Three years of university education and what do you have to show for it? A good degree (hopefully), a king-sized hangover and debts that warrant their own emergency budget.
But look around you. Why is there so much stuff ? And where did it all come from? From textbooks to traffic signs, university life is one long story of accumulation as you subconsciously set about building yourself affordable housing out of an endless stream of unopened Diagnosis Murder boxsets.
Problems come at the end of term or when you finally have to pack up and leave. What to do with it all? It’s a problem multiplied if you’re an international student needing to move back home with your whole life in tow. Here are some tips:
Sell it
Ask yourself, do I need all this stuff? Realistically, is it likely I’ll be inspired to pick up that copy of Social Constructionist Psychology: A Critical Analysis of Theory and Practice ever again?
If the answer is no, it’s time to get rid. But that doesn’t mean throwing things like textbooks away – they’re expensive to buy new which means a persisting demand from new students on the lookout for cheap secondhand copies. You can recuperate as much as 70% of the original RRP using sites like ebay to advertise your items to the widest possible audience.
Store it
Companies like Safestore offer secure storage facilities during holiday periods, when students in halls of residents are traditionally turfed out for up to a month at a time.
Prices are based on the amount of space you require. There are branches in over 90 locations nationwide, but Safestore guarantee they’ll beat the prices of any like-for-like competitor by 10%. What’s more, you’ll find a DHL servicepoint in every Safestore nationwide so you can even send stuff home while you’re there – with free secure packaging thrown in!
Send it
With airlines limiting the weight of luggage you can take on board, the only realistic option is to use a reliable shipping company. But before you do, here are some of the most important things to consider:
Reputation
Does the company have a good reputation for shipping internationally and on time? Ask around. Have your friends had any experience of using the company in question?
Quote
Estimate the total weight and size of your stuff so you can get quotes and compare costs.
Service
What does the service involve? For example, is free secure packaging included Are you able to arrange insurance and if so, what is covered?
Tracking
Is it possible to track the whereabouts of your parcel in transit? Can this be done online?
For more information, pop into your local DHL Servicecentre for a no-obligation chat about your shipping options