Upon recently moving into New York City, the only thing I could focus on was, “OMG! I’m moving into New York City!” Never did I take the time to focus on the logistics or cost, let alone the actual move itself.  After experiencing the up’s and down’s, the laughter and the tears, I have compiled a Do’s and Don’ts list for moving within the Big Apple:

DO: Rent a UHaul in advance. The hardworking people at your near-by UHaul can either be your best friend, or your worst enemy depending on timing.

DO: Recruit friends and loved ones for your special move- because why wouldn’t they want to share this totally awesome day of sweat and heavy lifting with you?

DO: Have patience. It will make your move ten times easier. Try not to stress about things you cannot control, i.e., worrying about the old lady moving at a snail’s pace in front of you while you try to walk your kitchen table down the sidewalk. She is moving as fast as she can.

DO NOT: Wait until the day-of to pack. This can/will result in a disgruntled father/parent as throwing your clothes into garbage bags takes a lot longer than one would think.  You can only yell, “Just one more bag!” so many times before they catch on.

An extension of the above: DO NOT throw random things into random boxes. You will be much happier actually knowing where everything is while unpacking. Mixing your computer charger in with your shoe bin will only give you a headache. (I am still looking for said computer charger.)

DO NOT: Leave during rush-hour traffic. While the island of Manhattan is only 23 square miles small, it will take you over an hour to travel half that during rush hour.

- Cara