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deleted109597
For many of us, next month means a whole new venture as we get to move many miles away to new jobs with new money. This is true for residents as well. I am starting this thread to help people out with this decision.
First, when moving across the country, make a conscious decision as to what you really need to hold on to, and what you can do without. If you can sell off/trash/burn in effigy, and move in your car or with a small trailer, you'll save a ton of money, unless you decide to furnish your new place with Restoration Hardware or something.
Second, if you do have enough stuff, take advantage of moving companies. Specifically, the fact that they have insurance and people whose job it is to gorilla your stuff around, saving your back. I'm moving 1500 miles, and it is costing right at $6000 for 9000lbs of junk. The value of that junk is more than I'm paying. All it would take is for my buddies to drop my 60" LCD to make "saving a little money" a losing proposition. Make sure and shop around, as moving companies vary significantly in cost. Movingscam.org will give you the best people with the best ratings, and many companies give you a discount for using it. Moovers.com gives a 68% discount if you link through movingscam.
Third, if you don't want to drive, shipping your car costs between 1-2K. If you have the time, driving across the country could be a nice experience and save you money. Even my behemoth comes out ahead on gas money.
Fourth, save your receipts. This is all tax deductible, from the gas to the food you eat on the way to the boxes to the moving companies.
Fifth, don't buy boxes. You all work in hospitals. They receive more every day than they know what to do with.
Sixth, ask your employer for a moving allowance. It never hurts to ask, and I got 10K that wasn't in my initial contract just by asking.
Everyone else feel free to point out obvious misconceptions and other things I left out.
First, when moving across the country, make a conscious decision as to what you really need to hold on to, and what you can do without. If you can sell off/trash/burn in effigy, and move in your car or with a small trailer, you'll save a ton of money, unless you decide to furnish your new place with Restoration Hardware or something.
Second, if you do have enough stuff, take advantage of moving companies. Specifically, the fact that they have insurance and people whose job it is to gorilla your stuff around, saving your back. I'm moving 1500 miles, and it is costing right at $6000 for 9000lbs of junk. The value of that junk is more than I'm paying. All it would take is for my buddies to drop my 60" LCD to make "saving a little money" a losing proposition. Make sure and shop around, as moving companies vary significantly in cost. Movingscam.org will give you the best people with the best ratings, and many companies give you a discount for using it. Moovers.com gives a 68% discount if you link through movingscam.
Third, if you don't want to drive, shipping your car costs between 1-2K. If you have the time, driving across the country could be a nice experience and save you money. Even my behemoth comes out ahead on gas money.
Fourth, save your receipts. This is all tax deductible, from the gas to the food you eat on the way to the boxes to the moving companies.
Fifth, don't buy boxes. You all work in hospitals. They receive more every day than they know what to do with.
Sixth, ask your employer for a moving allowance. It never hurts to ask, and I got 10K that wasn't in my initial contract just by asking.
Everyone else feel free to point out obvious misconceptions and other things I left out.
