minimal Furniture

You would be surprised at how little furniture you need if you live alone in a small apartment. Many people who live in studio apartments get by with a special unit that doubles as a window seat and a bed. All it takes is a roll-up mattress and some bedding. Add some compartments for storage and it could be all the furniture you need. Floor cushions also make for great places to sit if you have company. When it comes to furniture, plan large purchases around practical, daily demands, and find cheap, easy-to-store solutions for special occasions, like when family visits or friends come over.

Keep Minimal Clothing and Linens

When it comes to clothes, all you really need are seven versatile outfits, a hooded coat and some gloves. Keep a pair of sneakers, a pair of dress shoes and a pair of boots to make sure you have appropriate footwear for any occasion.

Your bathroom linen should consist of a few towels, a couple of washcloths and two kitchen towels. Consider keeping just enough linen so that you store as few pieces as possible. Have one set of sheets for your bed and one towel for your use, plus one or two guest towels. This will not only save space, it will force you to develop good laundry habits as well: you’ll have to wash your towel and hang it back up the moment it’s dirty instead of letting it sit around in a hamper while you use a spare one.

These are just a few tips that can help you enjoy a more minimalist lifestyle. If you’re still not convinced that you should live with less, consider the benefits that this lifestyle provides. Living with fewer possessions is less stressful, makes a home easier to clean and makes packing for moves much easier. Above all else, it will teach you to appreciate the things that you have and help you understand that it is entirely possible to live without giving into society’s materialism.

This article was contributed by Mike Gordon, recent college grad, tech nerd, and minimalist in the making. If you’re looking to de-clutter your life but aren’t quite ready to part with your possessions for good, Mike suggests to go and find self storage near your place of residence.

Even when you are looking forward to your upcoming relocation, moving can be stressful. However, with the proper tools, planning and organization, you can reduce your stress level and transition into your new home without feeling as if your entire world has turned upside down. Below are a few tips to make your moving process less stressful.

Hire Movers or Plan Ahead to Rent a Truck

If you can afford movers, it will save you the stress of renting a truck and taking multiple trips back and forth. Even if you can’t hire movers to move all of your belongings, see what the rates are just for moving your bulky, heavy pieces like furniture and appliances. You typically have two choices when you hire movers: hire them to pack and move everything or hire them to move everything (or a few large pieces) once it is packed.

Even if you hire movers to pack and move everything, many people choose to pack their valuables and sensitive documents in a few boxes and move them themselves.

If you are renting a truck for your move, be sure to make your reservation at least two weeks in advance. Don’t forget to check if the rental company provides or rents out dollies and straps to move heavy boxes and appliances like washers, dryers and refrigerators.

Stock up on Packing Supplies

If you are doing the packing and moving yourself, there are many things you can do to remain organized as you pack. It all begins with purchasing the packing supplies you need to set yourself up for success. Some basic packing supplies are permanent markers, color coding stickers, box tape, bubble wrap, wrapping papers or newspapers, protective wraps/pads for large furniture. You will also need boxes in multiple sizes, including small, medium, large, wardrobe boxes and boxes designed for electronics, stemware and dishes.

Create a System

There should be a method to the madness when you are packing! Although you maybe think you will remember what you packed in each box, it is likely that you won’t. To help stay organized, you can create a simple system for packing:

Create a Packing Spreadsheet

You can make a simple Excel or Word spreadsheet to organize your boxes. The goal of this spreadsheet is to number each box and write on your spreadsheet its general contents. You don’t need to list every item in the box, but you do need to be fairly specific. Instead of typing something like “living room,” type “living room vases.”

Color Code Each Room

So that you and the movers know what room each box should go in when you arrive, color code each box and put two colored stickers each box: one on the top and one next to the box number that correlates with your packing spreadsheet. For example, you might choose green for kitchen, blue for bathroom, yellow for living room and so on. Try not to mix rooms when packing, but if you must, color code the box with two colors of stickers so you will remember.

Record a Video or Snap a Picture

For details that may be hard to recall once you get to your new home, record a short video on your phone or snap a quick photo. This could help you remember, for example, how you arranged your family photos on the wall, the order in which your vases and trinkets are on your shelves or which cord goes to what for your electronic devices.

Moving can be stressful, but with a solid game plan and some organizational tools, you can maintain a level of organization. You can unpack without the element of surprise when opening your boxes in your new home!

This article was provided by Chase Roberts, home & garden expert and moving master.

Is moving ever a pleasant experience? In most cases, the answer is usually “no.” It takes a lot of organization, a lot of stress and, usually, a lot of money to set up your household on the other side of town. When you’re moving cross country, the situation is significantly exacerbated. Everything is ten times more expensive and ten times more complicated, and it’s just a necessary consequence of living the dream. You’re moving for a reason, though, otherwise you’d stay exactly where you are. Keeping that in mind, here are 25 blogs that will help you get from point A to point B with minimal hassle.

Packing for the Move

Packing is not something that you do the day before you move. It’s something that requires almost military precision, planned months ahead of the move. If you only have a short amount of time to pack and move, well, you will just have to work with what you’ve got. Regardless, if you don’t pack with care and due attention, you can expect months of deconstructing nameless boxes with who-knows-what contained within. You might even end up with a colorful mosaic where your prized China plates used to live. These are the perils of mismanaged packing, but you can avoid them by reading these five blogs.

Tying up Loose Ends

In the process of moving, most people don’t pay enough attention to tying up loose ends. Your credit cards, magazine subscriptions and other services will haunt you like jilted lovers if you don’t bring those relationships to a satisfactory end. Some relationships will endure at your new home, however, it’s up to you to either sever or maintain those once-important connections. It may not seem important when you’re concentrating on packing up for the big move, but once you get the first quarterly bill through for late fees, you’ll feel the pinch. Learn how to say “it’s not you, it’s me,” and make a smooth transition into your new life.

On the Move and Transportation

So, now you’re ready to hit the road. You’ve packed all of your old life into boxes and said all your goodbyes. What’s next? Well, you need to facilitate a way to get to your new home. However, transporting your possessions and loved ones is only part of the challenge. You’re moving cross country, so it’s going to be a long trip. Whether you intend on flying out to your new destination or taking a road trip, you should consider how you’re going to entertain the troops. These five blogs will help you decide how to best deal with the logistics of the move and how to get there in one piece.

Unpacking Tips

You may feel like you’ve been here before – only in reverse. Don’t be fooled, though, unpacking is a distinctly different discipline than packing. You will immediately need certain items when you reach your new home; coffee and headache pills are two popular choices. Besides which, unpacking is you truly staking your claim on your new home, so enjoy it. In these five blogs you will find the best tips on how to ease into your new environment.

Settling into Your New Home

Now that you’ve unpacked, it’s time to announce yourself to the world. Okay, maybe not the entire world, but your new town or city, at least. Get to know the neighbors, explore your new surroundings and find out where all the happening places are, if that’s what you’re into. If you’re feeling a little out of your element in your new home, turn to these five blogs for some helpful guidance and advice.

Contributor:

Jeralyn Nelson is a recent contributor for “housesittingjobs.com“. You can check out her recent contribution at one of her recently published article “http://www.housesittingjobs.com/blog/25-blogs-with-the-best-packing-tips-for-your-cross-country-move/“.

Nobody likes to move but with a little planning and preparation you can make your next move as painless as possible. Here are some tips to get organized.

Plan Ahead

If you’re moving during a busy time of year—half of all moves happen in late spring and summer—book your moving company or your truck ahead of time. College towns see huge activity in early May and late August. Call them at least three or four months ahead of time. Otherwise, you risk having to use the cheapest company or paying your friends down the street in pizza to help move your possessions.

Get an Estimate

A moving company should provide you with an estimate. The estimate is based on the size of your home, the furniture you’ll be moving, and how far you’re moving. Ask at least three companies for estimates, and ask plenty of questions to avoid hidden fees.

Protect Your Valuables

A lot of moving companies won’t handle expensive or potentially dangerous items such as jewelry, weapons, alcohol, or gas grills. Plus, you would probably rather transport your personal documents, family heirlooms, and priceless items yourself rather than abandoning them in the back of a moving van. Leave room in your car or your suitcase for these items and make sure they’re insured if at all possible.

Clean BEFORE You Pack

Purge your home of accumulated junk. Go through the closets, the kitchen cabinets, the bathrooms, and the entertainment center looking for duplicates, unused items, broken and irreparably damaged items, clothes that don’t fit or that you haven’t worn in a year, outgrown toys, and other unnecessary items. Then make a pitch pile to toss in the trash and a donate pile to take to a local charity. If your home needs an especially thorough cleaning, consider getting a dumpster. Donate the rest of the items to a secondhand store or shelter. As a bonus, these donations are tax-deductible.

Keep Records

If you’re moving for your job, the cost of your move is tax-deductible, but you must keep thorough records of mileage, storage, gas, truck rental, and insurance. Otherwise, you’re likely to be subject to an audit. If your business is paying to relocate you, they will also want to see thorough financial records.

Pack Smartly

Don’t plan to put an entire bookshelf’s worth of books in a single box unless you have hired a bodybuilder to help you move. Many moving companies sell boxes with recommended contents and weights. Use those as a guide. If you’re packing-challenged, buy pizza in exchange for the help and advice of a friend or family member who can help you get organized. Strategic packing will prevent broken belongings, sprained backs, and chaos during the unpacking process.

Don’t Forget the Plants

Whether you only have one or two small potted plants or a whole indoor greenhouse, make sure you’ve arranged for your plants to survive the move. The lighting and climate in a moving van isn’t exactly hospitable to most plants, so make sure you have a plan to help your plants reach your destination safely.

Don’t Forget the Pets

A cat, dog, or guinea pig can’t exactly live in the back of a moving truck for days either. If your pet isn’t used to traveling long distances in a car or an airplane, make sure you have a motion sickness medication or sedatives on hand, just in case. Keep your pet’s papers and registrations with you at all times, particularly if you’re planning to cross state lines.

This article was contributed by Chase Roberts, home & garden connoisseur who’s experienced his fair share of stressful moves.

After a long winter, spring is finally in sight. Before the season is in full bloom and outdoor chores pile up, take advantage of spring showers to tackle the indoors first with easy home cleaning and organizing projects. To get your home in tip-top shape, start by breaking down your to-do list room by room, so you can create an easily achievable goal that will leave your house looking fabulous and you feeling refreshed.

Restore beauty in the bath

The bathroom may be one of the smallest rooms in the house, but it can also be the one with the biggest mess. Vanities often become a magnet for clutter. Everything, from towels to toiletries, curling irons to cotton balls, can take over this space and make cleaning a nuisance. Start by reducing your items. Marry any of your multiple containers of the same product into one container. Then, recycle the empty containers to create more space.

Once your cleaning is complete, add drawer organizers, baskets and other accessories to neatly store all necessities. Then add towel bars, robe hooks and shelves as they are easy, inexpensive and decorative additions to help prevent items from ending up on the floor or countertop.

Clean and clever kitchens

Next, move to the kitchen, a favorite gathering place … and one of the dirtiest rooms in the house. Begin by sorting through cupboards to weed out any unused products, such as specialized appliances, expired pantry foods and containers with missing lids. If it’s broken or hasn’t been used in a year, it’s time to get rid of it. You’ll instantly achieve valuable cabinet storage – as well as eliminate objects that collect dust and bacteria.

Now, start from the top and give your kitchen a thorough cleaning – including tops of cabinets and appliances – and finish with a good scrubbing of the floors. Finally, focus on updating the germiest area of the kitchen – the sink. There are typically more than 500,000 bacteria per square inch in the sink drain alone, according to Health Magazine. And that doesn’t include regularly touched items, such as your sponge and faucet.

Refreshed laundry room

The laundry room, since it is often located near the frequently used garage entry, can become a catch-all for everything from cleaners to coats, and shoes to shop vacs. Free yourself of this clutter by organizing and giving everything its proper place. Items often get stashed on the horizontal surfaces – such as the floor or on top of the washer and dryer – so look to the vertical surfaces of the room to create new, more appropriate places.

Adding wall cabinets is an ideal place to add storage (and keep things neatly hidden). Wall hooks dedicated to each family member can neatly hold coats, scarves and bags. Installing shelves in the coat closet can provide additional room on top and below the garment bar. Over-the-door storage racks can house frequently used items, such as brooms or shoes.

With a few upgrades and organization to key rooms, your home will look its best and the new-found organization will energize your spirit just in time to enjoy the spring season.

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Living With Less

How to Make Moving Painless

25 Blogs With the Best Packing Tips for Your Cross Country Move

Common Moving Mistakes

Tips to keep your home clean and clutter free

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