The time for moving in and out of apartments, dorms and homes has swept the ISU community as students hasten to pack up and move everything to a new location.

But, as students sift through all the things they never imagined they owned, they begin to realize moving may be absolute murder. Students need to get rid of their couch or futon, and especially that old coffee table they built out of milk crates and their orange velour recliner. They must. But how?

A few ideal options for students lie in bringing furniture to consignment or thrift stores.

Great Stuff Consignment Store, 312 Main St., offers furniture, antiques and home accessories.

If you’re in search of a place to cast off unneeded and unwanted furniture, Great Stuff is an option.

They say they’re selective about what they take in — it has to be in good shape and have good quality.

This means no fraying or wearing, and if it is upholstered it has to have come from a smoke-free environment. Even though the items are used, they must be in an overall good condition.

The best part? The former owner gets 50 percent of the sale price if the store sells your item.

Prices for buying and selling various items range anywhere from $1 to $1,000.

Another option is the Consignment Gallery, 111 Main St., in Gilbert.

They will accept anything that is what they consider “room ready.” This means the item must have no chips or scratches or be broken or damaged.

In order to consign with Consignment Gallery, they ask that anyone with a prospective sale call for an appointment and also go out and visit their store so that he or she can get a feel for what they sell and how they promote it.

If a prospective sale is consigned at Consignment Gallery, the item is available for up to 90 days and owners receive 65 percent of the profit when the item is sold.

If getting rid of your stuff once and for all is of primary concern to you, donating it to a thrift store is a good option — you no longer have to deal with your junk, and your donation will benefit charity organizations.

The only thrift store in Ames — Goodwill Store, 3718 Lincoln Way — will accept donations during store hours. They will only accept gently used articles, so don’t expect them to take your ripped-up sofa that has four years worth of Cheetos crumbs ground into it.