Moving across the country is a difficult, but rewarding endeavor few get to experience. If you’ve recently gotten married, you may be considering a big move across the country to kick off your new life.
For some, moving across the country occurred naturally after attending college in another state; for others, financial hardship has made moving across the country a necessity.
Carol Ayala was one of those people that struggled to pay rent and support her five children. She suffers from multiple sclerosis, putting her on permanent disability. In order to receive a Section 8 housing voucher, she had to move all the way from Florida to a small town outside of Salt Lake City, Utah. After staying for a year, she was able to reunite with her full family.
“My bills are always paid. I don’t have to move like I used to. My kids don’t have to change schools, and you know they can live in this home peacefully and feel safe,” she said in an interview.
If you’ve recently gotten married, congratulations! You’re one of the 2.4 million weddings that occur each year in the United States. Depending on your current financial situation, you may be worried about finding sustainable options to move across the country. Luckily, there are affordable options to make your move a breeze.
Use eco-friendly transportation methods
Sustainable, reusable containers make shipping easier and offer you multiple options for additional storage finding a big move. If you’re worried that you’ll have too many containers after you’re moved in, you can also use recycled boxes when you ship your goods across the country. You might be able to find these boxes from friends, retailers, and even online marketplaces for discounted rates.
Choose the right time to move
Most weddings occur in the summer, but that doesn’t mean you have to move at the same time. In fact, most people choose to move between Memorial Day and Labor Day, making traffic a pain and finding a reliable, available mover difficult. Try to move during a weekday between October and April, but be careful to avoid the snow storms.
Hire a moving company
If you’ve got a few extra bucks, hiring a moving company is the best way to ensure the safety of your goods. This will give you more time to focus on the important things in your life, and you won’t strain yourself (mentally and physically) when you load and unload the truck. Movers can usually move you into your new home in the span of one to two weeks when you move cross country, so plan your children’s schooling and your new works plans accordingly.
Pack light
Following your wedding, you’ll have a bunch of wonderful new options to decorate your new home. This is also a great time to get rid of any double-items you and your new spouse may have forgotten about. It’s unlikely that you’ll need two coffee pots, two microwaves, and two sets of pots and pans — don’t be afraid to donate gently used items or recycle them accordingly if you don’t need them.
Getting married and starting a new life is just one of the many reasons people choose to move across the country. While this may be a difficult mission, there are affordable, sustainable options and tips to keep in mind when you begin your big move.
