When finals season finally ends, you might have thought that the last of your worries would be gone. Instead, you’re faced with the final test—having to figure out how to transport your whole personal ecosystem somewhere else. To make the transition easier, The Tribune has put together some pointers that might come in handy.
Less is more/
As someone who used to grieve throwing away everything—from raggedy socks to shards of broken dishes—my first move kickstarted a journey towards minimalism. The sight of all my belongings laid out on the floor transformed me into a memories over possessions advocate, so much so that the only decor in my room now is a single framed picture. While there’s no need to adopt such an ascetic lifestyle yourself, a good pre-move decluttering won’t hurt anyone. During the process, it’s important to be mindful of the size of your new place, especially if you’re moving to a less spacious area. A good selection criterion is assessing the potential value of each item rather than focusing on its past worth.
A good final step of sustainable spring cleaning is donating used, but functioning goods. Thrift McGill and Renaissance Quebec accept a vast array of items for donation. Remember to check their lists of accepted items, and don’t forget to clean and wash your things beforehand!
This one’s heavy
Talking business now, if you are a proud owner of furniture but want to downsize your collection, consider your options based on the time and resources available to you. List your items for free on Facebook Marketplace or Kijiji if your main goal is to clear your space out as soon as possible. If you’d prefer to sell your items, remember that during this time of year, many other renters are posting their furniture. Keep this increased supply in mind when setting your price points. As a last resort, Welcome Collective is a paid service that can pick up all the unwanted furniture you weren’t able to get rid of yourself.
Think outside the box
Even though a stack of moving boxes creates the perfect photo-op for an aesthetic Instagram story, those pile-ups of cardboard monstrosities are impractical, especially if you are coordinating the move yourself. Boxes take up a lot of space, and they are hard to carry, especially if they’ve been packed to the brim. Instead, opt for something like an IKEA FRAKTA bag: They’re loose, have handles, are less prone to water damage, and have zippers for extra security.
Update your address
Beyond the physical move, updating your address everywhere is one of those tasks that’s easy to put off and tedious to do, but saves you real headaches down the line. Start with the essentials: Your bank, your phone plan, and any necessary student and government records. From there, work through the less urgent but still important ones—like Uber or Amazon to avoid missing out on your next food delivery or taking a trip across town to pick up a 4×4-sized package. A good strategy is to sit down and make a list of every service you can think of, then knock them out in one session rather than discovering them one by one over the next three months.
Practice gratitude
After all the rigorous cleaning, heavy lifting and sighs of frustration, remember to properly part ways with the walls that were present through all the joys and hardships of your academic year. Take one last moment to observe the empty space and think about the lessons and memories you wish to take with you. Rejoice in the fact that the moments you’d rather forget can be left behind. If you shared the space with someone, contemplate the future of your connection. A symbolic gift or one last shared meal can be a good way of memorializing the shared journey and signalling interest in maintaining contact. In the case of a less fortunate roommate relationship, a simple farewell message can be a respectful conclusion.