Leap Of Faith – How To Make a Cross Country Move On a Budget

“So can I get a window seat? Don’t want nobody next to me. I just want a chance to fly, a chance to cry, and a long bye-bye.” Erykah Badu. Have you ever just wanted to move and start all over again? Maybe you want a change of scenery, or you love to travel, or there are better opportunities for your career in another state. Well, this post is for you. I am here to encourage you, queens, to take a leap of faith and try something new. Moving can be stressful, and sometimes scary. But name something in life worth having or trying that isn’t? It’s time to stop living in fear, and instead, walk by faith.

All dressed up with nowhere to go: You first need to know where you are going. I am not referring to the location of a city. I am referring to your purpose. Where is God taking you to in your life? Is the city that you are considering moving to going to benefit you and your purpose? Will you be able to sustain a living and or a career in this city? Will you ultimately be able to live your best life in this new city? Before you move to a new city, you should absolutely check off these questions to ensure you are not only following your heart, but also following God’s plan for your life.

Can you pay my bills: Now that you have decided where you want to live, it’s time to notify your current place of residence of your move and close your previous accounts. I strongly recommend taking care of this first. Make sure that you have in writing your final bills and notice of your move. When it comes to closing accounts such as your electricity, internet, and or gas bill it’s better to close them sooner rather than later. If you close these accounts early, you can avoid paying bills at two places at once. However, if things overlap with your previous place of residence and your new place, contact your previous place of residence and work out a payment plan and or settle your final bill. Whatever you do, always make sure where you currently lay your head is secured first.

Move b*tch, get out the way: Now that you have decided where you want to live, and secured a place to live in your new city, it’s time to plan out your physical move. If your new city is 8 hours away or more from your current location, I encourage you to sell your things. This will be the most inexpensive way to complete a cross country move. Yes, I know you love your couch, and or your bed, and you do not want to start over. So let’s talk numbers instead. Most reliable moving companies charge anywhere between $1,500 – $5,000 to move your personal items across the country. Now this will obviously vary depending on how much furniture you have, the weight of your items, and the mileage and or gas that will be needed for the truck to travel from state to state. If you are looking into Moving Pods, these will also cost you a pretty penny. An average Pod for a cross country move can cost between $999-$2,999. If you are not concerned with saving some coins, then by all means queen do you. But if you are wanting to save and would not mine some shiny new furniture when you arrive in your new city, you can sell your furniture on OfferUp, Craigslist, and or host a garage sale instead. Once you sell your furniture, you can use the money from your sale to buy new stuff and truly start fresh.

Everything you own in the box to the left: It’s time to pack any items that you did not sell. Before you waste your money buying moving boxes, did you know that your local Walmart offers moving boxes for the free 99? Call your local Walmart, inform them that you are interested in picking up the boxes that they throw out, and ask them when the best time is for you to come and pick up those boxes. When you get there, be sure to purchase some moving tape, bubble wrap, and some scissors. Call your homegirl, or your homeboy over, provide them with food and wine and have a packing party.

The little engine that could: If you have a car, and you plan to drive it across the country, the first thing you want to do is take your car to the mechanic shop. Make sure everything is working properly before you make your big move. Now, if your car is on its last leg and you are planning to ship it instead, do your research. The first time you began your search for a car transportation company will be overwhelming. You will receive a ton of calls, emails, and texts from brokers who are ultimately trying to rip you off. Do not give anyone a down payment upfront until a driver has agreed to transport your vehicle for the days that you requested, and a final price has been quoted. Make sure that you read the reviews not only on the company’s website, but also read the reviews on yelp, google, and the better business bureau to ensure they are legit.

I’m ready to go right now: You are finally ready to hop on the road and make your big move. So let’s map out your drive. If the distance is over 8 hours, you may want to consider an overnight stay in a city that is en route to your new home. This is a great excuse to experience a new city, try a new restaurant, and get a good night’s rest before you embark on the rest of your journey. If you have friends and or family that are en route to your new city, this is even better. You can inquire about staying with your friends or family overnight to break up your drive as well. Once you make it to your new city, it’s time to show up and show out. The journey is bigger than a new location, it’s truly about opening a new chapter in your life. You get to meet new people, try new things, and above all continue to reach new heights and walk in your purpose. No matter where you may travel on this journey called life, make sure that you are traveling fearlessly, joyfully, and purposefully. Be sure to save some coins too while you’re at it.