What to Do After Your Bracket Is Busted

Take it from a guy whose friends love college basketball: Sometimes it hurts to get invested. It helps that I went to a university that rarely has the national spotlight during college tournaments, but I’ve never let myself get too attached to any sports team. The pain of loss is too much for me to bear – I already have to watch all my friends weep over their busted brackets once a year. Who needs that pain all the time?

Regardless, this blog is for all of those who had their (metaphorical) hearts ripped out after each round. When you have no team left to root for, and the thought of your bracket brings tears to your eyes, pick up any of the following activities to numb the pain.

Get away from the TV screen you’ve been huddled around, and go watch something on a much larger screen. Seriously though, from January to March, studios dump their movies of lesser quality, and in spring, they start to release better ones to get people excited for the summer movie season. This week we have “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” coming out, the first big superhero movie of the year. It’s one of the first largely-hyped movies to come out this year, only dwarfed by “The Amazing Spider-Man 2,” which doesn’t come out until the end of May. Andrew Garfield is back as Spider-man, and this time he’s fighting three villains: Electro (Jamie Foxx), Green Goblin (Dane DeHaan) and The Rhino (Paul Giamatti). If superheroes aren’t your bag though, or if you want to watch something original, check out “Transcendence”: It’s directed by Wally Pfister, Christopher Nolan’s cinematographer, and it’s about a dying scientist who downloads his mind in a computer. The plot sounds wild, it’s bound to look awesome and it’s got Johnny Depp and Morgan Freeman.

It’s never too early to plan a big trip, especially after a soul-crushing winter. Take your mind off your busted bracket by transporting yourself to any warm location you wish to go to: Maui, Cancun or any place resting on the equator. Use your basketball sadness to fuel your early ticket purchases and get lower prices. We’re also at the fun time of year when all of the big music festivals announce their lineups. Bonnaroo, a long-running music festival in Manchester, Tenn., has a huge lineup with artists ranging from Skrillex and Lionel Richie to Kanye West and The Flaming Lips. Meanwhile in California, Coachella has legendary hip-hop ground Outkast headlining their festival, along with Muse and Arcade Fire. Whether it’s music or lounging, start planning now to save cash and to ease your mind from your bracket.

Listen, I’m probably the last guy in the world to tell people what sports to watch. My idea of getting crazy in March was re-watching “Game of Thrones” for the second time before the new season comes out. That being said, spring is upon us and that means baseball. Here in Detroit, we were quick to forget Michigan and Michigan State’s eliminations when the Tigers beat the Royals on opening day.

If you’re looking for a departure from popular American sports, start preparing for the World Cup (that’s soccer, guys.) It doesn’t start until June 12, so you have plenty of time to book your ticket to Brazil, where it’s being held this year. However, if you’re still itching for some basketball, the NBA playoffs start later this month. Sounds like a perfect way to relive your college basketball pain, except with fewer teams this time.

Do you have other plans to ease your mind from college basketball? Please let us know below.

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Women’s Power Breakfast Raises Funds for Gleaners Community Food Bank

Quicken Loans was proud to support the 21st annual Women’s Power Breakfast to benefit Gleaners Community Food Bank, held April 2 at the Gleaners Detroit distribution center.

President Gerry Brisson addressed guests by sharing enlightening statistics, including that through the help of volunteers, farmers and food drives, Gleaners feeds nearly 100,000 people every day.

As one of Gleaners’ most important events, this year’s theme was “seeing is believing,” with presenters sharing their personal stories of their desire to shed light on the reality of hunger and their commitment to solve it. Special guest and National Geographic photographer Maggie Steber shared a presentation of photos she has taken over the years – captured moments of the hunger crisis in Haiti and here at home.

The audience was visibly moved by the images, as well as the footage provided by Gleaners, which told the story of nourishing local children so they can focus during the school day and giving them healthy snacks to take home on the weekends.

Gleaners Board Member Heather Lovier (front row, second from left), and fellow Quicken Loans team members participated in the 2014 Gleaners Women’s Power Lunch.

Quicken Loans Vice President of Business Development, Heather Lovier, is a Gleaners board member, and she took guests at our table on a tour of the facility. She pointed out the pallets of food that are sorted by volunteers and the kitchen where Cooking Matters™ classes are held so families can learn how to cook healthy meals.

“It’s amazing what Gleaners does for the community every single day,” said Lovier. “It only takes $122 to feed a child for a year – they really stretch every dollar to make sure that as many meals are provided as possible.”

In the past 20 years, the Women’s Power Breakfast has raised funds to provide more than six million meals for men, women and children in metropolitan Detroit.

Learn more about Gleaners Community Food Bank, sign up to volunteer or make a donation by visiting GCFB.org.

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Four Ways to Ease Airplane Anxiety Before You Even Fly

Many things scare me when it comes to flying:

Getting a stinky, tuna salad-wielding in-flight neighbor. (And the inflated prices of said airport tuna salad.)

Missing a connection and having to sleep at the gate in a torture device disguised as seating.

Having my luggage burst and watching my neatly-packed belongings show up on the filthy carousel one by one. (My mom to me at Boston Logan in 2003: “That poor girl has ALL the same shirts as you!” That poor girl was me.)

And, well, just the whole experience of being in an airplane – from takeoff, to landing and everything in between.

If you’re a nervous flyer like me, know that we truly aren’t alone. Case in point: For every three American travelers, there’s one who experiences various symptoms of anxiety in the air – regardless of frequent flyer or first-timer status.

Now, for most of us with airborne anxiety, the aforementioned tuna salad-wielding neighbor is the least of our problems: It’s the sheer panic induced by every bump, sound and otherwise normal occurrence on a flight. For some, that panic is enough to stifle opportunities to travel altogether – but it shouldn’t have to be that way.

After all, there are plenty of ways to ease the fear of flying – before even taking off. The best part? They don’t require a prescription, and they’re simple, too! Check out these four ideas before your next trip, and you may be pleasantly surprised at just how friendly the skies can be!

My mind on a flight: “What if the plane runs out of gas? What if there’s a screw loose on the wing? What if lightning strikes the fuselage? What if there’s a new, inexperienced pilot?”

Your mind, too? If you can shut your thoughts off for a moment, take comfort in the cold, hard statistics, like this one: Your odds of being killed in an airplane crash are 1 in 29.4 MILLION. You’re more likely to be attacked and killed by a shark, if that makes you feel any better. (Seriously. I looked it up.)

What’s more, airplanes are among the most rigorously-tested manufactured items in the world, and they’re held to the highest standards, too. AOL Travel has a neat article that details everything an aircraft has to go through before it’s allowed to fly – from extreme weather testing to speed stall testing and more.

I often find myself yanking my headphones out of my ears every 10 minutes or so during a flight. “What was that?” It’s always nothing, as the unfazed passengers and flight attendants around me indicate, but it still begs the question “Really, what WAS that?”

Thanks to an airline pilot and the fine folks over at USA Today, curious flyers like you and me now have the answers about those mysterious noises – and hopefully, some peace of mind. After all, that loud thud was probably just the landing gear. And landing gear is a good thing to have on a plane, of course.

You know what else is good to have on a plane? Confidence in your knowledge of what to do in the event of, heaven forbid, an emergency on board – or even how to survive a crash landing. If the mere thought of reading the seatback evacuation card and listening to the flight attendants’ instructions have you envisioning disaster scenarios, try checking out one (or all!) of these lighthearted takes on airline safety videos before you fly.

One of the biggest challenges an anxious flyer may face is the feeling of being “out of control.” While we can’t take the wheel (er, the joystick?) mid-flight, there are a few comfort-inducing things you might consider doing prior to takeoff – and they only take a few clicks of a mouse or swipe across your smartphone.

Most commercial airline and budget travel sites, along with their apps, include the type of plane assigned to each flight. So, if you prefer a newer, larger aircraft with fewer sounds and upgraded features (like additional legroom or improved cabin pressure), you may opt for an itinerary that includes, say, the Airbus 380 over the DC-10. Many airlines also allow passengers to select their seat ahead of time, too, if you prefer a certain spot on the plane to alleviate your fears.

You may also want to check out an app like Turbcast (iTunes, $1.99) before your flight. Designed by a pilot, Turbcast analyzes weather patterns just the way they would in the cockpit – and helps you understand why things like thunderstorms and air pockets often cause those uncomfortable shakes and shudders in the aircraft. The more you know, as I often say!

I’ve shared anecdotes about my past competitive golf career here on Zing, many of which involve my ever-prepared dad – and here’s another. A typical player usually arrives for tournament play about an hour prior to their tee time to allow just the right amount of minutes to check in and warm up. But then there was me and my dad, showing up two hours ahead – more than enough time to hit the range, the putting green and the practice bunker, peruse the pro shop, grab a snack in the clubhouse and do all those other things we golfers do before teeing it up. Embarrassed as I was, my dad knew me better than I knew myself. If I arrived with little time to properly prepare myself and steady my nerves, my game was likely to be subpar – and I don’t mean this in the golfing sense.

Sound familiar? There are the obvious safety reasons you’re advised to arrive at least an hour (or two, for international flights) prior to takeoff – but it’s also to ensure you make your flight, especially if you’re traveling through an unfamiliar airport or with a large group. If you’re late, you’ll have less time to check in, go through security and maybe get a quick bite to eat … meaning you might have to pull a McAllister family in the terminal. You’d be beyond frazzled before even boarding the plane. “Kevin!”

Here are a few other ways to put your mind and body at ease before heading to the airport:

Dress for the occasion – opt for unrestricting, loose layers and comfortable shoesAvoid caffeine and alcohol, which can worsen jetlag symptoms upon landing – try soothing chamomile or peppermint tea insteadPack familiar entertainment for distraction – choose a book, TV series or movie you’ve already startedStock your 1-quart bag wisely for your well-being – a few ideas include revitalizing facial mist, moisturizer, sanitizing gel, refreshing eye drops and vitamin C dietary supplements

When it comes to easing anxiety once you’re buckled in, remember this: You know you best. What calms you after a rough day or puts you in that ultimate relaxed, happy state? For me, it’s calming music, like Massive Attack or The XX. It’s also my cat – and that’s why on my last trip, I spent plenty of time on board looking at pictures and watching silly videos of her on my phone. I browsed snapshots of my destination, too, to remind myself why conquering my fear of flying was entirely worth it. Silly as it sounds, these techniques really worked – and they may work for you, too.

Have any other remedies that quell nerves at 35,000 feet – or prior to takeoff? Share them with us below!

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Four Ways to Make Saving Money Easier, More Fun and More Regular

There are a lot of reasons why putting a little money aside each month can be tough. Sometimes you don’t have that much to spare (or you don’t think you do). It can be a pain managing separate bank accounts. And, let’s face it, the interest rate on most savings accounts is around 1%, and that’s not exactly exciting.

Regardless of the excuses we might have, saving money on a regular basis is very important. Stuff breaks. Unexpected bills come up. If you’re not prepared for the occasional financial emergency, you could end up paying late fees, owing interest or facing some credit-damaging consequences.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 25% of American families and over 38% of American adults have no emergency fund or savings to fall back on. That’s scary.

If you need to start saving but find traditional savings accounts too boring, maybe you should consider one of these alternative options:

The problem with sub-1% interest rates on savings accounts is that you don’t make a lot of money off of them. With the average family having a household savings account balance of $3,800, a 1% APY would net you $38 a year, or maybe enough to take your family out to dinner.

Some creative banks and credit unions have used these paltry savings account rates as an opportunity to offer their customers a chance to win something big. Most prize-linked savings accounts work by pooling those modest interest payments into a pool with other savers. You get a certain number of entries based on how much you save, and at the end of the year, someone wins the pooled interest.

Think of it as a lottery-meets-savings account. You keep all of the money you save. But your interest contributes to a windfall of cash that you have the chance to win.

People love the opportunity to win large sums of money. That’s why lotteries and casinos are growing in popularity despite the long odds. This is a win-win for people who want to save, but who also want the thrill of a potential jackpot.

Prize-linked savings accounts are currently only available in a few states (Michigan, Nebraska, North Carolina and Washington), but the concept is catching on.

Perhaps you’ve heard of the “52-Week Money Challenge.” It was all over social media at the beginning of the year. If you missed the boat initially, there’s still time to catch up.

The concept works by encouraging savers to put $1 in a jar the first week of the year. Then every week, you add another dollar in addition to the first. You add $2 on week two, $3 on week three, and so on. If you follow the challenge through to its completion, you’ll have around $1,400 by year’s end.

The concept works for reluctant savers by making the initial contributions small and slowly increasing the amounts incrementally. It’s the savings equivalent of training for long distances. If you’ve never run before, you probably won’t want to start out by trying to run a 10K.

Learn more about the challenge and see how much you should pony up to get started and stay on track by clicking here.

The concept of a savings or lending circle is one that is well-known in countries like Mexico and Brazil, but might be a little new in the United States. The concept involves a small group of people that contribute a small amount on a regular basis. These contributions go into a pool, and every member of the circle collects the pool on a rotating basis.

Say you have a circle of 10 friends who each contribute $100 every month. That means that every month, one of your friends will receive a windfall of $1,000 to do what they please. The thought of knowing that every few months you’ll get a relatively large sum of money in exchange for a small investment on a monthly basis is appealing to some who don’t see the immediate need for saving regularly.

These circles work as no-interest loans or savings accounts, depending on when it’s your turn to get the pool. NPR had a great article on how these circles are helping Latino men and women save and invest on a regular basis.

If you’re looking for a way to set some money aside on a regular basis and some added peer pressure to make sure that you stick to the plan, consider starting a savings circle.

According to the credit bureau TransUnion, the current credit card delinquency rate is around 0.63%. From that, you might infer that Americans don’t necessarily have a problem paying their bills, they just don’t like to save as much.

So, if you’re used to paying a credit card or an auto loan on a regular basis, but don’t seem to be able to save, you can start making phantom payments as soon as your loan is paid off. Instead of writing a check to the credit card company or bank, write a check for that same amount to yourself and deposit it into a savings account.

It’s all about habit-forming. It’s easier to get into a good habit if you can easily transition into it.

When it comes to saving, it doesn’t matter how you do it as long as it gets done. Do you have a helpful or innovative method for putting extra money aside on a regular basis? Tell us all about it in the comments!

You can also check out some alternatives to regular savings accounts if you have a higher tolerance for risk.

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National Financial Literacy Month. What’s That?

This is a guest post from Quizzle. Quizzle.com is the easiest way to get a complete understanding of your credit. Visit Quizzle.com to get your free credit report and score. No purchase or credit card required! Read more at Quizzle.com.

Each calendar month is dedicated to building awareness about a particular cause (or causes). The most popular being American Heart Month (February) and Breast Cancer Awareness Month (October), but do you know what April brings awareness to? April is National Financial Literacy Month. It’s an entire month dedicated to promoting financial education across America.

Not too long ago, more than 40% of adults admitted they had no clue about personal finance (The 2012 Consumer Financial Literacy Survey). In fact, they gave themselves a C, D, or F on the subject. With stats like that, it’s not hard to see why National Financial Literacy Month is so important.

Throughout April there will be a variety of free financial events to take advantage of. They vary by location, so check with your township or city for events going on in your area. If you don’t feel like participating in a club or talking to a financial advisor there are some things you can do to better educate yourself from the comfort of your own home.

Experts suggest you check your credit report at least once a month. The more you know about your finances, the easier it will be for you to spot errors on your report. If you see an error, be sure to dispute it. You can check your credit report for free at Quizzle.com or the government site, annualcreditreport.com.

It’s hard to believe but experts suggest more than 50% of adults do not have a budget to help manage their money. Budgets can help you gain control over your money. Start small and keep things realistic. If you already have a budget, update it. If you’re working with old numbers you may not be getting the most accurate results for your current situation.

This is a whole lot easier said than done. Set aside a reasonable amount of money each month for something that you want (summer vacation, new car, or a new home). When you work hard and save for something it makes it that much better when you finally get to enjoy it.

Here’s an idea to get you started. Have you ever heard of the Mason Money Jar Challenge? It’s pretty easy… for each week of the challenge you save a dollar.

Week 1 =$1
Week 2 =$2
Week 3 =$3

And, so on. If you complete this challenge, you’ll have more than $1,300 saved up in one year!

Read the original article here!

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Going Retro: Decorating Your Home Mid-Century Modern Style

Image courtesy of ElementreeOldSkool on Etsy.com.

Here it is, folks … the queen mother of all popular retro design! Mid-century modern is hotter than Don Draper in a tux right now, and it’s one of my favorite design schemes. I’m a huge fan of Pam at Retro Renovation, who is dedicated to the preservation and acceptance of mid-century modern houses in their original states. Why not return to a house’s roots, rather than updating to the same tired granite-and-stainless-steel theme that seems to be exploding all over the place?

We’ve covered going retro with Victorian frilliness and Art Deco sleekness, and now it’s time to hold onto your pillbox hats as we dive into the atomic-starburst, tiki-bar wonderland of mid-century modern decorating!

Mid-century modern design keeps the streamlined look of Art Deco and adds a little whimsy. Whether you lean more toward Don and Betty or Lucy and Ricky, it can look as classy or kitschy as you want it to! Craigslist, Etsy and eBay are treasure troves of authentic mid-century furniture and accessories, as are estate and yard sales.

The kitchen is a fun room to mid-century modify! If you’ve got the budget, Elmira Stove Works’ Northstar line is to die for, with its retro-designed appliances in all sorts of fun colors! Add authentic details to your kitchen with unique flooring options.

Kitschy ‘50s dinette sets are colorful and fun for the diner look, or choose a sleeker look with this wooden set. These melamine starburst dishes are fun and inexpensive, or go for authenticity with these gorgeous dishes from Etsy. My intense love for ModCloth continues in full force with a sleek, mod pitcher and this beautiful set of vintage-looking, bird-covered drinking glasses designed by Charley Harper and Todd Oldham.

Napkins are an inexpensive way to add some charm – if you’ve got the time or inclination, get your hands on some vintage fabric or vintage-looking fabric and sew some. These monochromatic patterned cloth napkins add sophisticated charm, these ones add a bit more color, and these ones are delightfully atomic starburst-looking!

A mustard, avocado and orange color scheme is something to consider for your mid-century living room. If you’re brave, consider wallpaper, either the full room or an accent wall – Bradbury & Bradbury makes whimsical atomic patterns or more showy mod ones.

Furniture is a great way to showcase your style, and mid-century-style furniture has great lines that bridge the gap between retro and modern. West Elm offers many styles of retro sofas in both neutral and flashier colors. This accent chair is a bold choice, and you could add a pop of red with this twill armchair. The wooden details on this green chair are gorgeous!

This coffee table would be right at home in the Draper household, and it’s got bonus storage space for remotes, magazines and other living room clutter. This Etsy shop offers quirkier boomerang coffee tables! This dark wood entertainment center is a great focal piece with plenty of cubbyholes for hiding your not-so-mid-century cable boxes and video game systems.

No mid-century living room would be complete without a starburst wall clock or mirror adorning the wall. I’m completely enamored with this chunky table lamp and with any of the throw pillows from this Etsy shop, and this one from ModCloth! Round out the mod feel with a cocktail-scented candle from Green Daffodil!

Retro bathroom renovations can be as in-depth or simple as you want them to be. If you’re lucky enough to have an original mid-century bathroom, then you have an easier job. If your bathroom has been updated over the years, it’s easy to add some mid-century flair through accessories.

Fun shower curtains are fantastic for adding pattern and color without the commitment of wallpaper. These atomic-looking shower curtains are fun and funky, and give you some bright pops of color. These ones are more subtle, yet still fun.

This gorgeous light fixture has a subtle star pattern for a truly authentic look, while these Jonathan Adler designs have as much modern style as mid-century.

These towel hooks are an inexpensive way to add some interest to your bathroom. Hang these striped towels or some patterned towels for more color. Round out your bathroom décor with an authentic vintage soap dish.

Here’s a great opportunity to use a mid-century color palette for your walls. A simple, sleek bed frame adds a lot of visual interest – go new or vintage! A wooden dresser adds some charm, as does a vintage nightstand.

Linens are an inexpensive way to update (or backdate!) your style. Yard sales and Etsy are excellent resources for fun vintage sheets. Retro Renovation has great ideas for vintage and vintage-looking bedspreads, including these fun chenille ones. This retro-looking comforter has a mod geometric pattern that’s a little bolder and a little more modern-looking.

To accessorize, find a bedside lamp with an interestingly-shaped body or shade, or go authentic with a cool lamp or two from Etsy. This fun Cubist-inspired rug adds some more visual interest with a neutral base.

Have I missed anything? What are your favorite mid-century design schemes? Share in the comments below!

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Making Moving Painless: Heavy Lifting Is Just the Beginning

Moving is a pain – plain and simple. Maybe you got a new job. Maybe you’re moving into a new house. Maybe you won the lottery! No matter why you’re moving, the simple fact is that it’s a hassle.

There are things you can do to make it a little less painful, both for you and the kind-hearted folks you’ve suckered into helping you.

There’s an unspoken rule of thumb when it comes to moving: If you’ve ever helped a friend move, they owe you.

And there’s no statute of limitations on this rule. You helped a college roommate lug a sleeper sofa down eight flights of stairs in August? In 1987? He owes you. Big time.

But be warned. This kind of labor-based trade is strictly on a one-to-one basis. One move for one move. And moving isn’t limited to furniture either. Keep in mind that if you call on your friend to help you lug your junk, you might be called upon to return the favor in the form of dirt, mulch or, god forbid, manure. Something to keep in mind, come spring.

The running joke for lottery winners is that they never knew they had so many relatives until they won. The funny thing is, when you move, the opposite is true. You’re avoided like the plague.

People are busy. And let’s face it: Nobody wants to lug boxes of books from house to truck to house. That’s why it’s important to make sure your friends are on board when they tell you “Sure! I’ll be there at 8!”

Don’t get left holding your dolly with nobody to help ratchet your straps.

Do what you can to pool your resources for the big day. Call in favors, remind brothers or sisters of past kindnesses, butter up your officemates with some bagels – just do whatever it takes to make sure you’ve got the hands on deck to tackle your move.

Make it inviting too. Have you ever heard of Tom Sawyer whitewashing fences? By taking a mundane task and pitching it as something to take pride in, something that might even be fun, Ben Rogers actually asks to whitewash Aunt Polly’s fence for Tom – a task that was otherwise ruining a perfect day. It’s all in the sell.

Offer up free lunch, and set your friends up with all-they-can-drink water, carbonated beverages or frosty brews if they’re responsible enough for that. You can even hook them up with breakfast and coffee. If you make it worth their while, they’ll be happy to help.

If you’re using your friends, you know they’re not pros (unless they are, then jackpot!). So make sure that you keep the heavier stuff in smaller boxes when you pack. You, or someone else who cares if grandma’s urn gets smashed, should pack fragile items in advance.

And for the love of all that is holy, clean out your fridge in advance. Nobody wants to pack up opened mayonnaise jars and 10-year-old Fla-vor-ice. Get rid of that junk before your friends show up, and avoid opening a mislabeled box of half-used condiments that’s been sitting on a truck for a while. Ew.

Unless you’ve arranged otherwise, your friends should be able to walk in your house, grab a box and load ‘er up. At the same time, don’t get caught packing while your friends are lugging. Not only will you find yourself scrambling to get your junk together, it’s not exactly fair to your friends.

A hearty handshake isn’t enough. You have to keep your help fueled up and happy to help.

Keep food on hand throughout the day, and keep it accessible. It could be as simple as a pile of McMuffins or as involved as a veggie tray and dip. The point is to not only show your moving buddies that they’re appreciated, but to give them the energy to keep going.

At lunch, take orders and get them what they want (within reason). At the end of the day, do something more than just pizza. Look into ordering wings, or, if the grill is the last thing to go, cook up some killer steaks.

If your friends feel the love, you can all look back on moving day as a great experience.

The last nugget of advice is to hire movers if at all possible.

If you don’t have to put your friends out, it’s ideal. Moving is even better when the folks you hire to do the work are the ones doing the working.

When you hire help, it’s usually on a per person, per hour basis, with some additional surcharges, depending on the size and scope of the move.

Out of common courtesy, it’s polite to offer your crew

All the cold water they can drink.Lunch (fast food is fine).Dinner, if it goes that long.A tip at the end of the day, depending on how great their service was.

If you really like the way he or she worked, write a letter to the moving company. A good word goes a long way.

Movers take pride in their work. The cost of having it done versus putting your friends out for a weekend day might be worth it. It’s a call you have to make.

Movers provide their own moving equipment (pads, dollies, etc.) and have the strength to do a job built in. Moving companies are usually insured against damages that happen as a result of the loading or transport. The policies might be outrageous, but when it comes to sad clown porcelain antiques, it might be more than worth the price of replacement.

Finally, don’t let your moving day sneak up on you. A well-thought-out plan will save some major headaches down the road. Lists are a huge help, especially where everyone can see what needs to be done. Post-it makes easel-sized notes that stick to the wall. There’s nothing worse than an unchecked to-do on an otherwise finished list. That is, unless it’s 3’ x 2’.

Moving is never painless, but it can go smoothly. Plan, provide and prepare for it all, and who knows? The next time you get the call to help a friend, they just might return the favor.

Share your best moving advice in the comments below, and if you’re moving in the next few months, best of luck!

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