Moving Cross Country On a Budget
Saying goodbye to your house, community,
family and friends is a tough thing to do. Besides the emotional
strain that relocating exacts, moving can also put a strain on your
wallet – especially if you are trekking across the country.
The logistics of getting all of your
belongings safely from point A to point B is daunting, and the price tag
can be startling. There are ways to move everything from your old home
to your new home without moving all of your money out of your bank
account. Consider the tips below to ensure that you will have some
money available to you when you arrive in your new home.
DIY or Moving Company?
Hiring a moving company is the most
convenient way to relocate. You won’t have to get behind the wheel of a
big rig, or haul an unwieldy trailer to your new town. You won’t slip a
disk or strain a muscle trying to get your piano into the truck. When
you get to your location, you can watch the crew unload all of your
belongings.
Moving companies will give you a good idea of exactly the size of
truck that you will need and how much it will cost. The cost though,
might have you second guessing the convenience of getting a moving
company.
If you want to save a nice chunk of
change, rent your own moving truck or trailer. U-Haul and Penske have a
wide selection of affordable options. You will be charged mileage and a
base fee, but the overall cost will be quite low in comparison to the
moving companies.
Where you will pay is in your strained
muscles, stress level, traffic jams, and logistics. In the grand scheme
of things, sore muscles and traffic frustration may be worth the huge
savings. Just remember to stay safe. Adding a doctor’s visit to your
moving budget is just going to make things worse!
If you do rent a truck, give the truck a
thorough examination with a company representative before driving it
home. Carefully note any damages that were on the truck. If you do
scrape or dent the truck while trying to back into a tight spot,
consider fixing it instead of returning it with a dent. You will be
charged an exorbitant fee for any repair that has to be made.
What to Pack
Be ruthless when it is time to pack.
Not everything needs to come with to your new home. Pack your
essentials and say adios to the garish set of vases your great-Aunt
Agatha gave you for your wedding.
Once you have separated the no-goes from
the packed up items, consider having a garage sale or posting some of
the items online to make a little extra cash. This will defray your
moving expenses. Donate what you can’t sell. Give any extra items to
family members, charities, or thrift stores that need these items. You
can even get a donation receipt for some of the items.
The less you have, the cheaper it is to
move. You will be able to get a smaller truck or trailer, and your
mileage will be better if you are not loaded down. You will also save
yourself a lot of time when it comes to packing and unpacking.
Plan Your Route
Before you pull out of the driveway,
plan a route that you are going to take to your new home. Find
restaurants and hotels that are economical on the way. Pack a cooler of
snacks and sandwiches for the drive so that you avoid convenient stores
or extra restaurants.
If you have some friends along your
route, consider asking if you can stop over and bunk in with them for a
night. A nice visit with friends may ease the stress levels from your
move.
Give yourself plenty of time. You will
be very tired from the move. Trying to drive long distances across the
country is not a safe thing to do if you are exhausted. Plan to stop
and rest. Don’t risk your life and all of your belongings just because
you have to get the truck back by a certain time.
Make a Budget
Price it all out and compare. It might
be good to set up a budget for you move as well. Moving costs will
quickly add up if you are not careful. Stress from spending is not
something that you need to add to the stress level of moving. Shop
around for the best prices. Talk to other people who have moved across
the country and ask them for any tips or advice. They may have even
more money-saving suggestions for you.
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