Moving across the country can be a costly, stressful adventure. It doesn’t have to be that way, though.
Some quality planning and a little extra thought into how you can save money along the way will make your move much more enjoyable. We’re going to discuss some ideas that you can use to keep your bank account full for when you arrive at your new place.
Let’s take a look at how to move across the country on a budget.
1. Take One Trip
The tricky part about moving long distances for a lot of people is that you might have to drive about 24 hours in one direction. All of the food, gas, and time that you spend in that venture can be really costly. Not to mention, your car takes a beating and that can add to the cost as well.
If you can make it out in one trip, you should. That might mean consolidating some of your belonging, but you might find that the move is a great time to do just that. Additionally, companies like thestoragebox.com service can move the remainder of your belongings cross-country for you.
It might seem like it’d be more expensive to hire a team, but it turns out that it tends to actually be cheaper than driving back and forth multiple times.
2. Unload Big Stuff
That old dresser, the bed frame, the thrift store couch. All of those items might be tied to some great memories, but are they worth keeping? The big items you have are the most expensive to move as well as being the most annoying.
It could be time to cut ties with those massive pieces of furniture. If you do, you’ll save a significant amount of money. Maybe even enough to buy some new pieces when you arrive at your future home.
3. Find a Sublet (Briefly)
It might be a smart move to find a sublet to move into for a short time and look for places then. You can find a lot of great properties or apartments online, but sometimes you can strike a better deal if you’re in person as you look.
Additionally, stuff just looks a lot nicer in pictures. Get out to your destination, find a temporary place, then start looking for your final destination.
4. How’s Your Car Doing?
If you intend to drive your car across the country with all of your things, make sure it’s doing alright. You might find that your car isn’t up to the task, and that the cost of repairs is more than your expected moving costs.
In these cases, you could rent a car for your transport phase. You could have your car transported, or sell your car and find a new one at your new destination.
5. Explore Community Options
Your intended destination is bound to have community resources that could put you in touch with people who can help. Whether that means you can get moving advice from current residents or you can find someone to lend a helping hand, you should try to dig into the community a little.
It’s also just a valuable thing to know someone in the place you live. Who knows? You could meet a great friend online before you even hit the road.
Need Some More Ideas?
Figuring out how to move across the country is one part exciting, two parts confusing. We’re here to help you through the process.
Explore our site for more moving ideas and insight into the process of finding a place to live.