The Cost of A Move

I’m pretty sure I read an article somewhere that lists the most stressful events that could happen in life. This only validated my feelings on the cost of a move (a cross-country one, no less!)

1) Divorce

2) Death of a loved one (lower than divorce, really?)

3.) watching Titanic in 3D Moving.

The Back story

Before I delve into the money-related issues associated with a move, I will tell you– despite how much practice I have had moving (six times in seven years-what, what!) I am horrible at it. This last time in New York was the straw that broke the proverbial camel’s back. Picture it: It was just me, my boyfriend (Drewski) and a cargo van on one of the hottest August days New York has ever seen. I was trying to fit my oversize chaise into my skinny hallway and it just wouldn’t work. It’s just a couch, just a hallway and a door but I broke down on the side of the road and cried like a little bitch. Funny how moving can make you feel so lonely.

Consequently another friend of mine came through the door at that moment (high as a kite I might add) and somehow used his marijana acquired spidey sense to come up with a very creative way to get the chaise through the door. All was well that ended well, but that feeling of despair…of sweat sticking to your back and having so much more to do today and no energy is still fresh in my mind. A cross country move?? Yikes. But the cost of shipping my furniture outweighed both what I’d lose selling it and the emotional attachments I have to some of those pieces. They were my first “big-girl” purchases with my first Christmas bonus I ever received, and I was very loathe to let them go.

The Cost of a Move: Expense Breakdown

Back in April I moved from NYC back to Atlanta. I had spent so much money on the furniture and had already paid it off, so I figured the most cost effective way is to ship the furniture. I shipped a mattress, a behemoth of a dresser, a large six foot mirror (my glorious, gay-man mirror as my friends call it), and my beloved chaise. I also shipped several boxes of personal effects: clothing, shoes, and small items to the tune of 1500.00. It was about 400 dollars less expensive than renting a Uhaul (1100.00) and loading it and driving it ourselves. For the price they came and packed up my furniture (I had to pack the boxes) and moved it into a van. When they came to deliver the furnishing to my parent’s storage unit in Alabama he just backed the truck into the unit and used the loading ramp to move it all in.I did no lifting at all the entire process, which considering how much heavy lifting is associated with using a Uhaul I was thankful.

Yet, after an entire summer of unemployment I kind of wished I had just sold it all and not paid for the shipping. We still had to buy new furniture for the place anyway, and I wish I had that 1500 to pad my savings account. I would have taken a loss on the furniture, but I think I would have saved more money in the long run.

The actual move isn’t the only component you need to take into consideration when planning a cross-country move. Here is how much I actually spent:

1500 for the shippers

1200.00- rent/deposit on new place

115.00 for moving supplies-tape, boxes, and shipping a few boxes of things I needed immediately when I return home.

150.00 for setting up utilities

50 for cleaning supplies

=3015.00

-235.00 from furniture sales (I sold my table and chairs to my roommate, along with an air conditioner and bedside table).

-625.00 deposit from NYC apartment

=2155.00

I originally paid 900.00 just for my mattress alone, so at the time it was worth it to me to ship. Someone asked me if I had any advice and all this and I will caution all my friends about buying nice things. If you are a particularly mobile person, (You KNOW who you are!!) DO NOT buy expensive furniture. Buy the ikea crap you’ll get the use out of and leave it on the side of the road when you’re done. I wish I had done this, and going forward I will know better. The number above is staggering considering how I moved to New York two years ago with one suitcase and 300.00. You’ve been warned. This is just another example of how I have often comforted myself with things I thought I should have instead of things I needed.

 Any thoughts on the cost of a move?