Now what? What do you do with all of the empty boxes that are scattered all over your home? Do you recycle them, throw them out, or re-use them?

Moving Box Delivery Inc. recommends to either recycle or reuse your cartons. This benefits our environment and helps prevent the negative effects that come from having excess cardboard in our landfills.

The great news is if you are a gardener, there are some really fun ways to reuse your boxes at little to no cost.

Learn 8 Ways To Reuse Cardboard Boxes in Your Garden

1. Eliminate Weeds In Your Garden

Did you know that cardboard can actually help prevent weeds from resurfacing? This is an organic gardening trick that has been used successfully for decades.

1. All you have to do is lay the cardboard right on top of your weeds. (Do make sure that  all the packing tape has been removed.)

2. Place 2-3 inches of bark on top of the cardboard. That is it!

Since your weeds will not have sunlight to grow properly, your garden will require less maintenance and you will notice that your weeds do not grow back!

2. Create a Better Soil by Mulching:

If you put cardboard in your garden and cover it with quality soil, the box material will decompose and  create a richer, more nutrient rich soil then you had before.

Depending on what the area you live in, (rain, moisture, sun etc) this mulching process can take anywhere from 4-12 months for the boxes to disappear and to fully enrich the soil.

3. Use Your Boxes to Store Weeds:

While you are weeding, use your moving boxes to put your weeds into and then dump them into your compost with the box itself!

Cardboard boxes are a wonderful way to transport weeds without costing you a dime!

4. Cardboard Box Gardening:

Instead of spending a lot of money buying pots, you can easily reuse your moving boxes to create a fantastic garden.

The cardboard gardening approach is ideal for the plants such as herbs that you use for cooking.

5. Grow Mushrooms in Your Boxes:

At a company called “Mushroom Adventures” you can easily grow mushrooms using your moving boxes. Typically in 2-4 weeks, you will see fabulous mushrooms growing from the same boxes you moved with. What could be better than that!

6. Grow Sprouts:

Order sprouts from a seed supplier and plant them in your boxes. Remember to have enough  sunlight for your sprouts to grow with the maximum level of nutrition.

7. Grow  Vegetables:

If you live in apartment and have a deck, you too can grow vegetables such as carrots, tomatoes and broccoli in cardboard containers. Since they are being grown in a box which helps to retain moisture, they will need less watering and are easier to maintain.

NOTE: To decide which vegetable to grow, be sure to check which ones thrive in the area you live in.

8. Make a Composter:

Why buy soil at the store when you can make your own nutrient rich soil using your cardboard boxes.

Simple dig a hole in your compost area, put the cardboard boxes down and layer them with weeds, leaves, clippings and even coffee grinds.

VOILA, you have a compost started and have successfully found a good use for your old moving boxes!

Tips On How To  Grow Plants in a Cardboard Box:

If you are growing anything in a box, simply line the bottom of the box with plastic and make sure you have a few holes to help drain the water. Add good quality soil and compost and plant anything that you want. It is that easy!

Today’s guest post comes from Kirstie Berzanski, the owner of Moving Box Delivery. Shop for strong cardboard boxes for moving, and a variety of low cost moving supplies with FREE SHIPPING in the U.S. You may order online or call 1-800-517-0138

The very best method to search for a mover is by obtaining multiple moving quotes from a moving quote provider. It immediately removes the initial step from the moving process. Rather than browsing on the internet and finding 5 movers to call and obtain estimates, just provide your moving information once then start receiving individual quotes within minutes. It’s still up to the customer to finally select which mover is the best for their move, but by doing this it begins the process with simplicity.

Before actually looking for a moving company, the customer should have on hand a full list of everything needed to be moved. It is important to provide movers with this list in order for them to provide the customer with an accurate moving quote. The customer also needs to provide answers to questions involving whether they need packing services, the quality of the goods, the moving truck access, and the date of the move. Make sure that before hiring movers, it is in the best interest to be fully prepared for these types of questions. If deciding to pack yourself you should know the right way how to pack.

A moving company should be apart of a few different organizations to further validate it’s reputation. One of the most important one is The Better Business Bureau. The BBB provides a rating of all types of services and your mover should definitely be apart of them. Another is The American Moving & Storage Association. And yet another should be the moving association of which state they are located in.

Lots of people choose a movers according to their cheap estimate/quote. This is a mistake many people who are moving for the first time make. You will find many untrustworthy movers which will provide a low quote and are not qualified to move your goods. Beware of moving company prices that are extremely low. Movers nowadays are highly regulated and should not be able to afford to provide extremely cheap services. If they are then they are usually cutting corners, hiring non-experienced workers, failing to provide any type of insurance, or later on after your goods are in their possession, will be adding on a bunch of extra charges.

A1AutoTransport.com has been around for some time now and it shows. After reviewing a number of other companies that transport vehicles, this is definitely among the upper echelon in terms of customer services, range of services and reliability. The key to a successful move is timing; you want your car to be available shortly after you arrive in town, if not before. The last thing you want is to wait days and days after getting to your destination for your car to arrive, so that you can explore. A-1 Auto Transport ensures that you will have no such issues, as the company prides itself on timeliness, reliability and care for your vehicle. In fact, not only do former customers know it, but industry peers and similar companies and organizations know it as well. A-1 is well respected in the auto transport industry because of its reputation for quality.

After all, even if a company can be reliable, it doesn’t provide much peace of mind if that reliability comes with a car that has been mishandled, scratched, bumped or any other things that can happen during the journey. A1AutoTransport has a reputation in the industry for providing a transport cycle that ensures your vehicle will arrive at your destination in the same way that you entrusted it to the company. This is key because you don’t pay for a company to mess your car up; A-1 Auto Transport understands this and is completely reassuring in terms of the way the company moves your vehicle and then delivers it to you, so that you can utilize it once you have arrived at your destination and settled in.

Perhaps the best part of working with A-1, however, is the level of customer service. When it comes to reviews of auto transport companies, customer service is usually the common theme in terms of things that are lacking. A-1 doesn’t have this issue, as the company strives to provide the highest level of customer service in the industry. From dealing with problems en-route to proper communication from the start of the transaction to the finish, you never have to worry about things like the operator being unresponsive when you call to check on your vehicle as it is en route to a lack of response should your car be late for a scheduled delivery. A-1 works hard to ensure that the process is entirely seamless, from start to finish, which is why this company is so well rated among customers and within the industry overall.

There are several ways to help make moving easier including hiring movers and relocation services. You can keep track of all of your belongs are by writing a list of the contents of each room while the boxes are being packed. Assign a number for each box and write that number on the boxes and on your master list. You can also color-code the boxes, with all of the green boxes going to the living room, etc., or make your own system, which will help keep your move organized.

Moving across country is very stressful for most people, with so many important details to keep in mind and things to do, but it doesn’t have to be this way. With advance planning, your move can be fast, efficient and even fun. Try to cultivate a calm attitude, and if certain aspects of the move are frustrating you, stop and sit for a moment. Relax your muscles, take a few slow, deep breaths and remind yourself that you can face this challenge and not be overwhelmed. Drink a cup of tea or coffee if it calms you, or listen to your favorite music…whatever helps you to feel centered and in control. Once you reach a calmer state of being, if the job still causes you to feel stressed, delegate some of the work to others, if possible, which should help you feel less stressed.

In the months and weeks before moving day, set aside a block of time to make calls to all of the banks, doctors, dentists and drugstores that you use. They will need a forwarding address. You might want to close out your bank account if there are no branches in your new location. If you have a gym membership, find out if that company has a gym anywhere near your new home. Do you have any prescriptions to pick up? Library books to return? Check to see if you have any tools or other things that must be returned to your neighbors, or whether the neighbors have anything that belongs to you.

After the move is finished, arrange to open each box to check the condition of your possessions while the driver is still there. If any items were damaged during the move, list each one and have the driver sign the document. If he or she refuses to sign it, call the moving company immediately so you can resolve the issue.

This is a guest blog post by Brian Barwig, marketing executive of SelfStorageFinders.com.

Most people don’t realize when they rent a self storage unit they will probably need renters insurance. Just because items are placed in a storage unit doesn’t make them any less valuable or sentimental than items kept at home. This article will help you understand why renters insurance is important and why you should have it when using self storage.

Why Do I Need It

If something unforeseen would happen to your belongings while they are in self storage, could you afford to lose them? If there were a fire, flood or break in and some of your possessions were ruined, would you care? What do you have to lose? You must determine if it is worth spending the extra money for peace of mind. If you have homeowners insurance you may be covered for renters insurance already. There is usually a set percentage of your homes worth that is set aside for insurance outside the home.

How Do I Get It

You can acquire renters insurance through your homeowners insurance as discussed above or you can get it through almost any insurance company. It is best to start with the insurance companies you already use. Many storage facilities also provide the option to add insurance to each rental contract. Many people find this helpful as they can pay one bill to the storage facility rather than sending 2 bills each month.

How Much Does it Cost

The cost is typically month to month and will vary on the company itself and the amount of coverage needed. If you want $15,000 worth of protection you will pay more than someone who only wants $1,000 worth of coverage. The renters insurance will cover just about anything from weather, burglary and fire.

Renters insurance is not complicated and basically comes down to how much of your stuff you are willing to protect. For any additional questions you can ask the storage facility manager or talk to your insurance provider.

If you’re relocating to a new house, it can be somewhat confusing as to where you should begin. First of all, you should know that the more time you give yourself to plan your move, the less likely you are to run into any problems along the way. Also, providing yourself with more time allows you the ability to fix any issues before they turn into serious problems or cause a delay in your move.

One of the best ways to ensure that your move is perfectly planned down to the very last step is by consulting with a professional moving company. However, make sure to enquire of any moving company you choose whether or not they will also ship vehicles. Many moving companies are limited to moving household goods only, which leaves you with one more step to handle on your own.

However, there is a simple solution to handling this step. By taking advantage of the internet, you can easily handle this part of your move with a few clicks of a button. Many auto shipping companies will provide you with free car shipping rates without a problem. There are also companies that will not only provide you with a shipping quote from their company, but also from their leading competitors. This allows you to make sure that you’re getting the best deal possible on your auto shipping.

Once you have chosen the auto shipping company you wish to use, it is best to contact them by phone in order to go over your shipping details with one of the company’s customer service representatives. Companies that are hard to reach by phone or e-mail in a timely manner are most often companies that you should avoid. In the case that there were any problems with your shipment, you want to know that you are dealing with a company that will keep you up to date, and likewise, be there for you whenever needed for questions or concerns. Nothing is more frustrating than being kept in the dark, especially when something as valuable as your vehicle is at stake. So before you sign on with any shipping company, make sure that you are fully comfortable with them and the level of service that they offer.

Also, be sure that you are aware of all necessary steps that you will need to take before your vehicle is picked up. For instance, most companies require that you remove all personal belongings within the vehicle, other than those after market parts which are in some way fastened to the vehicle. You will also want to make note and evidence of any scratches existing prior to the move, in order to ensure that you are not held liable for any new dings or dents on your vehicle upon delivery. Any legitimate moving company should provide you with a bill of lading, which makes note of any existing damages, and is signed off upon by both parties at the time of pick up. This will help to avoid any confusion at delivery about whether or not the vehicle has accrued any new damages.

No matter what you do, it is important that you remember to do your homework. Finding out as much about the moving process as you can before hand will prevent you from running into any speed bumps along the road.

There are vast differences from living in a single unit when you move into a condo, one of which is that you have to share your property space with others. Among some of the things you may have to share with your neighbors include the condo grounds, laundry area and even the pool if there is one.

Relocating to a condo also means that from time to time you would be given notice so that the grounds and maintenance crew can come into your unit to inspect it. Depending on which condo you choose to live, there is also security on the grounds either with an appointed security personnel on the premises or with the use of close circuit cameras in the building. This type of security is ideal for a single person or a single parent living with their kids.

Another thing to note about living in a condo is that you may have to deal with hearing noises from your neighbors since they live so close to your unit. There would also be repair and maintenance noises that you would hear around the building or even coming from one of your neighbors as well. From noises  made from the garbage chutes to the sound of the elevator and even the air-conditioning units; these are the noises that most tenants who live in a condo have to deal with. Even before moving into your condo, be sure to ask the real estate agent about noise reduction in your unit or find out about ways in which it can be obtained. In addition, find out about the noise level rules in your building; usually some condo association have rules about the noises that neighbors make in their own unit.

If you are downgrading to a condo from a large single unit home, you may have to also downgrade your furniture as space may not allow you to keep those that you have. Some appliances may not be allowed in the unit as well; be sure to ask about if you can keep a washer/dryer in your unit before moving in.

Since some condos have pet restrictions, you should also get information about this beforehand as well. One condo dwelling may require that your pet be of a particular weight to be able to move in with you while others may allow you to only have a dog or a cat. The sooner you find out about this the better as you would be able to make alternative arrangements for your pet or move to another condo that would accommodate them.

The economy has been sluggish for several years, another recession is looming and consumer confidence is still low. In these tough times, people are learning to do more with less. This is apparent in the trend towards smaller homes, apartments and condos. While downsizing sounds easy, there are certain things one should consider.

Where will you be downsizing to? Are you staying in the same area or moving out of state? When moving out of state you have to consider the costs, job market and schools for your kids. Are you going to purchase a home or rent? Is it better to rent a house, apartment or condo with your lifestyle?

If you plan to purchase a home, renting an apartment might be a good start. Renting first will give you a familiarity with the neighborhoods, schools, commute, shopping and safety issues before finding a more permanent place. Talk to co-workers and locals to learn more about the area and by the time you are ready to purchase a home, you’ll know exactly where you want to go.

You also have to consider what to dispose of and what to keep. Just because you are downsizing, it doesn’t mean you have to get rid of everything as some of your possessions will have meaning and value to you. Other items can be sold, donated or thrown out. Some of your larger items may not fit in an apartment but will be needed once you purchase a home. A Chicago storage facility or Los Angeles storage unit can be a good resource in these instances. Storage units are great during the relocation process, can be found easily and are usually relatively cheap.

Downsizing is a big change and it may take some time to adjust to your smaller living space. Be sure to no clutter your new space and your adjustment will go smoother and be less stressful.

Moving companies that do not write up an estimate are not legitimate, since this is a necessary first step in the moving process. Second, the movers should not require any down payment or deposit of any kind. This is the mark of a scammer—asking or pressuring the customer into believing that a down payment is part of the move. It is not. How are you to know that they will deliver your boxes and furniture once they have your money?

There are thousands of people who have fallen victim to this scam—they give the moving company money before the move and either never see that company, or their things, again, or the scammers show up at the new house asking for more money than the original amount that was quoted to the customer. In effect, they hold the customer’s furniture hostage, until their demands are met, which is illegal, but happens all the time. You can prevent this by making sure you know the moving company’s reputation, their physical address, their web site and their telephone numbers.

They must also have the right certificated and licenses. Ask for their DOT and MC license numbers. It is also helpful to research the company to see if there are any published complaints about them by previous customers and if so, what type of problems they encountered. Check with the Better Business Bureau as well. From local movers to car moving companies you must always look into their business before choosing them.

One more red flag that can help you to avoid being scammed by a moving company is if they advertise much lower rates than every other company that you have checked into. They may try to lure customers with attractive pricing, but a legitimate mover will always offer an estimate based on actual market values for their services, since there is a lot of competition among movers. If you find a mover and do not have much information about them, you can always check them out by searching the Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration, (FTCSA), at www.fmcsa.dot.gov.

It is smart to visit a site like moversquote.org to get free mover quotes and compare them as the movers are pre-screened and licensed.

The guest post is provided by MoversQuote.Org.

Guest post provided by

Moving can be stressful enough without adding a snowstorm into the mix. So check the forecast, get out your mittens and take the following tips for successful winter moves into consideration.

Moving Trucks and Wintery Roads

Hiring professional movers to get your belongings from your old to new home is highly recommended if there’s a chance of inclement winter weather. Handling your family’s SUV can be difficult enough in snowy conditions, let alone getting behind the wheel of a rental moving truck or van. Professional movers have the experience to safely deliver your boxes and furniture, regardless of the weather. If you decide to rent and drive your own moving vehicle, however, keep these tips in mind for driving in wintery conditions:

• Insure Yourself: Don’t take chances, make sure you have moving truck insurance.
• Adjust Mirrors: The bigger the vehicle, the bigger the blind spots. Make sure to adjust your mirrors before hitting the road.
• Remember, Your New Size is Big & Tall: When driving, keep in mind that you’ll have a wider turning radius than in a normal vehicle and that your truck may be too tall to fit under certain overpasses. Plan your route accordingly.
• Easy on the Brakes: It takes heavier vehicles a longer time to break. In addition, unless you have antilock brakes, you may need to pump the brakes when coming to a stop.
• Be Prepared for Skidding: If the roads are icy and the moving truck starts skidding, steer the wheel into the slide, take your foot of the gas pedal and avoid slamming on the brakes.
• Park Like a Pro: If you have to park on a hill, the cab of truck should be facing downhill with wheel chocks in place. If you don’t have wheel chocks, turn the front wheels towards the curb and set the parking brake. This makes the angle of the ramp for unloading less steep and, if there’s any slipping, the truck won’t roll into traffic.

Packing and Loading the Moving Truck

If your new home is in a city, your first step should be to check parking regulations. You may need to obtain a permit to block off the street in front of your home or apartment so that your moving truck can unload. In some cases, the moving company will take care of this for you. Other times, it is your responsibility to obtain the permits from your city hall. Especially during winter moves, when the weather isn’t always favorable, you want to make sure the moving truck can park as close to your front door as possible. Also keep a sharp eye on the forecast, as snow storms can result in parking bans on major thruways and streets.

Pack your belongings with winter weather in mind by making sure all boxes are properly sealed and furniture is covered with moving pads. Clear a path from the moving truck to your home’s entrance to minimize the time your things are exposed to the elements, and make sure to have a doormat handy so that movers and family members don’t track snow, slush and mud into your new house or apartment.

Moving with a Cold

If your move is coinciding with cold and flu season, planning ahead is your best defense. Moving is a busy and, at times, stressful process, but don’t let that hinder your sleep. Rest is key to recovering from a cold, so start packing far enough in advance that you won’t have to pull an all-nighter come moving day. During the chaos of a move, it can also be easy to resort to fast food and quick meals like pizza. Although these meals may be convenient, they’re not providing you with the essential nutrients your body needs to fight off a cold. Make sure your move day snacks include fruit and vegetables.

While the weather outside might be frightful, your move doesn’t have to be. Plan ahead, prepare for driving and unpacking in unfavorable conditions and enlist the help of professionals for added ease.