When it really comes down to it, I’m a DIY kind of guy. I didn’t use to be this way, first off. In fact, I was pretty big on buying things premade simply because time was more valuable to me than anything. If I had to do it myself, I’d pass on it. I felt my money got a lot more mileage out of buying me more time and less work.

Well, that was the lifestyle before. But the past few years have shown that I’m actually far more inclined to do my own work and put my own time towards something if it means saving money. Don’t ask me what changed, honestly. I think it was just maturity and aging that made me realize my money was worth saving for other things, especially since doing things on my own has taught me how to be better at those very tasks.

That’s why I do my own packaging if I’m going to ship a few boxes to some family or friends. I know that a lot of shipping stores will offer to do it for you and package for you, but I find that rates are higher this way. Instead, I try to gather what shipping supplies I do have and put those to use for shipping by packing the boxes all up, taping it off, printing my labels out, slapping them on, and simply paying for shipping once I arrive to the shipping drop off location. By using my own shipping supplies, I’m able to save by buying in bulk and staying away from others doing the work for me.

This is exactly why I’ve begun to do my own stuff with wood working, repairing things around the house, changing my own oil, and always cooking my own food. Sure, others can do those things for you, but it always comes at a price that I just cannot justify when I know I could tackle it on my own with a little bit of patience, time, and learning.

It’s no wonder my dad has done all this stuff on his own from the get go. I’m beginning to understand what makes a conscious homeowner when these tasks are concerned. Rather than have others handle your problems at a price, just do it yourself. There’s no easier way to put it than that. Is it easier for you to just shell out extra for someone else to do it? Yes. Is that the way you want it done, though? Probably not.

Have you ever created your own things out in the shop or somewhere in your home and felt extremely accomplished and proud of your work? To me, it’s one of the best feelings simply because you did it 1) on your own time and 2) with your own money. And the best part? It’s all outside of work, it’s usually something you really have been wanting to do whether it was an interest or for someone else, and it’s all YOUR work.

That’s how I got hooked on making my own cornhole boards. I never thought I’d enjoy it or be good at it, but the best way to get ahold of a pair of boards is to make your own. With a few old shipping boxes broken down and placed beneath you as you work, your cleanup will be much easier, from spilled paint or stain to lots of sawdust beneath your project.

In fact, despite only having made 4 pairs of boards, I’ve got a buddy who has made his own too, and I’m thinking about asking him if he’d want to set up a sort of side business for both of us where we simply met up, made a few pairs of boards every other weekend or so, and then sold them to people willing to pay $200 for a pair of well done, regulation boards.

That’s exactly how extra money is made and how you can become incredibly skilled at something. The more you do it, the better it will be. The more passion you put into it, the more skilled you’ll become because you love it. And the more you can get someone else in on it, the more you’ll stay committed to your craft and give it the time it needs.

Of course, this extends to things that you’re not selling, too. My mom has a wreath shop back home where she will send wreaths off with friends, family, and really anyone that asks. They’re seasonal, they’re holiday themed, and they’re for big life events in general. So, despite not making any money on her wreaths, she has grown a huge selection of crafts, wreaths, and other garland that she will exchange with people, and her wreaths seem to get better and better every single month. Because she’s passionate about them.

That’s really all this takes. Having the right materials and supplies, like the cheap wood you can get at your local department store or a few shipping boxes that you’ve used for easier cleanup. Whether you’re doing something for your home, gardening outside, making cornhole boards or wreaths, or even doing some sort of art or cooking for others, make it a hobby you love and a passion you don’t want to live without. That’s when the good stuff begins to happen.

I’m often guilty of not seeing my parents as much as I could despite living just two hours away from them. The thing is, if I’m going to make a trip home to see them, I want to be able to stay for at least a night. A two hour trip there and back is absolutely doable in one day, but I just feel like that decreases my time spent with them while also increasing my stress of driving in a single day.

So when it comes to more “minor” holidays like Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, I often don’t make it home since 1) I’m usually doing other things with my girlfriend’s family who already live in town and 2) there’s just not enough time in the weekend to dedicate 4 hours driving back home.

So, that’s why I like to usually pack up something small in some shipping boxes and send them to my parents for more minor holidays like these. It lets them know I’m still thinking about them while also saving me major time and stress in driving and planning out a full weekend.

The good thing is that my parents never mind and always understand that my schedule is busier than theirs, so they’re always accommodating and happy to see me when they can. The better thing is that I can still give them the time of day they deserve by showing I care and thought of them with a few gifts shipped to their home. They always appreciate anything unexpected like a new shirt I found or a book that made me think of them. It’s cheap and easy for me and pleasant for them without causing any sort of hurt feelings among our relationship.

Recently I’ve found that sending my dad a new hat or a tee shirt I thought he’d like is the best for him. He’s always liking more hats and wearing stuff that he knows I, myself, enjoy wearing (which is funny because I used to want to dress like him and now the roles are reversed).

As for my mom, she’s the reader in the family. So sending along a book or some sort of craft or materials for her wreath shop will make her day instantly. She’s always down to read something new, use something for her wreaths, or make something she hasn’t ever made before.

Ultimately, showing your parents you care is what matters most. It doesn’t have to be something extravagant or expensive. As long as they see you’re thinking about them, even if you can’t make it home, they’ll be quite proud to call you their child.

Since the dawn of time, humanity has always had a way of getting a message or even a gift to other people long distances. Whether it’s through word of mouth and a runner who traveled long distances, someone on horseback to get somewhere farther away even quicker, or even machinery that creates parcels and other machinery that carries them across the world, we’ve always had something in place in order to send messages and packages long distances.

So when you stop to think about how shipping boxes are the current “best” option for packages in today’s shipping standards, it really makes you wonder what the next step is. I mean, really, if something as simple as a cardboard box is the best we have, what’s the next rung up? What’s the next evolution in the shipping industry that will change the world? Will it be a new material that is even lighter and sturdier than cardboard? Will that material take too much money to produce or too much time in comparison to cardboard? Will it be as environmentally friendly and recyclable as cardboard?

There are a lot of questions surrounding the future of packaging and shipping, but the reality is that right now, shipping boxes are the best at what they do. So until we discover a way to refine those boxes or create something entirely new, everything is good where it’s at.

And when you think about the evolution of things, they only need to change when change is needed. When pressure is put on someone, something, or some being, things begin changing and that person or thing adapts accordingly. As of right now, there’s nothing better than cardboard in terms of how cheap it is, how sustainable it is, and how lightweight and strong it is. Once the next material just happens upon humanity, I’m sure we’ll adopt it slowly into shipping until it just makes sense to mass produce in favor of cardboard. But until then, cardboard will likely reign supreme for many years to come.

What’re some other items or materials you can think of that are the “best” at what they do currently and simply don’t have any competition to dethrone them? I can think of a few off the top of my head, but one that stands out for sure is the iPhone. Currently, there is nothing “more advanced” or “better” than the iPhone, even if it was considered luxury. It is the bar and always has been the bar for smartphones. Even if Google phones and Samsung phones are on par, they aren’t ever strictly better. I’m just curious to see what happens when the iPhone becomes obsolete when the next piece of technology comes out and blows it away for good.

When will that be and what will it be?

Christmas is almost upon us! That means many of us will be shipping gifts far and wide as we send presents to our friends and relatives. The last thing any of us would want would be for our hand picked gifts to arrive broken or damaged. Here’s some tips for packaging your gifts in a way that ensure they arrive safe and sound.

1) Choosing your shipping boxes.

The best rule of thumb is that the box you use should be the smallest possible box that still fits your item. The larger the box, the more likely your gift is to shift and shake during transportation. And the more shaking, the more likely there will be damage. Additionally, using the smallest box possible will also cut down on your shipping costs! Some mail providers even have boxes of various sizes with a flat shipping cost, no matter how much the box weighs.

2) Choosing a filler.

Even if you choose a small shipping boxes, it’s unlikely that your item will fit perfectly. There will probably be some areas of empty space. It’s important to fill this empty space up using a cheap, light filler. In a pinch, balled up newspaper will do the trick, but there are also other options like bubble wrap. Crinkle cut paper strips can be a great way to add some filler to a box, while also making your gift look inviting and festive. You can typically find crinkle cut paper at a local craft store. Regardless of what you use, fill the box as tightly as you reasonably can. Having tightly packed filler will also prevent your gift from shifting around in the box during transport.

3) Tape.

You know how they say the more the merrier? That’s totally true with tape too. Tape keeps your package closed during its journey and so it’s best to use a lot of it. Admittedly, your gift recipient may be a bit annoyed at the amount of work they have to go through to get to your gift, but better to have it arrive safe than damaged!

4) Insurance.

When you send your package, most places will ask you if you’d like to add insurance to your shipping. Really, this is up to you. But, if you’re sending an expensive gift, adding insurance can ensure that, if your package ends up damaged or lost, you’ll be compensated accordingly.

Hopefully, following these four tips will make sure that all of your Christmas gifts make it to their intended recipients safe and sound!

Packing a gift or parcel correctly will help you save on the cost of mailing the parcel. Shipping a parcel can be expensive. The cost of shipping a parcel weighing 1-2 pounds is about $7. The number of parcels delivered by FedEx and UPS combined is about 32 million. Packing a parcel correctly can help reduce the cost of shipping. You can reduce the cost of shipping a small parcel containing a birthday gift or large parcels containing products to be sent to customers by cost effective packaging.

You should choose the method of packing and shipping according to the product. Shipping costs of heavier objects are more than lighter ones. If you are planning to send media related items like DVDs, manuscripts or sound recordings, the US Postal Service offers an affordable media mail service. The media mail service of the USPS is intended for those who plan to send media related or educational items.

One effective method of reducing shipping costs is to use a cheap and good box of a correct size. You can buy cheap packing boxes and cut them according to the size of the object you plan to send. The Goldilocks principle of ‘Just Right’ should be used when choosing or cutting the size of the box. A box that is too small will not protect the object you plan to send and if the box is too big, you will need to unnecessarily fill empty space with packaging material. Sending a large box is expensive as compared to sending a box that is just right.

Another mistake that one makes while packing is over packing. In your attempt to protect the object, you may over use bubble wrap or packing paper or peanuts. This will make the parcel heavy and you will increase your shipping costs. A few layers of packing material are enough to protect delicate items like a watch.

The smaller the package, the cheaper the shipping should be your guiding principle while packing parcels. Packing intelligently is the key to saving money. If you plan to mail a shirt, you will make your parcel heavy by packing the shirt in a box. Folding the shirt into a small bundle and placing it in a packing padded envelope will reduce weight and save shipping costs.
Sometimes you may not get a box of the size that is just right. When this happens you should get cheap moving boxes and cut them to the size that is just right. By cutting these boxes, you can pack the object in durable material that will keep the contents safe while you save on shipping costs.

You need to make a choice of a carrier that suits your needs. Shipping and mailing companies help customers find the correct carrier to help with their shipping needs. Different carriers are suitable for different types and sizes of parcels. Companies that focus on finding the best carrier for their customers help reduce the shipping costs for their customers considerably.
Finding a company that offers carrier solutions for shipping goods can help you save carrier costs. These companies find the best carrier that suits the needs of customers. They also find the most cost effective among carriers for the type of parcel content and the size of the parcel.

Moving from one place to another can be an exciting exercise. However, it can also turn out to be tedious, and this leads to forgetting some of the crucial items especially when they are many. Mostly, large items such as television sets and sofas cannot be easily forgotten. This is primarily because of their size. Smaller items are however prone to be left behind, and the user may have to spend again in purchasing these stuff. The following are some of the things that most people tend to forget when changing houses:

1. Prescription medicines
Medicines are effective when they are taken according to the doctor’s prescription. There are types such as aspirin and ibuprofen that are taken when the user is in pain. The doctor administers others, and they should be sequentially taken to ensure that they cure the targeted ailment. At many times, medicines tend to be forgotten when moving from one house to the other. This is mainly because medicines are usually stored in cabinets, unlike other items that are in the open space. You should ensure that you carry your prescription drugs with you as their importance cannot be overemphasized. To eliminate forgetfulness, consider placing them and other small sized things in cheap moving boxes that can be readily purchased at the retail shops.

2. Crucial documents
Documents are also prone to be left behind when changing houses. This can lead to a disastrous outcome as retrieving all the documents can be very expensive as well as time-consuming. Some of the papers that most people forget behind include driving licenses, legal documents, and medical records. When moving it is advisable to organize all your documents beforehand and place them in moving boxes. Having a checklist whereby you tick all the items that you have packed is advantageous in eliminating the chances of leaving documents behind.

3. Things that are in storage areas
When moving, many people tend to concentrate on the items that are inside the house and ignore the storage areas. This at many times leads to some crucial items being left behind. This can be avoided by removing these items from the storage zone and placing them in the packaging area. Also, after packing all the things, you should countercheck the storage areas. This ensures that there’s nothing significant that is left behind. Again, some people have external stores away from the house. It is advisable to bring items in such stores near the home.

4. Loaned out items
People usually borrow items from their neighbors. Such things include books, DVDs, and skating shoes. Mostly when moving to a new place, it is easy to forget these items that are with friends. When one intends to move to a place that is close to where they used to live, this is not a big issue as the items can be easily recovered. However, when migrating to a new country, it may be difficult ever to get those items back again. Therefore, you should ensure that you have a right track of the items that you may have given out before changing houses.

5. Clothes at the dry cleaner
Usually, when changing homes, people tend to pay little focus on what is outside the house. This leads to leaving items such as clothes at the dry cleaner behind. You should avoid taking clothes and other items out of the house during this period to minimize the chances of them being left behind.

Summer is peak moving season. Of the 19 million people moving to new homes each year, 2.5 million will move during the summer. Here are tips that will help make your summer move a good one.

Tip #1: Move Early in the Morning

The best time of day to move is in the morning to avoid the sweltering heat of the summer day. You should schedule your move so that you are finishing up when the heat has reached its peak. Excessive physical activity in the heat can be dangerous and can result in a heat stroke.

Tip #2: Schedule Your Move Well in Advance

You should give yourself enough time to research the best and most reputable movers in your area. The most reputable movers schedule moves well in advance especially during the summer season. Some movers will offer a discount for early bookings.

Tip #3: Sell Unwanted Belongings

Selling your unwanted belongings can reduce the number of items packed and moved. You should hold a garage sale well before your scheduled move date to eliminate transferring junk to your new home. You can save money because you are moving less property. In addition, you will earn a couple of bucks that can be used to help finance your move.

Tip #4: Pack for Efficiency

Summer moves need to be as swift and organized as possible. You should start packing as soon as you know you’re moving date. Cheap moving boxes and packing supplies can be obtained at a discount to save you money. Label each box with the name of the room the movers should put the box in your new home. Using a sharpie, mark the labels so that the handwriting is clear and legible. How well you pack is an indication of how organized the move will be.

Tip #5: Close Utilities the Day after the Move 

Closing out your electricity and air conditioning should be scheduled the day after your move. Movers will be more efficient, safer, and effective when your home is cool and comfortable from proper air conditioning temperatures. The electricity and water should be on to help facilitate and use resources requiring electricity and water.

Tip #6: Pack a Cooler for Moving Day 

Stay cool. Stay hydrated. Stay well-fed. It is best to pack one or two large coolers that your family can access on moving day. Along with plenty of ice, the coolers should contain water bottles, snacks, and sandwiches. The coolers should contain everything you need to drink and eat during the move. Don’t forget to buy extra water to offer your movers to help keep them hydrated.

Tip #7: Dress Accordingly

Stay cool on a hot sweltering summer day by dressing in light loose-fitting clothes. Layer your look so that as the day and heat progresses, you can easily remove a layer. Apply sunscreen with an SPF of 30 to protect you from the sun.

Summer moves can be the most enjoyable moves you can make. The kids are out of school, you have scheduled vacation time off, movers have seasonal discounts and the weather is agreeable. If you follow the above tips, your summer move goes smoothly and will be less stressful.

Running any small business comes with a daily list of stresses and decisions. Without the well-developed network and infrastructure of bigger competitors, the little guys are left to go it alone. Something every business must contend with, big or small, no matter the industry, is shipping costs. A small business’s bottom line can be significantly affected by the simple act of shipping boxes. Your merchandise is your business, and getting it into the hands of paying customers, quickly and securely, is highly important to your success. In order to remove the stresses and burdens of shipping, it is vital that any business owner plan ahead and consider the following factors.

Organize Around Common Shipments
All the big shipping providers, the United States Post Office, FedEx, UPS, or DHL, retain the services of a small-business specialist, so make use of this important contact. The specialist can help you align their fees and service requirements with the shipping needs of your business, including modes of transport and timing of deliveries. Business owners that work closely with their shipping providers can save upwards of 40 percent on shipping fees, each year.

Clarify Customer Charge-Backs
With any business, big or small, sometimes the customer pays for shipping and sometimes the business fronts this cost. What is important is to formalize the shipping rules and make them readily available to customers and staff alike. If, for instance, your company pays standard shipping, but customers cover any expedited costs, make sure that customers are aware of, and agree to, this policy.

Put the Postage Meter to Work
Having a postage meter on hand is, of course, an added cost, but it is still estimated that leasing one of these machines, for as little as $20 a month, can save more than 20 percent each year in shipping costs. These easy-to-use machines, with a scale attached, eliminate over-paying for postage, and the hassle, time, and cost of regular trips to your shipping company’s offices.

Consolidate Where You Can
This is a common practice, particularly with smaller businesses, where companies that frequently ship amounts smaller than a full truckload, work with a freight consolidation service to combine shipments with those of other companies. The cheapest method is to have a full truckload of merchandise, but that can’t always be the case, so be sure to utilize this option when needed.

Keep Tabs on Your Carrier
This should be obvious, but it goes without saying, work with your carrier to make sure pickups, deliveries, customer service response times, online tracking, and deadlines are being met. When issues do arise, address them and don’t be afraid to shop around to competitors. Hand in hand with this, is to keep in contact with your customers and make sure they are receiving their shipments when and where the carriers say they are.

Conclusion
There’s no reason to make the running and operating of a small business any more stressful than it needs to be. Every business will need to ship and receive items at some point, so put a framework in place to make sure you are getting the best value for you money, and make shipping boxes one less stress on the list, and one more component in your success.

Congratulations on your new home! You signed the contracts and are ready to move in. Here comes the next step. You must get your possessions to your new home. There are many things involved in moving. You should consider the following to ensure a less stressful move.

Prepare

You would do well to prepare everything before you begin packing. Have enough shipping boxes in various sizes to fulfill your varied needs. Books, cast-iron pans, or glassware are heavy. Use smaller boxes to not overexert movers. For lightweight items like children’s stuffed animals and blankets, use larger boxes to consolidate.

Avoid waiting until the last minute. Plan to eat takeout the last day in your old home and pack away all the dishes, pots, and utensils. Have a suitcase with one set of clothes per person and soap, shampoo, and towels. Don’t forget a plastic sack to put wet towels in!

Label Every Box

Labels are important. When your boxes are empty, you just want them packed, taped, and stacked for the move. When you get to your new home, help movers know where boxes should go. Label each shipping box with the room it will go into. Put the destination and partial contents on two sides and the top to ensure visibility and quick response.

Label bedrooms and bathrooms in your new home, too. Tack a paper labelling bedrooms, or Bath 1 and Bath 2, will guide the mover to put your boxes just where they need to go. Give movers a tour to speed things up. Don’t forget your delicate items. The word fragile tells movers to not put that box under one labelled ‘books’.

Furniture

You have furniture to move. Remember that it has been in one place for a long time. Sofas and chairs are moved easier, but tables and dressers are not as forgiving. Table legs may loosen through time and you don’t realize it until the mover picks up the table and a leg wiggles off. Dressers are just as unforgiving. If you thought dresser drawers are a good place to pack fragile items, think again. The drawers are not designed for things heavier than clothes and may bottom-out when moved. The dresser, itself, may have feet or legs, like the table, that have loosened with time and fall off.

Parking

Moving trucks are big. Ensure that you secure a parking spot at the origin and the destination. The parking spot should have clear access and the straightest route that you can accomplish. Many locations will allow you to reserve a parking spot. You are responsible for providing the moving truck with a place to park. In addition, be sure the truck is in a legal parking area. If the movers get a ticket, the fine is the customer’s responsibility.

Transporting Items

If your new or current home is on a second or higher floor, work with building management to secure access to a freight elevator, or reserve the necessary time to have free access to an elevator. Movers are on strict timelines and waiting for an elevator may put them behind schedule. You will be responsible for any additional charges they may require.

Moving is a time-consuming process that can be easy or overwhelming. Knowing small things you can do to improve the process will help all involved in the move and give everyone a chance to work smart, not hard.