Public Service Announcement: Moving

Chances are that boxes were not included in the estimate.  Ask your mover if there are used boxes you can get for free.  In any event, buy wholesale from the mover and not retail at a self-storage facility.  The big wardrobe boxes were almost $16 at the storage facility where I have kept stuff for a couple years; the moving company didn't have any used, but the new ones were only $7.50.

Also, chances are that you have a moving allowance and not an all-expenses paid deal.  I had one of the latter once - de rigeur in the corporate world.  If you have ever watched the movers pack, it's amazing how much paper and how many boxes they can pull out of the truck.  Doing it yourself (and, say, packing the fragiles in towels or clothing or whatever) saves a lot of money and is safer.

You cannot move a propane tank.  I wonder if there is a business in being a clearinghouse for the exchange of gas grill propane tanks for moving professors.  There must be somebody moving to Indy who needs a 3/4 full tank, and somebody who is leaving one behind in Boston.

[Jeff Lipshaw]