There is nothing more exciting and stressful as moving into a new environment. Packing up what you've accumulated over the years plus your day-to-day stuff can be an overwhelming task. But making the move doesn't have to be difficult -- with careful planning, boxes and a large marker one of life's most stressful occurances can be made easier. If the move is planned with a single, targeted date in mind, start early. Pick up boxes from a moving or packaging store, or hit a local market as stores are often willing to part ways with boxes, etc. Plastic bins can be a worthy investment for breakable items, and can be reused for storage later. Pack items that have been stored (and take the opportunity to purge unused things!), then start to tackle treasures and heirloom pieces. Wrap and pack these items carefully -- if bubble wrap is out of your budget, plastic grocery bags layered around items can work nearly as well. Avoid packing too tightly -- a slight bit of extra air will add extra cushion. Once everything's boxed up, mark the bin as to its contents to make locating items on the other side easy. If it's a box to be stored, versus unpacked, note as such to make everything more efficient. As moving day nears, tackle day-to-day items that you regularly use. Clothing can be kept on hangers and covered with plastic trash bags to protect during transition. For personal items -- jewelry, medical records, etc. store in a separate container and take with you versus having a moving company handle. Once everything's moved, unpack in the reverse of how you packed -- day-to-day items first, storage items stowed, etc. -- Jeanne Blain

Essential moving items, L-R - A thick marker for noting contents on boxes, Sharpie; Boxes can be purchased at any hardware store, Home Depot; A tape gun will make packing much easier, Container Store; Plastic bins for breakables can be reused for future storage, Target