Moving across the country is expensive. It’s also overwhelming, emotional, and, if you’re anything like me, something you want to do with as little financial stress as possible.
I want to acknowledge upfront: not everyone has the privilege of time to plan, or the flexibility to save in advance. I had almost two years to prepare, and that made all the difference.
So, how did I do it? Here’s my story and some lessons learned that might help you if you’re planning a big move of your own.
Step 1: Naming the Goal
When I decided I wanted to move across the country—even before I knew exactly where—I put myself on a budget with two goals:
- Pay down as much of my credit card debt as possible.
- Save for moving expenses.
Having those goals gave me a focus. Every time I was tempted to buy something unnecessary, I’d think: that’s one more thing I’d have to move. Instead, I put that money into savings.
Step 2: Creating a Dedicated Moving Fund
I opened a separate savings account just for moving. This was key. It allowed me to watch the number grow and track progress without mixing it into my day-to-day spending.
Every Friday, when my retail job paycheck (more on this later) hit my bank account, I immediately transferred all of it into the moving account—rounding up to the next dollar. This routine kept me consistent.
When I started paying for move-related expenses (like a plane ticket to go apartment hunting), I used my favorite credit card for the points and then immediately paid it off from my moving account. This way I earned rewards without carrying any debt.
Step 3: Researching the True Cost of Moving
Before I started saving, I researched what I’d need money for. My list included:
- Moving truck rental
- Movers for loading/unloading
- Gas for the truck
- Hotel rooms on the road
- New apartment deposit + move-in fees
- Fees to move out of my old apartment
- New furniture (since I wasn’t bringing much with me)
- Moving supplies (like locks for the truck, boxes, tape, etc.)
Adding these up, I estimated I’d need about $10,000 to move comfortably. At the time, that number felt impossible—but having it gave me a target.
Step 4: Finding Extra Income
To get there, I got serious about saving. I funneled 100% of my Etsy shop income into my moving account. On top of that, I took a part-time retail job while working full-time.
For 10 months, I worked 15–25 extra hours a week. I think I had two weekends off during that stretch. During the week of Christmas, I worked 32 hours at my part-time job in addition to my full-time job.
I also want to note that, once I decided to sell my car before moving, I didn’t pay for any maintenance on it. This decision meant I drove my vehicle WITHOUT AIR CONDITIONING during May, June, and July in Austin, Texas… yeah. I’m honestly not sure how I survived, but there’s that.
It was exhausting, but every single retail paycheck went directly into my moving account. That’s what made my move possible.
Step 5: Preparing for the Unexpected
I also factored in “surprise” costs because moving is full of them. Here’s what my actual move ended up costing:
- Extra rent for one month: $1,800
- Moving truck rental: $2,000
- Movers (loading + unloading): $700
- Gas for moving truck: ~$500
- Hotel rooms on the road: $500
- Apartment deposit: $1,800
- Move-out fees: $150
- Junk removal: $700
- Moving supplies (locks, tape, etc.): $200
- Furniture (ongoing): ~$3,000
One big plus? I sold my Jeep before the move, which gave me about $3,500 extra to add to the fund.
Step 6: Appreciating the Payoff
Having savings set aside meant I didn’t panic when it was time to pay deposits, fill the gas tank on the truck, or swipe my card for movers. Instead, I could just say: “Already saved for that.”
That peace of mind was priceless.
The Other Cost: Time & Energy
I won’t sugarcoat it: working two jobs for nearly a year was tough. I was tired, missed out on downtime, and sacrificed weekends. But looking back, it was worth it. It allowed me to build the life I wanted, on my terms.
Final Thoughts
If you’re planning a move—whether it’s across the city or across the country—remember that preparation is everything. For me, having a dedicated account, setting clear goals, and hustling for extra income made it possible.
Not everyone can save $10,000 or spend two years preparing, and that’s okay. Even saving $500 or $1,000 can make a big difference in lowering stress.
My biggest advice? Start where you are, save what you can, and keep your goal in mind. Because when moving day finally comes, you’ll thank yourself for every dollar you set aside.
If you’ve got additional money tips for moving, I’d love to heart them!
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