You’ve dreamed about it for years. Moving to the other side of the country. You know, setting up shop somewhere else. Finding adventures in strange new places. Making new friends in some strange new local brew pub. Oh, you can practically taste that local microbrew now! But you’ve never done it because let’s face it: Being a single girl moving across country isn’t without its problems or risks. But it’s not without its rewards, either.
For years, I had dreamed of moving across the country, from my hometown of Philadelphia to the sunny skies of San Diego, California, but fear always held me back. This year, however, after a bad break up and a career change, I finally decided to take the plunge. Here are some things I learned as a single girl embarking on the moving process alone:
Research the Cost of Living
A successful move requires that you look at all expenses. There’s no way around it. U.S. News and World Report suggests that you research how much it will cost for you to live in your new destination of choice.
Find out how much rents are as well as how much it costs for food, utilities, entertainment, and the like. If it’ll cost more, make sure your budget can handle it. You can compare the cost of living in your current city versus your new city, to get a better idea of how your budget will be affected. Also, if you plan on moving without a job lined up, take a hard look at the work opportunities in your intended destination. There is nothing worse than being stranded without cash in a new place.
Get Rid of Stuff
Part of what causes you pain when you move is the packing and moving of heavy objects. And of course, there’s the money part. Here’s the thing. Getting rid of a bunch of stuff that you haven’t used in years can alleviate both of those moving problems. The Moving Blog suggests that you hold a moving sale.
Get cash where you can for your items. Donate the rest to the Goodwill or the Salvation Army and take a tax break. Your back, your wallet, and your sanity will thank you later.
Label and Inventory
ApartmentGuide.com recommends that you are mindful when you pack. Take an inventory of your items to reference later (the Sortly app is great for this!). While this sounds like a pain in the rear – and let’s face it, it is – you’ll save yourself some heartache down the road. You won’t be navigating as many broken items because you’ve packed carefully. And you’ll know which box to look in to find your curling iron on your first day of work.
Plan How Long It Will Take
Keep in mind that if you move from one coast to another, you’re going to have moving time. An article on the U-Pack website suggests that the move itself, meaning transit time, will take up to five days. This doesn’t include packing your truck or unloading.
Therefore, to be on the safe side make sure that you earmark two to three weeks for your actual move. This gives you time to secure your belongings into your moving truck, travel from one coast to another, and finally to unload (and possibly collapse for a bit) with time to spare.
Hire an Affordable Moving Company
When first planning my move, I thought I would just rent a big U-Haul and drive it across the country myself, with car in tow. The more I considered it, the scarier this option seemed to me. What was I going to do if I got stranded in the middle of New Mexico with a flat tire and all my possessions?! Instead, I found this local Philadelphia moving company known for its cheap rates, that also performs long distance moves. My belongings were loaded onto a truck along with those of 3-4 other customers headed in the same direction. Because this was a shared shipment, it took a bit longer to receive my delivery, but it also cost a lot less than a direct move. During the three weeks my belongings were in transit, I spent a final week saying goodbye to family and friends, then hopped in my Jetta and went on an epic road trip across the country with one of my best girlfriends. In my opinion, hiring movers is the way to go when moving that far from home.
Final Thoughts on Moving
Moving to a new state can be risky, but it also comes with plenty of excitement. If you’re a single girl with a cross-country move in your future, be sure to take this step with your eyes open. Research your destination ahead of time and plan your packing and moving in an orderly fashion. Finally, don’t get weighed down by stuff you don’t need. If you can live without it, sell it or toss it. You’ll be glad you did once you set to unpacking in your new place.