Well, have made it to college, and now it’s time to finally relocate out of your parents’ home and get your own place. Whether you’re moving to a dorm or an apartment or renting a house, there are a lot of things to think about. Whether you’re a little scared about leaving the nest or if you’ve been antsy since you were 16 just waiting to leave, it’s a huge step. Besides concerns about rent, room & board, roommates, security deposits, and other things of that nature, there’s one big question: how do you get all your belongings to your new apartment?

A good first step is to minimize. Do you really need all that stuff? It’s a good idea to go through your things and decide what you’ll keep and what can go. If your parents are going to keep a room for you, much of the belongings you don’t want to take can remain there. But if you’re out for good, you can sell it or give it away.

Once you’ve got your inventory, you’re ready to pack. You can look up truck rental for yourself, or learn about self pack moving companies, who will load and drive the truck but leave it up to you to package your own things. If you’re ok with driving a truck, or have friends and family who can do it for you, moving van rental will be the most economical way to relocate. Call and reserve your truck well before, especially around September and June, the two prime moving times for college students.

Get a truck that’s the perfect size for the amount of items you have. This will save you money by allowing you to get a smaller truck and not waste a lot of area. Smaller trucks also take less fuel, and are even a little simpler to drive than a large one. If you don’t want to drive your own truck, the self pack moving companies will be a good choice. They will charge you set on how many boxes you are moving and how far you’re relocating. You package up the boxes ahead of time, and the movers will come and load the truck for you. This is in contrast to the much more costly full-service relocaters, who will provide boxes or crates and pack up for you, leaving you to relax before your move.

Whichever way you decide to transport your goods to your new home, this is an exciting time, and it will be an awesome experience. There’s nothing like the freedom of relocating into your own new home. It’s a little scary, but if you remember to plan your move carefully, you’ll do just fine.