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Student Life

Balancing Your Life in College

For college students, finding a balance between academics, work, and life can be difficult.  It isn’t always easy finding time for everything, especially during midterms and finals.  Before things really get crazy, we’ve put together some suggestions to help you keep your sanity and still manage everything you have to do this semester.

Photo from blog.invisiblechildren.com

Prioritize.  While your first priority should be school, you will want to put together a list of the most important tasks to the least.  By prioritizing everything you have to do, you can figure out what you need to do first, and what you might be able to put off if you don’t have time.

Set a schedule.  Setting a schedule for yourself is the best way to ensure you can get free time without procrastinating on your other priorities.  You should set a schedule for yourself of all the things you need to get done, and when you want to get them done by.  Then the only thing you need to do is be sure to stick to it!

Set realistic goals.  This is part of setting a schedule for yourself; you want to be sure to set goals for yourself when you want to have things done by.  It’s just important to keep realistic goals, as that will encourage you to get things done.  If you set unrealistic goals, you are less likely to meet them and you will end up further behind in your work.

Stay organized.  One of the best things you can do for yourself is to stay organized.  That way you won’t be losing important papers.  By keeping to-do lists and schedules that you set for yourself, this will also keep you organized and will prevent you from getting too overwhelmed.

Work in the library.  If you’re prone to procrastinating, you may want to consider studying at the library.  It’s not only a quiet place to study, but it’s also free from distractions.  Studying at the library also gives you a way to schedule when you’ll do your work, as you don’t want to be at the library all night.

Know when to say “no”.  You can’t do everything; you need to make sure that you aren’t taking on extra shifts at work or going out with your friends when you are behind in your schedule or you have work to do for school.  You don’t want to overload and overschedule yourself, as you will become overwhelmed with everything you have to do.

For students, it can be difficult and overwhelming to balance everything you need to when it comes to school, work, and life.  However, the best things to do are to prioritize, set a schedule for yourself, set realistic goals, stay organized, work in the library if you need to, and know when to say “no.”  By doing these simple things, you cannot only ensure that you get everything done, but that you get to have a little fun too.

References

College Fashion –  5 Easy Ways to Balance School and Life in College 

Surviving College Life – Prioritizing and Balance:  3 Ways to Begin

College Confidential – Balancing College School Work and Social Life

MyCollegeSuccessStory.com – 10 Tips for Finding Life Balance in College

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Student Life

The “Dirty” Truth: Hand Sanitizer vs. Hand Washing

Getting sick can be one of the biggest setbacks you can have during the semester.  You can’t be too careful when it comes to making sure that you don’t get sick.  That’s why cleaning your hands can be one of the best ways to prevent coming down with something nasty.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a federal agency charged with providing the public with information about how to avoid spreading and contracting serious illnesses, it’s important to make sure your hands are clean.  Whether you’re preparing food, eating, treating wounds, using the restroom, blowing your nose, or handling garbage, you should always remember to “wash up”.  These are all primary situations in which it’s best to be careful, especially after being on campus all day around at least hundreds of other people.

For most students, their first reaction may be to use hand sanitizer after touching a doorknob or leaving the bathroom.  However, is this really better than washing your hands?

Photo from cdc.gov

The CDC  sheds some light on the situation.  They recommend hand washing as the best option, saying hand sanitizer is really only good in situations where soap and water isn’t available (and only if it contains over 6o percent alcohol).  This is especially true if your hands are visibly dirty; in those situations you should wash with soap and water.

We also found that using antibacterial soap over standard soap can actually do more harm than good.  According to the Mayo Clinic, antibacterial products leave surface residues that may help to develop resistant bacteria. In fact, using antibacterial soap can cause the development of bacteria that is resistant to certain antibiotics.  Overall, it’s best to use standard soaps and rinse with warm or cold water.

While it may seem so simple, there really is something to washing your hands over using hand sanitizer.  Overall, using standard hand soap will help keep your hands clean, but it will also prevent you from picking up the nasty cold that your roommate got, or the stomach flu making its way through your Poli Sci class.

References:

CDC:  Hand Washing – Clean Hands Save Lives

Mayo Clinic:  Hand Washing – Do’s and Don’ts

“Strange But True:  Antibacterial Products May Do More Harm Than Good” by Coco Ballantyne

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Student Life

ASK THE EXPERT: When Is The Best Time to Start Looking For a Job?

The “real world” isn’t too far away for college juniors and seniors.  For most, this will be the most exciting part of their lives, as it is reminds them of the greater independence that awaits.  However, this certainly comes with great incertainty, too, especially given increasing reports that more than 53% of college graduates are underemployed or unemployed.  This is certainly disheartening news for students, as they went through four years of schooling, only to feel as though it hasn’t helped them.

According to David Pinkley, founder of Resume Sage, this is exactly why students should start their job hunt the summer after their junior year.  In fact, Pinkley explains that students should not only be looking for a job, but they should be lobbying for a job when they graduate; promoting themselves to network contacts, prospective employers and the like.

He explains that it is all in the introduction.  “Don’t make people ask,” he says, but instead make a clear and succinct introduction for yourself that includes things like your class year and job aspirations.  Having something like this prepared will set you apart from the rest.

Students should also have a sense of humility and understanding that their degree, while impressive, is really only the beginning of their learning experience.  Pinkley explains that students should have an understanding that their experience is limited and they have much to learn.  This should be accompanied by a thirst for knowledge and an enthusiasm for learning.  For Pinkley, this will set college graduates apart from the others, in that students who have this skill set will be easier to work with and will work to successfully complete a job.

This is not to say that this entire process isn’t intimidating once students make these changes.  However, students should not give up, as they can demonstrate to prospective employers that they have the desire and perseverance to learn what they need and to do the job well.  All it takes is motivation and hope

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Student Life

The Dorm Room Workout

Working out in college can be difficult, especially on days when you have a lot of studying to do, or it’s snowing/raining and you can’t seem to justify walking all the way to your school’s gym. It doesn’t seem like you have a lot of options. However, you can’t let the small space in your dorm room fool you.  There are simple exercises you can do in small spaces that will get the job done.

Cardio. You don’t have to go outside for a jog; just throw on one of your favorite TV shows or some music, and you can jog in place right in your dorm room!

Dancing is another great way to get your cardio in, and it’s probably one of the easiest workouts to do.  Just throw on some of your favorite music, and dance. You can even recruit your roommate to join you.

Photo by Sarah Andrews from kalisthenixfitnessblog.com

Strengthening exercises. Exercises like pushups, crunches, squats, and lunges are all relatively easy exercises you can do in small spaces. You can even add textbooks under your feet to make pushups harder. You may just want to be sure to add some padding under your back; dorm room floors aren’t that comfortable.

Stretching. While stretching itself won’t burn a lot of calories, stretching before and after your workout can help you with your workout. However, in an article we read in USA Today, you want to make sure that your stretches before you work out are more “active” stretches that mimic the movements that you’ll be doing in your workout.

Your workouts don’t have to be complicated.  Especially if you don’t have a lot of time, there are ways that you can still fit your workout in along with writing 2 papers and studying for exams.

Here’s a playlist we’ve put together to help you get pumped up for your workout:

1. Teenage Crime – Adrian Lux

2. Disco Heat – Calvin Harris

3. Night by Night – Chromeo

4. Jeffer – Boys Noize

5. Horsepower – Justice

6. Hearts on Fire – Cut Copy

7. Touch It – Daft Punk

8. Strict Machine – Goldfrapp

9. Elliot Uppercut – Jupiter

10. New Lands – Justice

11. Dancing on My Own – Robyn

12. Trash – The Whip

13. Work – The 2 Bears

14. Titanium – David Guetta featuring Sia

15. Take Over Control – Afrojack

Other References:

“The Best Workouts to Do in a Dorm Room” by Joshua Duvauchelle

“What Are Some Aerobic Activities I Can Do In My Dorm Room?” By Natasha Puryear

“Simple Dorm Room Exercises” by Shelley Frost

 “Does Stretching Burn Calories?” By Toby Pendergrass

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Student Life

8 Ways to De-Stress in College

College can be overwhelming; it seems like you have a never-ending supply of homework, projects, and exams, and it’s difficult to manage all of that with a job AND a social life.  However, while you need to make sure you get everything done, you also need to make sure that you don’t get too overwhelmed or stressed.  This is why we’ve put together some suggestions to help you keep your cool.

Take a walk or go for a run.  Taking a short (or long, depending) walk or run will help raise your pulse, but will help lower stress. Exercising is a great way to release some of the built-up energy that you get from being stressed.

Clean your room.  Like taking a walk or going for a run, physical activity can be a great way to relieve some of the built-up energy you get from being stressed.  By cleaning, you can also prevent yourself from losing any important papers in a mess.

Hang out with a friend.  Hanging out with a friend can be one of the biggest stress relievers for college students, as their friends are often going through the college at the same time.  Whether you talk with your friend about what is stressing you out or not, being social and having a good time can help you forget a lot of your stress.

Indulge your hobbies.  College students sometimes get lost in all the work they have to do.  Whether it’s painting, photography, or playing an instrument, by taking time to do something you like to do, you will feel less overwhelmed by schoolwork.

Cook or bake.  By concentrating on your favorite recipe, you can relieve a lot of stress.  It’s also doesn’t hurt that you get to eat some really good food!

Take a drive.  Especially if you’re a first-year student, taking a drive cannot only be a great way to relieve stress, but it can also give you a chance to get to know where you live.  You never know:  You may find your new favorite hangout along the way.

Watch your favorite movie or an episode of your favorite TV show.  By taking a little while to just relax and watch your favorite movie or an episode of your favorite TV show, you can get your mind off your stress.  It will also give you a chance to clear your mind before getting back to work.

Breathe.  The best thing to do is breathe; you can get through all the stress.  Just remember to breathe and to take some time for yourself, and you can make it through even the toughest semester.

References:

“50 Ways to Destress in College:  Learn How to Relax Amidst the Chaos” by Kelci Lynn Lucier

“Top Ten De-Stressing Activities:  Tips to relax college kids, young adults and parents too” by Jackie Burrell

“20 Affordable Ways to De-stress” by Nina Kim and Georgia Price

“How to Deal with Test Anxiety:  College Student Tips for Overcoming Midterm and Final Exam Stress” by Naomi Rockler-Gladen

“How to Deal with Test Anxiety:  College Student Tips for Overcoming Midterm and Final Exam Stress” by Naomi Rockler-Gladen

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Student Life

6 Tips to Landing an On-Campus Job

For students looking for work, on-campus jobs are not only a great way to make a little money, but they’re also a great way to meet new people.  On-campus jobs offer students a much more flexible environment, where their studies come first, while still providing them with valuable experience that they can take with them after they graduate.  However, for many students, it can be difficult figuring out how to get a job like this.  This is why we decided to put together some tips to help you find on-campus work.

Photo from kentwired.com

Don’t limit yourself.  You may not always find your “perfect” job, however, you can certainly find one that fits at least most of what you want.  Think of the skills you want to learn and what areas you might be interested in.  Even if it’s not in your major field, the experience can never hurt.

Follow up.  Be sure to follow up on any applications you have submitted.  If you haven’t heard back in a week, be sure to send a follow up email or phone call.  It won’t hurt to remind people of who you are, and your interest in the position.

Find openings by looking online, talking to your friends, and visiting departments.  Keep your eyes peeled.  While looking on your school’s website can help, it will certainly not hurt you to ask your friends, classmates, and professors as well.  Let them know about your interests and ask them if they know of any positions on campus.  You never know:  Their recommendation may help you get a job more easily.

Don’t give up looking if you don’t find something right away.  Don’t feel discouraged if you didn’t get your top choice for a job, or you aren’t finding what you want.  Student positions are always popping up, as students graduate and there is always a need for student help.

Be professional.  One of the major obstacles students face when looking for a job can be an unprofessional attitude.  Make sure you maintain a professional attitude, as this will go a long way with any potential employer.  Especially when taken seriously, this will not only be something you can put on your resume, but it will also help you shine in any recommendation your previous employers give you.

Take your job seriously.  Another major obstacle for students is balancing school, work, and a social life.  While school should come first, you should also be mindful that you do have certain responsibilities that come with your job.  Take what you do seriously, as the experience you get from any job you hold will help you in the future.

For students, on-campus jobs can be a great way to make a little money in school, while not taking on so much responsibility that they get overwhelmed.  In many cases, on-campus jobs allow students the flexibility and the experience they need to make it to graduation.  While it may not seem easy at first, being professional, persistent, and keeping your eyes peeled can certainly help you on your way to landing an on-campus job.

References:

“How and Why to Get an On-Campus Job” by Julie Mayfield and Lindsey Mayfield

“Five Reasons Why:  You should get a job on campus” by Heather Huhman

“Tips to Getting an On-Campus Job” from UW River Falls

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Housing Advice, Landlords, Student Life

Tips for Improving Landlord-Tenant Relationships

The landlord-tenant relationship is often one of the most strained.  For landlords, according to one of our previous posts, our expert, Diane St. Laurent, explained that this incompatibility often extends from the expectations and rules of the rental.  For tenants (especially student tenants), this incompatibility may extend from poor communication and misunderstandings with landlords.  This is why we’ve put together some tips to help both landlords and student tenants improve the renting process and improve this typically strained relationship.

For Landlords

Take a mentor role with your student tenants.  According to St. Laurent, one of the most important things landlords can do is to take on a mentor role with students by “treating them as adults and [holding] them accountable for their decisions.”  She explains that this is one of responsibilities landlords assume with renting to students, as this is the time that they will be assimilating to their independence and adjusting to all new responsibilities.  By helping students through this process, it will not only help the landlord to feel that their tenants are making good decisions, but student tenants will feel more comfortable in maintaining their responsibilities.

Keep open and honest communication with tenants.  According to St. Laurent, landlords are also accountable for building lines of communication with their tenants.  In this way, student tenants will feel like their ideas, questions, and concerns are being heard, and landlords will feel that problems are more easily and swiftly resolved.

Be professional.  According to St. Laurent, rentals should be managed like a business.  This means that landlords should feel a sense of a responsibility of responding to problems and concerns of tenants to not only to keep tenants happy, but also to ensure that the property is well taken care of.

For Student Tenants

Pay your rent on time.  One of the biggest problems landlords and tenants can have is late rent payments.  This is not only a problem that will most likely create others, but it can also further exacerbate any existing issues within the relationship.  Therefore, it is important for tenants to budget for and send their rent payments so that they arrive on time.

Follow the terms of your lease.  As St. Laurent mentioned, one of the greatest problems can be incompatibility with landlords and tenants over the expectations and rules for the house.  It is best to read your lease in full before signing, and address any concerns you may have with the terms at that time.  Going forward, you should also keep a copy of your lease handy so that you can refer to it later, if needed.  This will not only enhance the clarity of your lease, but it may also allow you to negotiate the terms of your lease.

Take care of your rental.  This is not only your home, but it is also someone else’s property.  Be sure to take good care of the property and to be mindful of the “wear and tear” that you inflict on a property.  This will not only keep the property nice for you, but it will also help you keep your landlord happy and ensure that you get your entire damage deposit back.

Get to know your neighbors.  Surprisingly enough, grouchy neighbors can be one of the biggest sore points between you and your landlord.  This is because your neighbors will often report your “bad behavior” to your landlord.  As we mentioned in our previous post on this topic, it is important to get to know your neighbors to avoid unnecessary conflicts and frustration with both them and your landlord.  

Keep open and honest communication with your landlord.  We advise this for both landlords and tenants.  It is important that tenants let their landlords know when they have problems, when they need repairs, and especially when there has been damage to the property.  While telling your landlord you’ve damaged something on the property may be difficult, it will be better to tell them right away.  This will help to ensure that you maintain trust and honesty with your landlord.

However, you should also be mindful to be reasonable in your requests when you need something done.  Avoid calling your landlord over when a light bulb needs to be changed.  The things that you can do yourself are most likely the things you shouldn’t bother your landlord for.  It’s the things you can’t do and don’t feel comfortable doing; these are the things you should be contacting your landlord for.

Overall, while landlord-tenant relationships are often strained, there are certainly things that both parties can do to improve their relationship.  All it really takes is honesty, professionalism, open communication, and a sense of responsibility to ensure that the rental process goes smoothly.

References

How to Be a Good Landlord – 7 Tips, Advice & Responsibilities by Angela Colley

5 Tips for Being a Great Tenant that Landlords Love by Angela Colley

10 tips for a healthy landlord-tenant relationship; Perspective: Renters must read the lease, know landlord’s expectations by Ben Holubecki

A Guide to Good Landlord-Tenant Relations by DoItYourself.com

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Student Life

ASK THE EXPERT: What are some of today’s biggest obstacles for college students?

For many college students today preparing themselves for the working world, it seems incredibly bleak. In general, unemployment rates are high (around 8.3% according to the U.S. Department of Labor), but this also extends to students. According to a recent Drexel University study, recent bachelor’s degree holders saw an increase in unemployment and an increase in underemployment, despite an overall increase in jobs. With such a discouraging job market, it’s not surprising that approximately 20% of graduates decide to continue on with their education.

However, according to David Pinkley, founder of The Resume Sage, the economy and unemployment aren’t the only obstacles recent college grads have to overcome. For Pinkley, another one of the greatest obstacles students have is the competition they face with more experienced individuals who are also looking for employment. These individuals often have extensive knowledge of the professional world, with a network that extends well beyond that of a recent college grad. According to Pinkley, “unless you’re doing cutting edge research, all you have is your attitude.” Students are especially at a disadvantage when it comes down to experience in a specific industry, even with the smaller price tag they command.

Another major obstacle Pinkley identifies is the media coverage detailing the decline in college graduate employment. Pinkley believes students are greatly impacted by reading these stories, obviously affecting their psyche and their hope for finding a job once they do graduate.

“You need to move your own mind from the fear that you won’t find work to the hope that you will,” says Pinkley. For him, this is really the only way that students can overcome these types of obstacles. It all really starts with enthusiasm, a bright attitude, and a lust for knowledge to be a student’s driving force when they are looking for a job, because as Pinkley explains, “ . . . all you have is your attitude.”

References

Fogg, Neeta, and Paul Harrington. “The Employment and Mal-Employment Situation for Recent College Graduates: An Update.” Center for Labor Markets and Policy. Drexel University, Jun 2012. Web. 21 Aug 2012.

“Labor Force Statistics from the Current Population Survey.” Center for Labor Markets and Policy. United States Department of Labor, n.d. Web. 21 Aug 2012.

Stone, Charley, Carl Van Horn, and Cliff Zukin. “Chasing the American Dream: Recent College Graduates and the Great Recession.” John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development. Rutgers University, May 2012. Web. 21 Aug 2012. <http://www.heldrichpodcasts.com/Chasing_American_Dream_Report.pdf>.

Pinkley, David. Telephone Interview. 20 Aug 2012.

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Housing Advice, Student Life

Tips for Getting Along With Your Neighbors

For many students, living off-campus comes with a greater sense of independence.  However, with this independence comes greater responsibility, and one main responsibility many students often forget is neighbor relations.  While it may not seem like the most important thing on your list, fostering poor relationships with your neighbors is the major reason why students receive a knock on the door from the cops.  This is why we’ve identified some of the biggest problems students experience with living off-campus in terms of neighbor relations and put together some tips to keep yourself from becoming just another one of those “pesky kids.”

Noise.  One of the biggest problems students experience when it comes to living off-campus are noise complaints.  Oftentimes students will have a party or just have few friends over and the cops will get called because of the noise.  However, this is highly preventable; it is easy to turn down the music, especially after a certain time of night.  The general rule of thumb is turn down the volume earlier on Sunday evenings and during the week, and later on Fridays and Saturdays.  However, many communities will have noise ordinances so you may want to check on these times for your specific community.

Parking.  Another problem students experience with their neighbors is parking.  If someone has parked their car blocking your neighbor in, your friends have parked illegally, or there are just too many cars on the street, the cops could get called.  You want to make sure that the people you are inviting over are also courteous of your neighbors as you are.  When you have your friends over, make sure that they aren’t parked so that they’re blocking your neighbors in and that they aren’t parked on someone else’s property.  You may also want to ask your friends to carpool to your house so there won’t be too many cars parked on the street.

Trash/Furniture.  One ordinance many neighborhoods have is related to trash and indoor furniture being outside.  These ordinances maintain that trash should always be in the bin or dumpster, and that indoor furniture should not be left outside (if it’s left to the elements, it’s basically considered trash anyway).  If you have grouchy neighbors, you may be receiving a nice big fine for not complying with these types of ordinances.

Yard Maintenance.  In many cases your landlord will take care of yard maintenance.  However, if they don’t offer this, you should pitch in to make sure the yard is looking nice.  While this also may not be at the top of your list, in many cases your neighborhood will actually have ordinances in relation to overgrowth.  Not only could you get slapped with a fine, you could have other problems with letting the plants and grass in your yard get too big.  These added problems could be an increase in the population of bugs in and around your house (ewww!), as well as interference with power lines.  The best course of action here is to make sure the grass is cut, there aren’t too many weeds, there isn’t any garbage hanging around, and nothing is around the power lines.

Overall, the best way to avoid problems with your neighbors is to introduce yourself when you move in.  This is important because . . .

  1. It puts a face to the new neighbors.  By introducing yourself you are setting yourself apart from many of the other student tenants that have gone before you.  This reduces the likelihood that your neighbors will lump you together with those tenants, and you can build your own relationship with your neighbors.
  2. By introducing yourself and letting your neighbors know that they can come talk to you directly if they ever need anything or have a problem, you are saving everyone a lot of grief.  You will be less likely to get a knock on your door from the cops and your neighbor will no longer get woken up at 3 am by loud music.
  3. Your neighbors can be your biggest resource; they know the area because they’ve lived there longer and they can help you out if you ever run into any problems of your own.

By introducing yourself to your neighbors and by heading off any issues before they arise, you will not only have a better off-campus experience, but you will most likely prevent the cops being called.  It’s best to maintain a good relationship with your neighbors because it not only saves you all this grief, it is also makes you more independent, and demonstrates that you can be a mature young adult.

Other articles referenced:

Good Neighbor Relations Guide by Liveable Neighborhoods for Kansas City

Good Neighbor Relations Among Students & Community Members by Melissa Emerson

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Budget-Friendly Ideas, Housing Advice, Renting, Student Life

Finding Furniture For Cheap

If you’re renting for the first time and your apartment is unfurnished, you may be wondering how on earth you’re going to be able to furnish the entire place on your own.  As a student it’s especially difficult because you’re working with a smaller budget.  However, you do have options.  That’s why we’ve come up with some ideas to help you you aren’t breaking the bank when it comes to furniture shopping.

Ask the previous tenants.  If you get a chance, ask the previous tenants if they would be willing to leave some of their furniture for you.  It’s certainly worth a shot to ask them about specific pieces you would want and offer them an amount you would be willing to pay for each item.

Ask you friends and family.  It’s always worth it to ask your friends and family if they have extra furniture that they would be willing to sell to you.

Check online.  At JumpOffCampus, we offer a “Classifieds” section that will help you find furniture.  Just check your area and see what people have posted.  To check out this section of our site, go to http://www.jumpoffcampus.com/marketplace_listings .

You can also rent furniture online.  Currently we are now offering a deal on our resources page for our New York metro users to rent furniture from Cort Furniture for 10% off.  To check out this deal, just check out our website!

Check local yard sale listings and flea markets in your area.  You never know what you’ll find when you visit a yard sale or a flea market, but you may just find the piece of furniture you’re looking for at a significantly cheaper price.

THINGS TO CONSIDER:

Don’t pick things up off the street.  Although it may seem like a great deal, you may end up with more than you bargain for.  Let’s just say that you get what you pay for, and at Free.99 you’re getting just that.  In most cases, it will probably be broken, damaged, or it will be carrying some unwanted guests (i.e. roaches, mice, bed bugs, etc.).

Any pest is a definite concern when you’re picking up used furniture, especially free furniture you find on the side of the road.  Our advice is to just leave that freebie alone.  In the end, it will potentially save you more money . . . and a huge headache.  Especially with bed bugs, they are extremely difficult to get rid of once you have them, and they can come from the cleanest of environments.  If you don’t believe it can happen, just check out this article from Suncoast News.

Inspect ALL used furniture for insects and pests BEFORE you bring it into your home.  As we’ve mentioned previously here and in our post about bed bugs, you need to be especially careful that you aren’t bringing any unwanted guests into your home.  Be sure to use proper inspection procedures to make sure you’re safe.

Inspect ALL furniture for broken or damaged parts BEFORE you pay for it.  This one is pretty self-explanatory, but you don’t want to pay for something you can’t use.  You want to inspect anything before you purchase it to make sure that nothing is broken or appears poorly constructed.  In an article we read by Laura Coffey at Today.com, she explains that you should be sure to inspect all the furniture IN PERSON before you purchase it.  That way you can be sure you are getting what you are paying for.

Plan ahead for transportation.  According to Coffey, you want to be sure to prepare to transport the piece before you purchase something.  This includes moving it from where you bought it and moving it into your place.  You may also want to consider how you’ll move it out when you leave.  Measuring is a great way to do this and to ensure that you aren’t buying furniture you can’t even get into your apartment.

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