FollowLet’s check out the cheapest way to move across country. Moving is an adventure on its own, and more so if you’re planning a long distance move. Nobody is a fan of relocating. Besides the fact that is it exhausting, it can be highly costly.
This “logistical nightmare” you’re embarking on is bound to leave you making a few mistakes. But don’t worry – we’re here to help. We’ve gathered the best tips from people who have undertaken their own cross-country move to find out what is the cheapest way to move across country.
Are you moving for work reasons?
Before we get into the tips and tricks, answer this – why are you moving? Because we might just have found the cheapest way to move across country. See, if you are moving from one office to another in the same company, it is not uncommon for employees of major corporations to have their items shipped at the company’s expense.
If this is the case, discuss the issue with your boss before making any move on your own. When working at a large company, you have a series of benefits. Among them is the possible financial help you can get when relocating. Some employees receive as much as $10,000 to take care of all aspects regarding the move.
Cheapest Way to Move Across Country – Tips
Plan ahead
Figuring everything out just a week ahead of the relocation will do you no good. Any life-changing event must be planned in advance. There are countless things to consider before the big move, and you must answer some important questions.
What are you planning on moving? The furniture? Your pets? Your car? Everything? This will help you pick the ideal method of transportation. Which will also save both time and money.
Say goodbye to certain items
If you want the cheapest way to move across country, this will benefit you in more ways than one. Getting rid of certain things may be hard, especially when you’ve had them for a while. But you may have heard of individuals who gave up everything for a fresh new start.
However, we are only suggesting you should consider giving away some of the unloved possessions. Fewer items to pack means less money spent on shipping. And here’s how you should go about it:
- Selling some of your items will help you earn money to pay for the moving of other possessions that you can’t go without. Why not refresh your wardrobe or the look of your living room by giving up a part of your clothes or furniture, and make some bucks in the process?
- Donating some of your belonging is a nice thing to do, and Goodwill will take pretty much anything.
- Give away your furniture to friends. We all know that friend who has their eye set on something we own. Do a good deed and offer them a goodbye gift.
Collect moving supplies
We’ve already discussed the importance of planning way ahead of the move. This means also starting to save up boxes to pack your possessions. You might think that they’re inexpensive and it’s not worth the bother, but we disagree. It all adds up, and why should you pay for them when you can get moving boxes for free?
Start collecting boxes at work and ask your friends and family to save them. In a few months, you would have collected enough boxes to use for your moving. The same goes for newspapers.
When to move
Prices vary from season to season, so pick the best period if you can. Anything from airline tickets, bus tickets, truck costs, and more, is cheaper between the months October and May.
If you can avoid moving during summer, you can save a few bucks. Everyone wants to move in the summertime, and most people also go on vacations during those months. This affects the price of transportation and, in some cases, the availability of certain tickets. Many hotels also charge more during the summer than they do in the wintertime.
Moving without furniture
The reason why moving is such an expensive process is the furniture. You may notice that you end up paying for your heavy furniture once more if you insist on taking everything with you to your new home. Selling sofas, beds, and large appliances makes more sense. This way, you cut back on moving truck costs.
Your clothes and small possessions can be packed in a few checked bags. Then, you can board a cheap airline and be on your way. You’ll save up time and money, and it can be the cheapest way to move across country.
Here are the less expensive U.S. airlines:
Moving with furniture
If you have no other option than to move with your furniture, you should consider driving there yourself. Hiring a shipping company can get expensive, especially when you have many large belongings. The ideal scenarios would be you hiring a truck and driving it yourself.
Go on Google Maps and calculate your route. Estimate the cost of the move. Then call different shipping companies to compare costs.
If you come to find out it is cheaper to do everything yourself, keep in mind:
- You must be physically fit.
- You must be mentally prepared.
- Learn how to lift to not hurt your back or your legs. You will most likely have to load and unload the items yourself.
- Know what you are getting into, especially the long hours.
- Buy a lock for the trailer, as some truck rental companies do not rent out locks.
- Pick the best route and mind the road conditions.
Save up on food
When driving yourself to a new city, you will probably spend a few days on the road. Instead of eating in restaurants and buying products from the gas station, try the backpacker way. Basically, stuff up on sandwiches, water, and fruits. Try to keep the expenses on a low, while still nutritious, for a few days. You will end up saving a significant amount of money by packing your own food.
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