Flat Rate Movers In NYC

Whether relocation concerns a residence or business there are movers in NYC who offer customers an all inclusive one-price move that is guaranteed. Known as Flat Rate movers, the innovation introduced in 1991 offers an all inclusive, guaranteed, one-price move.

This was introduced in order to eliminate questionable pricing practices and to develop a trust among customers. They will ask details of what and where you want to move and provide you with a fixed cost estimate for the proposed move.

The service includes packing, collecting your boxes, door step delivery as well as unpacking. However the system is not without problems so you must ensure that the credentials of the company are “good”, there are no complaints with the Better Business Bureau, that the contract includes guarantees, as well as breakage or loss insurance.

You may need to take additional insurance to protect your valuables. Ask the company about this. If in doubt consult a “moving” advisor or consultant. Make time to search on the web for insights about moving and how a move can be made safe and error free.

Check the information offered on company web sites, always contact at least three companies and make a comparison table listing estimate, services, credentials, insurance and so on.  Never hesitate to ask around and seek answers from the moving company to even simple questions. Most important check with Dot and the Better Business Bureau for any complaints or reports registered against the companies on your list. Surf the Web for any reviews, blogs, or articles recommending the company or issuing warnings about the company.

There is peace of mind in ensuring the safety of your possessions, so do your best to protect yourself.

Family Emergency Preparedness 2006

Thought Hurricane season 2005 with Katrina and Rita was bad? Well get ready for 2006 as it will be equally as bad or worse. As an emergency preparedness consultant featured on CNN and Fox News, I can assure you that if you are not prepared you could meet the same fate as hundreds of people did during Katrina. NO scare tactics just the truth! First of all you need to have a water supply on hand for at least one week for each member of the family. We suggest one gallon per day per family member as the MINIMUM! Sure the people in New Orleans were surrounded by water but it was totally unfit to drink. Next you need a supply of food that can be protected from rising water. You need to put it in LARGE plastic waterproof containers. You should have food for at least a week in the form of MREs and typical staples like peanut butter, jelly, honey, crackers, and can goods of baked beans, vegetables, soups, Spam, tuna, sardines, Vienna sausages, salmon, chicken, etc. Don't wait until the hurricane is upon you to get these items! Next you need for EVERY member of the family to have a Preparedness Travel Backpack with: clothes, a pair of sneakers, socks, underwear, a protective hat/cap, good quality poncho, an individual NASA blanket and or sleeping bag (these are folded so tight in their packages that you can easily get them in the backpack)and most importantly ID packets as described in my FR** Emergency Preparedness Guide at http://www.usprepared.com. You will need a well equipped first aid kit that also can be kept in one of the backpacks along with an emergency radio that can be manually wound up. Put in a LARGE supply of matches that have been waterproofed. SEVERAL flashlights that feature the new LED lights that can be either shaken or wound up. Also make sure to have a supply of FRESH batteries of every size that you will be needing NOW not later! If you are traveling by vehicle, that vehicle should have FDA approved plastic containers for your drinking water and several other ones for your vehicle to keep it from overheating. You need GOOD quality plastic 5 gallon GAS containers filled up NOW. Keep a supply of oil and transmission fluid in the car along with several cans of those tire inflating aerosols. If you don't have a high quality tool kit for your vehicle get one NOW! Also have some form of emergency flashers available. Also make sure and have a family tent in the vehicle. How many people did you see during Hurricane Katrina that had to wait for FEMA to provide tents? Certainly you have fire extinguishers at home. Well do you also have one for each vehicle? If not, get then NOW! You are going to need to have your food supplies mentioned above in BIG plastic containers that can be moved to the vehicle without taking the time to stock it up. Do that NOW! There is a lot more that you will need to know and it's all available at http://www.usprepared.com in the FREE Emergency Preparedness Guide. Also you will find info there on preparing for bird flu too.

Gifts And Novelties For Every Event

Kids in particular love little gifts and novelties. Even something as small as a whistle (while it will eventually drive a parent crazy) can be such a fabulous little trinket to a child. For Halloween this year, we gave out candy and one novelty to every child. Almost every single time, the child was more interested in the novelty we handed them than the candy. And since we used whistles among other things, we had immediate feedback on our choice as our entire neighborhood was illuminated with the sound of little ghost whistles up and down the street. These things, particularly because they are surprises, make a kids experience that much more personal and fun. For parties, whether they are holiday parties, birthday parties, housewarming parties, or just a get together, we always have a few novelties on hand for the children who show up. This practice does two things. First, it lets them know that they are welcome in our home. This little ice breaker helps them relax After all, they are usually dressed in their “good” clothes, have received numerous lectures about the behavior that is expected from their parent, and are a little nervous to do the right things in someone elses home. Breaking the ice with a novelty helps them understand that we understand they are children and we dont expect them to be perfect in our home, which often leads to better behavior because their stress level plummets. The second thing this does for them is gives them a distraction and a new way to associate with the adults around them. Adults can be terribly boring. Whether there is just one child in the mix or several, the adults are still terribly boring. But unless the other kids know each other well, it takes a little time for them to feel each other out and engage in their own activity. Younger children still need to be assured that its okay to play while they are at the party. Remember that behavior lecture they received? Remember when they usually get in trouble? Using gifts and novelties as an ice breaker doesnt have to be limited to children. However, when handing out these little gifts or novelties, keep in mind that children under the age of four may very well choke on small items and you need to make sure whatever youre handing out either cant fit into a little mouth or have a separate gift and novelty section for the young children. If youre going to enter the novelty world for adults that attend your parties, you might want to give serious consideration to what youre handing out. Children are easy by comparison because they are truly happy with so little. Adults, on the other hand, tend to have grown past that interested period in their life and now need something a little more exciting than a whistle to feel like they are getting something. You dont have to go very expensive for adult novelties, but you should go creative. If youre making a joke, make sure everyone understands the joke. For years, we had a running joke inside our family about the Budweiser Frogs. At a gathering we had later, Budweiser tee shirts were handed out. The problem was that only half of the individuals there understood the joke, so half the adults thought my parents were trying to give away beer tee shirts as a gift. It didnt hit this particular crowd very well. Novelties and small gifts are perfect little thank you for coming packages. If your event is particularly important, you might want to avoid humor and go for more tasteful selections. However, if youre handing out novelties for a back yard Fourth of July barbeque, its okay to use humor instead. Matching the novelty with the occasion often tends to be the hardest part. People with a strong sense of humor tend to want to stay with humor, even for more formal events. This can be frustrating. People who tend to be more emotional and cater toward their appreciative feelings tend to want to be more upscale in their selection, even for tee shirt and jeans events. Either way, you simply want to try to match the novelty with the event, and the crowd. Be aware of accidentally leaving anyone out of loop, and have tons of fun with it. Once you start exploring the world of novelties, youd be surprised how many choices you actually have.

Five Steps to Freedom from Worries

Merriam-Webster defines “worry” as a mental distress or agitation that usually comes from something that is both feared and anticipated.  The source of ones worries can either be real or imagined. Worrying causes so much stress and anxiety. We use so much our our mental energy, time, and even resources to control or attempt to manage our worries.  But no matter what we do, these worries don't really give us peace of mind. 

But what does worrying do for us?  Worry is like a dense fog that can cloud our vision and slow us down. It even knocks out our sense of proportion.  When we worry about things that happened in the past, we fail to move on in life.  We also worry about health, money, and other things that have yet to happen --- a situation that causes us even more trouble.

We worry about our careers...bills...house payments...tuition fees...who our kids are dating...the stock market...interest rates...the ozone layer... and even about comets hitting the earth.  Our “enslaving expectations” make us restless and afraid.  Discontentment and worry destroys our personal peace and “eats us alive.”  Being enslaved by worries is like being inside a pressure cooker. It is like living in a state of chronic frustration. Our dissatisfaction also magnifies our weaknesses. 

Another cause for worry is when we needlessly compare ourselves to others or when we are consumed by envy and greed.  Keeping up with the Joneses is another social malady that afflicts so many people.   Insecurity and lack of confidence makes some individuals look and see how “other people's grass is always greener.”   This situation drives them to equal or even surpass other people's material possessions  or social standing.  Worse, they do this using pretense and other inauthentic means of improving their status.  Material gain is not celebrated as proof of financial success but more so as a means not to “look smaller” compared to the neighbors, officemates, and other sources of envy.  

How do we deal with worries, then?

The first step to dealing with worry is to identity what worries you the most. Accepting that you have fears is the first necessary step. 

The second step is to tell yourself that worries are not necessarily logical or rational.  It is important for a worrier to start believing that their worries can be solved.  While having feelings of worry is a valid emotion, a worrier must really decide to start the journey to freedom from fear. 


The third step is to make a sensible plan on how to address those worries.  For example, if your children frequently come home late at night, give your children mobile phones so that you can always keep in touch.  The worrier must take action and correct situations that cause anxiety.

The fourth most important step is to let go.  Letting go is key to overcoming worry and all the stress that comes with it.   Letting go entails having faith that “...God will make things work together for good.”  it does not mean that one gives up in resignation. Letting go is simply entrusting one's work or one's life to a higher power after one has already done the best he or she could under the circumstances.  After you've done everything you could, there is already no point in being in anguish over life's many details and tasks.

Family Safety Tips For Fairs, Festivals, And Amusement Parks

: How do you keep your child “stranger proof” this summer? When children are out of school, there is more time for families to make life-lasting memories when going out to enjoy fairs, festivals, and amusement parks. Here’s a plan to keep them safe. Parents, you know there is always an increased stress when it comes to the safety and security of your family during an outing. Can’t stand the anxiety? Not sure where to start? Take a few minutes with a family safety plan by following some of these easy steps so it’s not just the kids having all the fun…you can too! Before going to the event, tell your child... ... to have fun while paying attention to where they are and who they are with at all times. ...they should not be alone in the park or become isolated with anyone, even characters in costume. Tell them not to accept any prizes, offers, or gifts from anyone until they have checked with you FIRST. ...they should be cautioned not to engage in conversation with or offer assistance to anyone until they have checked with you. ...to tell you if anyone approaches them or makes them feel uncomfortable. Tell you children if they are approached by anyone who tries to take them to yell “This person is not my father (mother)!” and do whatever they need to do (kick, punch, scratch,) to get away from that person. ...if you become separated in the park to go to the closest “Help/Information Center” to ask the people there to “find my parents and bring them to me here at this Center” or, in the case of older children, make the “Help/Information Center” the spot where you can “meet up”. Make sure your child understands they should never search for you on their own or look for you outside the park, especially in the parking lot. ...these rules also apply when they are taking part in a field trip through their school or youth group. If you are not joining them for the trip, they need to check first with and tell the responsible adult in charge or a designated chaperone if anything is wrong. As a parent you should... ...get all the information about the park prior to you trip, and review the park guidelines, particularly those regarding lost children. Discuss the information with your family, including what to do if you become separated. As your children what they would do in certain situations, and practice appropriate actions and responses with your children. ...get a map immediately arriving, identify the “Help/Information Centers” throughout the park and reinforce the idea these are the places for children to go to in case you become separated in the park. Making a plan before hand, in case you are separated, should greatly speed up the reunion. ...talk to your child about who can help them if they become lost, need help, or are in trouble. Examples: park personnel with nametags or uniforms or mothers with strollers and children. ...never let your child use public bathrooms or changing facilities alone. ...not put your child’s name prominently displayed on clothing, backpacks, or jewelry. ...make sure your child has emergency contact numbers with them if they ever need assistance including your cell phone numbers. ...dress your child in or asking them to wear brightly colored clothes so you can easily spot them in the park. ...accompany young children on rides in the park. Older children should stay in groups and take a friend with them wherever they go in the park. If you decide to let young children go on rides without you, wait with them in line, watch them enter the ride, and immediately meet them when they exit the ride. ...immediately report any suspicious or inappropriate behavior to authorities. ...make certain your child has change to use the telephone. If you have a cell phone or pager, make certain your children know those numbers and how to activate them on the phone. Parents might want to invest in two way radios so family members can keep in contact with each other. ...immediately report your child missing if you become separated. Be prepared to give an accurate and detailed description of your child. You should carry a recent photograph and be able to accurately describe the clothing the your child is wearing ...make certain there is going to be qualified supervision of the children by responsible adults when granting permission for your child to go on a field trip. By taking the time to share with your family a safety plan for your next trip to a fair, festival or amusement park fun can be had by all, without the worry of a family member missing or lost.

Finding Your Perfect Home

If you have decided to pick up everything and move to a new city, you are probably full of mixed emotions. It can be exciting to move but it can also be a nerve-racking experience. How can you find a neighborhood that is right for you without ever having lived in that city? Its a difficult decision if you are renting and an even tougher decision if you are committing to buying a home. Read along, and this article will give you some tips on choosing the perfect neighborhood for you and your family.


The first thing that you need to take into consideration is what kind of home you are looking for. Do you want a house, a condo, an apartment or a townhouse? Do you want to live in an active city or a slow paced suburb? Is it important that you be close to shopping, restaurants, or parks? Before you start looking, decide what type of home and area you want. It will save you quite a bit of time.


Once you find a possible area, you need to take into account the crime rate. Everyone wants to live in a safe neighborhood. The easiest way to find crime statistics is to call the local police department. They should be able to give you statistics. You also want to look at the sex offender registry to make sure that your area is not heavily populated with sex offenders. Lastly, look around closely at your neighborhood for signs of crime. Look for broken glass, bars on windows and doors, graffiti and people loitering. If you can, drive the neighborhood at night. Many neighborhoods look like heaven in the daylight but quickly become hell when the sun goes down.


If you are moving with children, you will want to look at the local school system next. Are the schools in walking distance or will your kids have to ride a bus? How do the schools rank? You should be able to do a search online for the school district and come up with rankings. Even if you do not have kids, you should probably look into the school system. Who knows, you might one day decide to have children. Also if you are buying the home, you want a good school system. Bad schools make for lower property values and homes that are harder to sell.


If you are purchasing your home, you must also look at what the property values are doing. Are they moving up or are they stagnant or even falling. Your realtor should be able to let you know. If they aren't much help, do a search for the county's tax appraiser online. They will probably have a searchable database with previous years home values. If that fails, look to see if the neighborhood is kept up. Are yards neatly trimmed or are they overgrown and full of weeds. Do people pick up the trash or are cans, cigarette butts and bottles thrown about. If the neighborhood isn't kept up, you can probably bet that it is on a downward slide.


It might seem like a lot of work to do this much research on your new home, but it is better than choosing a bad one. If you sign a lease on a bad home, you might be stuck there for one or even two years. If you buy a home in the wrong neighborhood, you might be unable to sell it and may be stuck there longer. Do your research however and you will dramatically improve your odds of finding your perfect home.

Families are Beautiful

It's nice when the whole family spends time together. You share a special bond between one another that cannot be recreated with anyone else. Father, mother, sister, brother, you all belong to each other in a special way. Each member of the family needs to rely on each other for love, companionship, advice, support and sometimes just to listen. Times aren't always going to be smooth sailing. A family that is strong in love can make it through the worst of times. In order for a family to work well together, each member needs to give of themselves to one another, without thinking about getting anything in return. This is giving from your heart. If each member were to do this, everyone's needs would be met and there would be no selfishness in your family, only true love for one another. Sometimes in a family, there can be a fight where it is so bad, that one seperates themself from a member of the family or the entire family for a long period of time. It's a shame when something like this happens. It can hurt a family really bad. There's bitterness and pain that winds up leaving a void in one's heart because they seem to have lost that bond they once had. No matter what happened or how terrible it may have been to cause such a seperation, families need to be reunited. Forgiveness can mend more than one heart. Pride is not worth losing family over. There's nothing like having dinner together as a family. There's just something that makes the end of the day more pleasant. Take for instance if you had a bad day or you have a problem that you would like to discuss. Here at the table, you have loved ones that are willing to listen and help you get over your bad day. Nothing like quality time with your family. You have to eat, right? Eat together and spend that time keeping the bond tight and the love flowing. Family time together, whether it would be watching a movie or going to a movie, or a day in the park, or maybe a camping trip(here's a hint:you could even camp out in your backyard) it's what you do with the time you have together. There's many things a family could do together. Sometimes there's always that one member who doesn't want to go. If you are that one member, forget about yourself and think of your family. Remember that you are not always going to be living together. The time is going to come when either you are going to be moving out or if your the parent your kids are going to be leaving. Don't miss out on the time you could be sharing with one another. Quality time together is important. Many households have both parents working. The kids come home from school to a empty house. These days even if everyone is home, you can still be seperated. There are so many electronic gadgets to keep everyone busy by themselves. Let's see what we have. Cell phones, gaming computers, laptops, ipods, mp3 players, video games, 200 plus channels on T.V., etc., etc. All the things on the web that will keep you busy like blogging, chat rooms, my space, and so on. There are so many things one can do to entertain themselves without the family. Most of these things can be addictive. People can become strangers in their own family. It only takes one family member to get the ball rolling. So if your family is not as tight as it should be, you could be the one to change it. There's nothing worse than sitting down one day and looking back at the time one missed with their family. You can't go back and change things. Regret is very painful and it will last you the rest of your life. May God Bless You.